parse a dot seperated string into dictionary variable

Question

I have string values as,

\"a\"
\"a.b\"
\"b.c.d\"

How to convert them into python dictionary variables as,

a
a[\"b\"]
b[\"c\"][\         


        

Answer 1

I ran into this same problem for parsing ini files with dot-delimited keys in different sections. e.g.:

[app]
site1.ftp.host = hostname
site1.ftp.username = username
site1.database.hostname = db_host
; etc..

So I wrote a little function to add "add_branch" to an existing dict tree:

def add_branch(tree, vector, value):
    """
    Given a dict, a vector, and a value, insert the value into the dict
    at the tree leaf specified by the vector.  Recursive!

    Params:
        data (dict): The data structure to insert the vector into.
        vector (list): A list of values representing the path to the leaf node.
        value (object): The object to be inserted at the leaf

    Example 1:
    tree = {'a': 'apple'}
    vector = ['b', 'c', 'd']
    value = 'dog'

    tree = add_branch(tree, vector, value)

    Returns:
        tree = { 'a': 'apple', 'b': { 'c': {'d': 'dog'}}}

    Example 2:
    vector2 = ['b', 'c', 'e']
    value2 = 'egg'

    tree = add_branch(tree, vector2, value2)    

    Returns:
        tree = { 'a': 'apple', 'b': { 'c': {'d': 'dog', 'e': 'egg'}}}

    Returns:
        dict: The dict with the value placed at the path specified.

    Algorithm:
        If we're at the leaf, add it as key/value to the tree
        Else: If the subtree doesn't exist, create it.
              Recurse with the subtree and the left shifted vector.
        Return the tree.

    """
    key = vector[0]
    tree[key] = value \
        if len(vector) == 1 \
        else add_branch(tree[key] if key in tree else {},
                        vector[1:],
                        value)
    return tree