PREFS resources

What are PREFS resources?

PREFS resources are made to convert (bundle) a prefs file into a Python module.

note

This was originally made for PyInstaller, but it didn't work, so they're now an extra feature.

PyInstaller

To use your prefs files in an application built with PyInstaller you can simply add your PREFS file as a data:

From the .spec file:

a = Analysis(...
     datas=[('theme.prefs', '.')],
     ...
)

Where the first element in the tuple is the path to your prefs file and the second the directory to write it in

Another example with the prefs file inside a folder:

a = Analysis(...
     datas=[('Prefs/theme.prefs', 'Prefs')],
     ...
)

info

A dot . means the current directory.

From the command line:

pyinstaller --add-data 'theme.prefs:.' myscript.py

Another example with the PREFS file inside a folder:

pyinstaller --add-data 'Prefs/theme.prefs:Prefs' myscript.py

info

In the command line separate the prefs path and the destination directory with a colon :.

More info

More info about datas in PyInstaller documentation.

How to create a resource module?

Lets see how you're reading your prefs file in your Python script:

main.py

import prefs

theme = prefs.read("theme.prefs")

Where theme.prefs looks like:

theme.prefs

#PREFS
font_family="UbuntuMono"
light=>
    background_color="#dcdee0"
    font_color="#000000"
    link_color="#0000EE"
dark=>
    background_color="#25282d"
    font_color="#ffffff"
    link_color="#006FEE"

To bundle this prefs file open your terminal and type:

prefs bundle theme.prefs

info

This can also be achieved by using the bundle function.

Where theme.prefs is the path to your PREFS file.

After running that command you should be able to see a new Python file called theme_resource.py.
It should look like:

theme_resource.py

# PREFS resource module
# Created using PREFS Python library
# https://patitotective.github.io/PREFS
# Do not modify this file
__version__ = '0.3.0'
CONTENT = {'font_family': 'UbuntuMono', 'light': {'background_color': '#dcdee0', 'font_color': '#000000', 'link_color': '#0000EE'}, 'dark': {'background_color': '#25282d', 'font_color': '#ffffff', 'link_color': '#006FEE'}}
ALIAS = 'prefs.prefs'

You need to import that module into your Python script:

main.py

import prefs
import theme_resource

theme = prefs.read("theme.prefs")

Then just add :/ to the beginning of your PREFS file path (theme.prefs -> :/theme.prefs).
Now you can remove theme.prefs, because theme_resource.py is enough.

main.py

import prefs
import theme_resource

theme = prefs.read(":/theme.prefs")
print(theme)
>>> {'font_family': 'UbuntuMono', 'light': {'background_color': '#dcdee0', 'font_color': '#000000', 'link_color': '#0000EE'}, 'dark': {'background_color': '#25282d', 'font_color': '#ffffff', 'link_color': '#006FEE'}}