bpo-14074: argparse doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple #10847

cykerway · 2018-12-01T13:47:02Z

Currently argparse allows nargs>1 for positional arguments but doesn't
allow metavar to be a tuple:

import argparse
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument('foo', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz'))
args = parser.parse_args()

The above code will raise exception both with and without '--help'.

This patch fixed some functions about metavar processing so the above
code will pass.

https://bugs.python.org/issue14074

Issue: argparse allows nargs>1 for positional arguments but doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple #58282

the-knights-who-say-ni · 2018-12-01T13:47:07Z

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embray · 2019-04-07T14:02:27Z

Thanks for the PR. I can confirm that this fixes this (very old) bug...

rhettinger · 2020-01-28T07:55:27Z

Consider restricting this to the case where nargs is an integer. It doesn't make much sense with * or REMAINDER.

Lib/argparse.py

Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2018-12-04-07-36-27.bpo-14074.fMLKCu.rst

jacobtylerwalls · 2021-06-15T13:30:55Z

Lib/argparse.py

+        if isinstance(argument.nargs, int) and \
+           isinstance(argument.metavar, tuple):
+            return ' '.join(argument.metavar)


CPython follows PEP8, so I believe the style is to prefer open parentheses over \.

There it is: c0204fd

Nothing else changed.

Currently argparse allows nargs>1 for positional arguments but doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple: import argparse parser = argparse.ArgumentParser() parser.add_argument('foo', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz')) args = parser.parse_args() The above code will raise exception both with and without '--help'. This patch fixed some functions about metavar processing so the above code will pass.

rhettinger · 2022-05-10T21:41:49Z

For:

 parser.add_argument('foo', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz'))

Wouldn't it be better to specify two separate arguments?

 parser.add_argument('foo')
 parser.add_argument('baz')

Having two different meta variables implies that the arguments have different meanings. Collapsing them into a single argument seems like an anti-pattern to me. Both warrant their own error messages, possible type conversions, and possible default values.

cykerway · 2022-05-12T17:08:14Z

Having two different meta variables implies that the arguments have different meanings. Collapsing them into a single argument seems like an anti-pattern to me. Both warrant their own error messages, possible type conversions, and possible default values.

That's the matter of nargs. nargs=N will not exist if each action consumes exactly one command-line argument.

nargs=N comes in handy when an argument is inherently a tuple. For example, RGB color components, monthly salaries. The tuple items often have the same type and just need a display name for each. The tuple items may never be used individually and probably do not worth a variable for each. nargs=N can create the tuple, saving application code.

If we assume nargs=N should exist, then having a tuple metavar looks better than repeating a string metavar.

serhiy-storchaka

I wondered why TestHelpTupleMetavarPositional tests only argument with numerical value of nartgs, while TestHelpTupleMetavar tests with all nargs values. So I tried to change the test. It failed, but a simple change in _format_action_invocation() can fix this. I am nor sure that this is a best representation for nargs='*' and nargs='+', but this at least fixes failure.

The change in _get_action_name() is not tested. We need a test for it, and it should be generalized to support other nargs values.

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-23T16:40:35Z

Lib/argparse.py

+        if isinstance(
+            argument.nargs, int) and isinstance(argument.metavar, tuple):
+            return ' '.join(argument.metavar)


This change is not covered by tests.

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-23T16:41:50Z

Lib/test/test_argparse.py

+
+    parser_signature = Sig(prog='PROG')
+    argument_signatures = [
+        Sig('foo', help='foo help', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz'))


Suggested change

Sig('foo', help='foo help', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz'))

Sig('w', help='w help', nargs='+', metavar=('W1', 'W2')),

Sig('x', help='x help', nargs='*', metavar=('X1', 'X2')),

Sig('y', help='y help', nargs=3, metavar=('Y1', 'Y2', 'Y3')),

Sig('z', help='z help', nargs='?', metavar=('Z1', )),

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-23T16:42:35Z

Lib/test/test_argparse.py

+    ]
+    argument_group_signatures = []
+    usage = '''\
+        usage: PROG [-h] bar baz


Suggested change

usage: PROG [-h] bar baz

usage: PROG [-h] W1 [W2 ...] [X1 [X2 ...]] Y1 Y2 Y3 [Z1]

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-23T16:42:49Z

Lib/test/test_argparse.py

+    help = usage + '''\
+
+        positional arguments:
+          bar baz     foo help


Suggested change

bar baz foo help

W1 W2 w help

X1 X2 x help

Y1 Y2 Y3 y help

Z1 z help

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-23T16:43:36Z

Lib/argparse.py

+            if isinstance(action.nargs, int):
+                return ' '.join(self._metavar_formatter(action, default)(1))
            metavar, = self._metavar_formatter(action, default)(1)
            return metavar


Suggested change

if isinstance(action.nargs, int):

return ' '.join(self._metavar_formatter(action, default)(1))

metavar, = self._metavar_formatter(action, default)(1)

return metavar

return ' '.join(self._metavar_formatter(action, default)(1))

serhiy-storchaka · 2024-09-30T08:36:49Z

Thank you for your contribution @cykerway and sorry for a lack of response.
#124782 generalizes this PR to support other nargs values.

the-knights-who-say-ni added the CLA not signed label Dec 1, 2018

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the-knights-who-say-ni added CLA signed and removed CLA not signed labels Dec 3, 2018

csabella requested a review from rhettinger January 28, 2020 02:28

rhettinger self-assigned this Jan 28, 2020

ZackerySpytz reviewed Dec 10, 2020

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cykerway force-pushed the bpo-14074 branch from 42f14dc to 50c844f Compare March 8, 2021 14:17

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tshepang mannequin mentioned this pull request Apr 10, 2022

argparse allows nargs>1 for positional arguments but doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple #58282

Closed

ezio-melotti removed the CLA signed label Jul 13, 2022

Merge branch 'main' into bpo-14074

94c78b2

serhiy-storchaka reviewed Sep 23, 2024

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serhiy-storchaka closed this Sep 30, 2024

-        Sig('foo', help='foo help', nargs=2, metavar=('bar', 'baz'))
+        Sig('w', help='w help', nargs='+', metavar=('W1', 'W2')),
+        Sig('x', help='x help', nargs='*', metavar=('X1', 'X2')),
+        Sig('y', help='y help', nargs=3, metavar=('Y1', 'Y2', 'Y3')),
+        Sig('z', help='z help', nargs='?', metavar=('Z1', )),

	usage: PROG [-h] bar baz
	usage: PROG [-h] W1 [W2 ...] [X1 [X2 ...]] Y1 Y2 Y3 [Z1]

-          bar baz     foo help
+          W1 W2       w help
+          X1 X2       x help
+          Y1 Y2 Y3    y help
+          Z1          z help

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bpo-14074: argparse doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple #10847

bpo-14074: argparse doesn't allow metavar to be a tuple #10847

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cykerway commented Dec 1, 2018 •

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