python argparse - mandatory sub-command

Question

I have 3 arguments in and mutually exclusive group. I want to make a new mandatory sub-command available for the '-a' argument and this argument should only be available for the '-a' argument.

What is the best way to do this? I have tried searching and reading this argparse docs But havent figured it out yet.

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(prog='med-tool test', description='med-tool')
group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)

parser.add_argument('-f', '--foo')
group.add_argument('-a', '--add', help ="Add device", metavar='')
group.add_argument('-d', '--get', help ="Get device", metavar='')
group.add_argument('-r', '--get', help ="Read device", metavar='')

args = parser.parse_args()

Possible duplicate of Argparse: Required argument 'y' if 'x' is present — Ash Sharma
– Ash Sharma, Commented Jun 25, 2018 at 9:19

alec_djinn · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-25 09:59:36Z

2

Just add required=True in group.add_argument().

group.add_argument('-a', '--add', help ="Add device", metavar='', required=True)

It is described in the docs you linked, paragraph 15.4.3. The add_argument() method and here.

I am not sure this is really what you want though because it doesn't make sense to add a required argument in a mutually exclusive group. You probably want to modify it into:

parser.add_argument('-a', '--add', help ="Add device", metavar='', required=True)

edited Jun 25, 2018 at 9:59

answered Jun 25, 2018 at 9:19

alec_djinn

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3 Comments

user1348067 Over a year ago

I want to make a new sub-command (argument) available to the '-a' argument. So i guess it should be outside the MEG? Like etc: script.py - a test -new house

alec_djinn Over a year ago

Yes, put it outside the MEG.

user1348067 Over a year ago

Well that was pretty simple ;) Thanks i have it working now.

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