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TSTool / Command / ReadPropertiesFromFile

Overview

The ReadPropertiesFromFile command reads the values of one or properties from a file, which can then be used in workflows using ${Property} syntax. The corresponding WritePropertiesToFile command can be used to write properties to a file. Processor properties include built-in global defaults such as InputStart, InputEnd, OutputStart, OutputEnd, OutputYearType, WorkingDir, and also user-defined properties set with the SetProperty command. Internally, properties have a name and a value, which is of a certain type (string, integer, date/time, etc.). Examples of using the command include:

  • creating tests to verify that properties are being set
  • passing information from TSTool to another program, such as a Python script
  • storing persistent information for later use, such as the date/time that data were last downloaded from a web service
  • reading text from a file to merge into a file

A number of property formats are supported as listed in the following table.

Property File Formats

Format                              Description
NameValue Simple format, all properties handled as text:

PropertyName=PropertyValue
PropertyName="Property value, quoted if necessary"
NameTypeValue Same as NameValue format, with non-primitive objects treated as simple constructors:

PropertyName=PropertyValue
DateTimeProperty=DateTime("2010-10-01 12:30")
NameTypeValuePython Similar to the NameTypeValue format; however, objects are represented using “Pythonic” notation, to allow the file to be used directly by Python scripts:

PropertyName="PropertyValue"
DateTimeProperty=DateTime(2010,10,1,12,30)
Value Read the entire contents of a file into a property.

The command attempts to create objects of the proper type but if this is an issue, it may be necessary to use the formats that include property type.

Command Editor

The following dialog is used to edit the command and illustrates the command syntax.

ReadPropertiesFromFile

ReadPropertiesFromFile Command Editor (see also the full-size image)

Command Syntax

The command syntax is as follows:

ReadPropertiesFromFile(Parameter="Value",...)

Command Parameters

Parameter                           Description Default          
InputFile
required		 The property file to read, as an absolute path or relative to the command file. Can be specified using ${Property}. None – must be specified.
FileFormat Format of the properties file (see descriptions in the above Property File Formats table):
  • NameValue
  • NameTypeValue
  • NameTypeValuePython
  • Value
 NameValue
IncludeProperty The names of properties to read, separated by commas. Can be specified using ${Property}. If not specified, all processor properties will be written.

Examples

See the automated tests.

Troubleshooting

See Also