"""
@file alg_settings.py
@brief extracts settings for a particular section.

@par History
     - Brian Helgans, Dec 11 2019, initial version
"""
import configparser
import os
import Sample_Execution.exceptions

def get_settings(settings, section):
    '''
    reads in the settings file and prepares the run settings accordingly
    :param settings: the settings file
    :type settings: str
    :param section: section of the settings file.
    :type section: str
    '''
    if not os.path.isfile(settings):
        raise Sample_Execution.exceptions.UserInputException('settings file '+settings+' does NOT exist.')
    try:
        parser = configparser.ConfigParser(empty_lines_in_values=False, inline_comment_prefixes="##<")
        parser.optionxform = str
        parser.read(settings)
        my_dict = dict(parser.items(section))
    except Exception as e:
        raise Sample_Execution.exceptions.UserInputException("error reading the setttings file: '"+settings+"'. "+e.message)
    
    return my_dict