Python argparse: How to insert newline in the help text?

python argparse
kennytm picture kennytm · Oct 4, 2010 · Viewed 95k times · Source

I'm using argparse in Python 2.7 for parsing input options. One of my options is a multiple choice. I want to make a list in its help text, e.g.

from argparse import ArgumentParser

parser = ArgumentParser(description='test')

parser.add_argument('-g', choices=['a', 'b', 'g', 'd', 'e'], default='a',
    help="Some option, where\n"
         " a = alpha\n"
         " b = beta\n"
         " g = gamma\n"
         " d = delta\n"
         " e = epsilon")

parser.parse_args()

However, argparse strips all newlines and consecutive spaces. The result looks like

~/Downloads:52$ python2.7 x.py -h
usage: x.py [-h] [-g {a,b,g,d,e}]

test

optional arguments:
  -h, --help      show this help message and exit
  -g {a,b,g,d,e}  Some option, where a = alpha b = beta g = gamma d = delta e
                  = epsilon

How to insert newlines in the help text?

Answer

Michał Kwiatkowski picture Michał Kwiatkowski · Oct 4, 2010

Try using RawTextHelpFormatter:

from argparse import RawTextHelpFormatter
parser = ArgumentParser(description='test', formatter_class=RawTextHelpFormatter)

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