regmaxs/regmaxsn/core/misc.py

import json

def parFileCheck(parFile, parNames):
    """
    Checks if each dictionary in the list of dictionaries in parFile contains all the keys in parNames. Assertions
    are used to raise errors if problems are detected.
    :param parFile: a valid file path containing the list of dictionaries
    :param parNames: list of parameter names expected
    :return: list of dictionaries in parFile
    """

    with open(parFile, 'r') as fle:

        parsList = json.load(fle)
        assert type(parsList) == list, 'Parameter file does not contain a list of dictionaries as is the requirement.'
        for parInd, par in enumerate(parsList):
            assert type(par) == dict, 'Parameter set # {} in {} not a list'.format(parInd, parFile)

            for pn in parNames:
                assert pn in par, 'Parameter {} not found in ' \
                                  'parameter set # {} of {} is improper'.format(pn, parInd, parFile)

    return parsList