1 files changed, 37 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/gn3/utility/tools.py b/gn3/utility/tools.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85df9f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gn3/utility/tools.py
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"""module contains general tools forgenenetwork"""
+
+import os
+
+from default_settings import GENENETWORK_FILES
+
+
+def valid_file(file_name):
+    """check if file is valid"""
+    if os.path.isfile(file_name):
+        return file_name
+    return None
+
+
+def valid_path(dir_name):
+    """check if path is valid"""
+    if os.path.isdir(dir_name):
+        return dir_name
+    return None
+
+
+def locate_ignore_error(name, subdir=None):
+    """
+    Locate a static flat file in the GENENETWORK_FILES environment.
+
+    This function does not throw an error when the file is not found
+    but returns None.
+    """
+    base = GENENETWORK_FILES
+    if subdir:
+        base = base+"/"+subdir
+    if valid_path(base):
+        lookfor = base + "/" + name
+        if valid_file(lookfor):
+            return lookfor
+
+    return None