Currently, the number of arguments an option 
can/should have, needs be defined.

This is done using "nagrs".

parser.add_option("", "--my-option", nargs=3)

The problem is that at times it isn't predictable how 
many arguments you'll be receiving.

I request the implementation of this feature in 
optparse, where the following could be possible.

parser.add_option("", "--my-option", nargs=*)

Thanks,
Ritesh

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I don't know of any program that uses command line switches
with a variable number of args, partly because you then
cannot distinguish between option arguments and normal
arguments.

I you still need this, you can implement a custom callback,
I think.

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Can you please go through the following link and give your 
comments ?

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.python/browse_thre
ad/thread/277522927334b8d8

I feel its a valid feature request.

Ritesh

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I share effbot's view on that, but leaving to Greg to
decide. In any case, this is a feature request.

Optik is maintained separately.  Please file a feature request there:  http://sourceforge.net/projects/optik

I don't think this is the correct way of resolving a bug. You mark it as "Close" with a resolution "Invalid" when the bug was filed against "Python Library", of which optparse is one. Python ships optparse as part of its libraries.

If internally, it is a separate project, you could file one there and link to it.
But why just plain close it ?

I encourage you to file a feature request with optik if it's important to you.

While it may not be the nicest way, it's the only way we can get anything done.  I pointed you to optik so you can file the feature request if it's important to you.  What has happened in the past is that this report would be left open forever.  That is worse.

If you think this is wrong, you can fix the problem by helping us resolve all the issues in python.  Otherwise, there's no hope of us managing it.

Thanks for clarifying Neal.

I've filed a bug with optik, #1681933