Customize argparse help message

First of all: capitalising those phrases flies in the face of convention, and argparse isn't really tooled to help you change these strings easily. You have three different classes of strings here: boilerplate text from the help formatter, section titles, and help text per specific option. All these strings are localisable; you could just provide a 'capitalised' translation for all of these strings via the gettext() module support. That said, you can reach in and replace all these strings if you are determined enough and read the source code a little.

The version action includes a default help text, but you can supply your own by setting the help argument. The same applies to the help action; if you set the add_help argument to False you can add that action manually:

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(add_help=False)

parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', action='version',
                    version='%(prog)s 1.0', help="Show program's version number and exit.")
parser.add_argument('-h', '--help', action='help', default=argparse.SUPPRESS,
                    help='Show this help message and exit.')

Next, the optional arguments message is a group title; each parser has two default groups, one for positional arguments, the other for optional. You can reach these by the attributes _positionals and _optionals, both of which have a title attribute:

parser._positionals.title = 'Positional arguments'
parser._optionals.title = 'Optional arguments'

Be warned, by accessing names starting with an underscore you are venturing into the undocumented private API of the module, and your code may break in future updates.

Finally, to change the usage string, you'll have to subclass the help formatter; pass the subclass in as the formatter_class argument:

class CapitalisedHelpFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
    def add_usage(self, usage, actions, groups, prefix=None):
        if prefix is None:
            prefix = 'Usage: '
        return super(CapitalisedHelpFormatter, self).add_usage(
            usage, actions, groups, prefix)

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(formatter_class=CapitalisedHelpFormatter)

Demo, putting these all together:

>>> import argparse
>>> class CapitalisedHelpFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
...     def add_usage(self, usage, actions, groups, prefix=None):
...         if prefix is None:
...             prefix = 'Usage: '
...         return super(CapitalisedHelpFormatter, self).add_usage(
...             usage, actions, groups, prefix)
...
>>> parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(add_help=False, formatter_class=CapitalisedHelpFormatter)
>>> parser._positionals.title = 'Positional arguments'
>>> parser._optionals.title = 'Optional arguments'
>>> parser.add_argument('-v', '--version', action='version',
...                     version='%(prog)s 1.0', help="Show program's version number and exit.")
_VersionAction(option_strings=['-v', '--version'], dest='version', nargs=0, const=None, default='==SUPPRESS==', type=None, choices=None, help="Show program's version number and exit.", metavar=None)
>>> parser.add_argument('-h', '--help', action='help', default=argparse.SUPPRESS,
...                     help='Show this help message and exit.')
_HelpAction(option_strings=['-h', '--help'], dest='help', nargs=0, const=None, default='==SUPPRESS==', type=None, choices=None, help='Show this help message and exit.', metavar=None)
>>> print(parser.format_help())
Usage: [-v] [-h]

Optional arguments:
  -v, --version  Show program's version number and exit.
  -h, --help     Show this help message and exit.

Martijn has give a couple of the fixes that came to mind - the providing the help parameter, and a custom Formatter class.

One other partial fix is to modify the help string after the argument is created. add_argument creates and returns an Action object that contains the parameters and defaults. You can save a link to this, and modify the Action. You can also get a list of those actions, and act on that.

Let me illustrate, for a simple parser with the default help and one other argument, the action list is:

In [1064]: parser._actions
Out[1064]: 
[_HelpAction(option_strings=['-h', '--help'], dest='help', nargs=0, const=None, default='==SUPPRESS==', type=None, choices=None, help='show this help message and exit', metavar=None),
 _StoreAction(option_strings=['-f', '--foo'], dest='foo', nargs=None, const=None, default=None, type=None, choices=None, help=None, metavar=None)]

I can view and modify the help attribute of any of these:

In [1065]: parser._actions[0].help
Out[1065]: 'show this help message and exit'
In [1066]: parser._actions[0].help='Show this help message and exit.'

producing this help:

In [1067]: parser.parse_args(['-h'])
usage: ipython3 [-h] [-f FOO]    
optional arguments:
  -h, --help         Show this help message and exit.
  -f FOO, --foo FOO

Using the parser._actions list uses a 'private' attribute, which some people consider unwise. But in Python that public/private distinction is not tight, and can be broken with care. Martijn is doing that by accessing the parser._positionals.title.

Another way to change that group title is with custom argument groups

ogroup=parser.add_argument_group('Correct Optionals Title')
ogroup.add_argument('-v',...)
ogroup.add_argument('-h',...)

EDIT: If have since extended this significantly and will continue to do so on GitHub. For the sake of consistency, I'll leave my answer here as is.


Instead of relying on internal API, which is subject to change without notice, here's an alternative using public API only. It is arguably more complex but in turn gives you maximum control over what is printed:

class ArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(ArgumentParser, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        self.program = { key: kwargs[key] for key in kwargs }
        self.options = []

    def add_argument(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(ArgumentParser, self).add_argument(*args, **kwargs)
        option = {}
        option["flags"] = [ item for item in args ]
        for key in kwargs:
            option[key] = kwargs[key]
        self.options.append(option)

    def print_help(self):
        # use self.program/self.options to produce custom help text

How it works:

  • tap into constructor of argparse.ArgumentParser to capture and store program info (e.g. description, usage)
  • tap into argparse.ArgumentParser.add_argument() to capture and store added arguments (e.g. flags, help, defaults)
  • redefine argparse.ArgumentParser.print_help() and use previously stored program info / arguments to produce help text

Here is a full example covering some common use cases. Note that it is by no means complete (for example, there is no support for positional arguments or options with more than one argument), but is should provide an impression of what's possible:

#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

import os
import sys
import argparse
import textwrap

class ArgumentParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):

    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(ArgumentParser, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        self.program = { key: kwargs[key] for key in kwargs }
        self.options = []

    def add_argument(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(ArgumentParser, self).add_argument(*args, **kwargs)
        option = {}
        option["flags"] = [ item for item in args ]
        for key in kwargs:
            option[key] = kwargs[key]
        self.options.append(option)

    def print_help(self):
        wrapper = textwrap.TextWrapper(width=80)

        # Print usage
        if "usage" in self.program:
            print("Usage: %s" % self.program["usage"])
        else:
            usage = []
            for option in self.options:
                usage += [ "[%s %s]" % (item, option["metavar"]) if "metavar" in option else "[%s %s]" % (item, option["dest"].upper()) if "dest" in option else "[%s]" % item for item in option["flags"] ]
            wrapper.initial_indent = "Usage: %s " % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0])
            wrapper.subsequent_indent = len(wrapper.initial_indent) * " "
            output = str.join(" ", usage)
            output = wrapper.fill(output)
            print(output)
        print()

        # Print description
        if "description" in self.program:
            print(self.program["description"])
            print()

        # Print options
        print("Options:")
        maxlen = 0
        for option in self.options:
            option["flags2"] = str.join(", ", [ "%s %s" % (item, option["metavar"]) if "metavar" in option else "%s %s" % (item, option["dest"].upper()) if "dest" in option else item for item in option["flags"] ])
            if len(option["flags2"]) > maxlen:
                maxlen = len(option["flags2"])
        for option in self.options:
            template = "  %-" + str(maxlen) + "s  "
            wrapper.initial_indent = template % option["flags2"]
            wrapper.subsequent_indent = len(wrapper.initial_indent) * " "
            if "help" in option and "default" in option:
                output = option["help"]
                output += " (default: '%s')" % option["default"] if isinstance(option["default"], str) else " (default: %s)" % str(option["default"])
                output = wrapper.fill(output)
            elif "help" in option:
                output = option["help"]
                output = wrapper.fill(output)
            elif "default" in option:
                output = "Default: '%s'" % option["default"] if isinstance(option["default"], str) else "Default: %s" % str(option["default"])
                output = wrapper.fill(output)
            else:
                output = wrapper.initial_indent
            print(output)

# Main
if (__name__ == "__main__"):
    #parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Download program based on some library.", argument_default=argparse.SUPPRESS, allow_abbrev=False, add_help=False)
    #parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(usage="%s [OPTION]..." % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]), description="Download program based on some library.", argument_default=argparse.SUPPRESS, allow_abbrev=False, add_help=False)
    #parser = ArgumentParser(usage="%s [OPTION]..." % os.path.basename(sys.argv[0]), description="Download program based on some library.", argument_default=argparse.SUPPRESS, allow_abbrev=False, add_help=False)
    parser = ArgumentParser(description="Download program based on some library.", argument_default=argparse.SUPPRESS, allow_abbrev=False, add_help=False)

    parser.add_argument("-c", "--config-file", action="store", dest="config_file", metavar="file", type=str, default="config.ini")
    parser.add_argument("-d", "--database-file", action="store", dest="database_file", metavar="file", type=str, help="SQLite3 database file to read/write", default="database.db")
    parser.add_argument("-l", "--log-file", action="store", dest="log_file", metavar="file", type=str, help="File to write log to", default="debug.log")
    parser.add_argument("-f", "--data-file", action="store", dest="data_file", metavar="file", type=str, help="Data file to read", default="data.bin")
    parser.add_argument("-t", "--threads", action="store", dest="threads", type=int, help="Number of threads to spawn", default=3)
    parser.add_argument("-p", "--port", action="store", dest="port", type=int, help="TCP port to listen on for access to the web interface", default="12345")
    parser.add_argument("--max-downloads", action="store", dest="max_downloads", metavar="value", type=int, help="Maximum number of concurrent downloads", default=5)
    parser.add_argument("--download-timeout", action="store", dest="download_timeout", metavar="value", type=int, help="Download timeout in seconds", default=120)
    parser.add_argument("--max-requests", action="store", dest="max_requests", metavar="value", type=int, help="Maximum number of concurrent requests", default=10)
    parser.add_argument("--request-timeout", action="store", dest="request_timeout", metavar="value", type=int, help="Request timeout in seconds", default=60)
    parser.add_argument("--main-interval", action="store", dest="main_interval", metavar="value", type=int, help="Main loop interval in seconds", default=60)
    parser.add_argument("--thread-interval", action="store", dest="thread_interval", metavar="value", type=int, help="Thread loop interval in milliseconds", default=500)
    parser.add_argument("--console-output", action="store", dest="console_output", metavar="value", type=str.lower, choices=["stdout", "stderr"], help="Output to use for console", default="stdout")
    parser.add_argument("--console-level", action="store", dest="console_level", metavar="value", type=str.lower, choices=["debug", "info", "warning", "error", "critical"], help="Log level to use for console", default="info")
    parser.add_argument("--logfile-level", action="store", dest="logfile_level", metavar="value", type=str.lower, choices=["debug", "info", "warning", "error", "critical"], help="Log level to use for log file", default="info")
    parser.add_argument("--console-color", action="store", dest="console_color", metavar="value", type=bool, help="Colorized console output", default=True)
    parser.add_argument("--logfile-color", action="store", dest="logfile_color", metavar="value", type=bool, help="Colorized log file output", default=False)
    parser.add_argument("--log-template", action="store", dest="log_template", metavar="value", type=str, help="Template to use for log lines", default="[%(created)d] [%(threadName)s] [%(levelname)s] %(message)s")
    parser.add_argument("-h", "--help", action="help", help="Display this message")

    args = parser.parse_args(["-h"])

Produced output:

Usage: argparse_custom_usage.py [-c file] [--config-file file] [-d file]
                                [--database-file file] [-l file] [--log-file
                                file] [-f file] [--data-file file] [-t THREADS]
                                [--threads THREADS] [-p PORT] [--port PORT]
                                [--max-downloads value] [--download-timeout
                                value] [--max-requests value] [--request-timeout
                                value] [--main-interval value] [--thread-
                                interval value] [--console-output value]
                                [--console-level value] [--logfile-level value]
                                [--console-color value] [--logfile-color value]
                                [--log-template value] [-h] [--help]

Download program based on some library.

Options:
  -c file, --config-file file    Default: 'config.ini'
  -d file, --database-file file  SQLite3 database file to read/write (default:
                                 'database.db')
  -l file, --log-file file       File to write log to (default: 'debug.log')
  -f file, --data-file file      Data file to read (default: 'data.bin')
  -t THREADS, --threads THREADS  Number of threads to spawn (default: 3)
  -p PORT, --port PORT           TCP port to listen on for access to the web
                                 interface (default: '12345')
  --max-downloads value          Maximum number of concurrent downloads
                                 (default: 5)
  --download-timeout value       Download timeout in seconds (default: 120)
  --max-requests value           Maximum number of concurrent requests (default:
                                 10)
  --request-timeout value        Request timeout in seconds (default: 60)
  --main-interval value          Main loop interval in seconds (default: 60)
  --thread-interval value        Thread loop interval in milliseconds (default:
                                 500)
  --console-output value         Output to use for console (default: 'stdout')
  --console-level value          Log level to use for console (default: 'info')
  --logfile-level value          Log level to use for log file (default: 'info')
  --console-color value          Colorized console output (default: True)
  --logfile-color value          Colorized log file output (default: False)
  --log-template value           Template to use for log lines (default:
                                 '[%(created)d] [%(threadName)s] [%(levelname)s]
                                 %(message)s')
  -h, --help                     Display this message