refactored helper_startup.py so that it can make use of a pre-set shared.appdata variable

src/helper_startup.py

@@ -8,23 +8,36 @@ from namecoin import ensureNamecoinOptions
 storeConfigFilesInSameDirectoryAsProgramByDefault = False  # The user may de-select Portable Mode in the settings if they want the config files to stay in the application data folder.
 
 def loadConfig():
-    # First try to load the config file (the keys.dat file) from the program
-    # directory
+    if shared.appdata:
+        shared.config.read(shared.appdata + 'keys.dat')
+        #shared.appdata must have been specified as a startup option.
+        try:
+            shared.config.get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
+            print 'Loading config files from directory specified on startup: ' + shared.appdata
+            needToCreateKeysFile = False
+        except:
+            needToCreateKeysFile = True
+
+    else:
         shared.config.read('keys.dat')
         try:
             shared.config.get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
-        print 'Loading config files from same directory as program'
+            print 'Loading config files from same directory as program.'
+            needToCreateKeysFile = False
             shared.appdata = ''
         except:
             # Could not load the keys.dat file in the program directory. Perhaps it
             # is in the appdata directory.
             shared.appdata = shared.lookupAppdataFolder()
-        shared.config = ConfigParser.SafeConfigParser()
             shared.config.read(shared.appdata + 'keys.dat')
             try:
                 shared.config.get('bitmessagesettings', 'settingsversion')
                 print 'Loading existing config files from', shared.appdata
+                needToCreateKeysFile = False
             except:
+                needToCreateKeysFile = True
+
+    if needToCreateKeysFile:
         # This appears to be the first time running the program; there is
         # no config file (or it cannot be accessed). Create config file.
         shared.config.add_section('bitmessagesettings')

src/namecoin.py

@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def ensureNamecoinOptions ():
         nmc.close ()
 
     except Exception as exc:
-        print "Failure reading namecoin config file: %s" % str (exc)
+        print "Could not read the Namecoin config file probably because you don't have Namecoin installed. That's ok; we don't really need it. Detailed error message: %s" % str (exc)
 
     # If still nothing found, set empty at least.
     if (not hasUser):