scn.load('C01') gives - TypeError

[raybellwaves]

I know I have to do scn.load(['C01']).

and if do scn.load('C01') I get

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TypeError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)
<ipython-input-12-697a49a0eee1> in <module>
----> 1 scn.load('C01')

~/local/bin/anaconda3/envs/dev/lib/python3.8/site-packages/satpy/scene.py in load(self, wishlist, calibration, resolution, polarization, level, generate, unload, **kwargs)
    957         """
    958         if isinstance(wishlist, str):
--> 959             raise TypeError("'load' expects a list of datasets, got a string.")
    960         dataset_keys = set(wishlist)
    961         needed_datasets = (self.wishlist | dataset_keys) - \

TypeError: 'load' expects a list of datasets, got a string.

Could you accept a string if the string is in scn.available_dataset_names(). i.e. under the hood call a list on the string so it's in the format scene likes? 'C01' -> ['C01']. No idea if this will mess things up downstream.

In addition, show accepts a string scn.show('C01')

[raybellwaves]

Hmm I guess that wouldn't work for true_color

[djhoese]

There is available_composite_names and you can pass scn.available_dataset_names(composites=True).

My argument for not supporting a single string is that I think we should limit how many inputs we accept. My worry is that if someone is passing a string there may be some other misunderstanding or misuse going on. Rather than producing an odd error later on we decided to produce this direct error. Believe it or not we used to not do this check and you would get an error later on about how Satpy couldn't load datasets ['C', '0', '1'].

[raybellwaves]

Ah interesting. Welcome to close.

[djhoese]

Anyone feel free to disagree and provide your ideas. It doesn't have to be this way, but it seemed "safest" to me.