EDITED

I have to format a string with values from a dictionary but the string already contains curly brackets. E.g.:

raw_string = """
    DATABASE = {
        'name': '{DB_NAME}'
   }
"""

But, of course, raw_string.format(my_dictionary) results in KeyErro.

Is there a way to use different symbols to use with .format()?

This is not a duplicate of How can I print literal curly-brace characters in python string and also use .format on it? as I need to keep curly brackets just as they are and use a different delimiter for .format.

Using custom placeholder tokens with python string.format()

Context

• python 2.7
• string.format()
• alternative approach that allows custom placeholder syntax

Problem

We want to use custom placeholder delimiters with python str.format()

• string.format() is powerful, but no native support for placeholder delimiter modification.
• string.format() uses curly-brace which is very common and and causes Delimiter collision
• string.format() default workaround is to double-up the delimiters, which can be cumbersome.

Solution

We write a custom class that extends native python str.format()

• extend native python string.Formatter with custom class
• configure string.format() to support arbitrary delimiter placeholder syntax
• permit other enhancements such as custom formatters and filters

Example001: Demo use of a custom ReFormat class

• we wrote a custom ReFormat class that extends python str.format()

# import custom class
import ReFormat

# prepare source data
odata = { "fname" : "Planet",
          "lname" : "Earth",
          "age"   : "4b years",
         }

# format output using .render() 
# method of custom ReFormat class
#
vout = ReFormat.String("Hello <%fname%> <%lname%>!",odata).render()
print(vout)

Pitfalls

• requires extension class to str.format()
• not intended as a substitute for full-blown sandbox-compatible templating solution
• str.format has a problem with exact preservation of whitespace around curly-brace when using this kind of approach