def checkParameter( self, parameter, var_type, value ) :
     parameter_error = None
     if not value:
         parameter_error = 'Error: Parameter "' + parameter + '" can not be empty.'
         
     else:
         if var_type == Step.type_folder :
             try: 
                 tools.check_folder( value )
             except Exception as e:
                 parameter_error = str(e) 
         elif var_type == Step.type_file :
             try:
                 tools.check_file( value )
             except Exception as e:
                 parameter_error = str(e)
         elif var_type == Step.type_number :
             try:
                 self.checkNumber( value )
             except Exception as e:
                 parameter_error = str(e)
         elif var_type == Step.type_string or var_type == Step.type_ignore:
             parameter_error = None # anything goes.
         else :
             parameter_error = "Command line var_type not recognised. Should be set to folder, file, number, string or ignore."
             
         if parameter_error :
             parameter_error = 'Error: Parameter "' + parameter + '" - ' + parameter_error
     return parameter_error
 def step(self):
     
     try:
         self.setVariables()
         tools.check_folder(self.process_path)
         self.createFolders(self.process_path,
                            self.folder_structure.items())
     except Exception as e:
         error = str(e)
         self.error_message(error)
         raise e