def _parsepref_old(preffile):
    """ Parse parameter file of old type (using exec of Python commands)
    """
    pars = {}
    with open(preffile, 'r') as fp:
        for line in fp.readlines():
            line_clean = line.rstrip('\n').split('#')[0]
            if line_clean and '=' in line:
                attribute, value = line_clean.split('=')
                try:
                    value_eval = eval(value.strip())
                except NameError:
                    value_eval = value.strip()
                finally:
                    pars[attribute.strip()] = value_eval
    return pars
