code: def parse_pattern_list(liststr):
      
      _re_patt = re.compile("^(.*)=(.*)")
      patterns = []
      for ss in liststr.split(';'):
          match = _re_patt.match(ss)
          if match:
              desc = match.group(1)
              patt = match.group(2).split(',')
              patterns.append((desc, patt))
      return patterns
docs: Parses a list of filename patterns of the form "Description=ptt,patt,...;Description=patt,...
      Returns list of (description,[patterns]) tuples.