code: def serialize_value_map(self, map_elem, thedict):
          
          for key, value in sorted((str(k), v) for (k, v) in thedict.items()):
              var_elem = SubElement(map_elem, 'variable')
              SubElement(var_elem, 'name').text = str(key)
              value_elem = SubElement(var_elem, 'value')
              self.serialize_value(value_elem, value)
          return map_elem
docs: Serializes a dictionary of key/value pairs, where the values are
          either strings, or Attrib, or PathAttrib objects.
  
          Example::
  
              <variable>
                  <name>foo</name>
                  <value>text</value>
              </variable>
              <variable>
                  <name>foo2</name>
                  <value><attribute>foobar</attribute></value>
              </variable>