code: def _get_parameter_dictionary(self, base_name, dictionary, sorted_keys, parameter):
          
  
          # assemble the key for this parameter
          k = base_name + "/" + parameter.name()
  
          # first add this parameter (if it has a value)
          if not parameter.value()==None:
              sorted_keys.append(k[1:])
              dictionary[sorted_keys[-1]] = parameter.value()
  
          # now loop over the children
          for p in parameter.children():
              self._get_parameter_dictionary(k, dictionary, sorted_keys, p)
docs: Recursively loops over the parameter's children, adding
          keys (starting with base_name) and values to the supplied dictionary
          (provided they do not have a value of None).