code: def _find_parameter(self, name_list, create_missing=False, quiet=False):
          
          # make a copy so this isn't destructive to the supplied list
          s = list(name_list)
  
          # if the length is zero, return the root widget
          if len(s)==0: return self._widget
  
          # the first name must be treated differently because it is
          # the main widget, not a branch
          r = self._clean_up_name(s.pop(0))
  
          # search for the root name
          result = self._widget.findItems(r, _g.QtCore.Qt.MatchCaseSensitive | _g.QtCore.Qt.MatchFixedString)
  
          # if it pooped and we're not supposed to create it, quit
          if len(result) == 0 and not create_missing:
              if not quiet: self.print_message("ERROR: Could not find '"+r+"'")
              return None
  
          # otherwise use the first value
          elif len(result): x = result[0].param
  
          # otherwise, if there are more names in the list,
          # create the branch and keep going
          else:
              x = _g.parametertree.Parameter.create(name=r, type='group', children=[])
              self._widget.addParameters(x)
  
          # loop over the remaining names, and use a different search method
          for n in s:
  
              # first clean up
              n = self._clean_up_name(n)
  
              # try to search for the name
              try: x = x.param(n)
  
              # name doesn't exist
              except:
  
                  # if we're supposed to, create the new branch
                  if create_missing: x = x.addChild(_g.parametertree.Parameter.create(name=n, type='group', children=[]))
  
                  # otherwise poop out
                  else:
                      if not quiet: self.print_message("ERROR: Could not find '"+n+"' in '"+x.name()+"'")
                      return None
  
          # return the last one we found / created.
          return x
docs: Tries to find and return the parameter of the specified name. The name
          should be of the form
  
          ['branch1','branch2', 'parametername']
  
          Setting create_missing=True means if it doesn't find a branch it
          will create one.
  
          Setting quiet=True will suppress error messages (for checking)