def query_params(self, params, key, def_value, short_hand=None):
    """
    updates params dict to use
    :param params:
    :param key:
    :param def_value:
    :param short_hand:
    :return:
    """
    if key not in params and short_hand:
        # value is associated with shorthand, move to key
        params[key] = params.get(short_hand, def_value)
        del params[short_hand]
    elif key not in params and not short_hand:
        params[key] = def_value
    elif key in params:
        # key is there, also possibly shorthand
        # assume def value at this point is not needed
        if short_hand in params:
            del params[short_hand]
    return params
updates params dict to use
    :param params:
    :param key:
    :param def_value:
    :param short_hand:
    :return: