def METHOD_NAME(self, filename=None):
    r"""
    Load the options from file pointed to by filename. If filename
    is None, it defaults to the filename defined in options in the
    global scope.
    """
    if filename is None:
        filename = settings.options_filename
    if os.path.isfile(filename):
        self.dict_ = self.defaults.copy()
        with open(filename, 'rb') as fp:
            self.dict_.update(json.METHOD_NAME(fp))
    else:
        self.dict_ = self.defaults.copy()
        self.save()