def METHOD_NAME(credentials):
	properties = {}
	credentials_file = open(credentials, 'r')
	for line in credentials_file:
		line = line.strip()
		# skip line if its blank or a comment
		if len(line) == 0 or line.startswith('#') or line.startswith(CGDS_USERS_SPREADSHEET):
			continue
		# store name/value
		property = line.split('=')
		if (len(property) != 2):
			print >> ERROR_FILE, 'Skipping invalid entry in property file: ' + line
			continue
		properties[property[0]] = property[1].strip()
	credentials_file.close()
    # error check
	if (CGDS_DATABASE_USER not in properties or len(properties[CGDS_DATABASE_USER]) == 0 or
		CGDS_DATABASE_PW not in properties or len(properties[CGDS_DATABASE_PW]) == 0 or
		BITLY_USER not in properties or len(properties[BITLY_USER]) == 0 or
		BITLY_KEY not in properties or len(properties[BITLY_KEY]) == 0):
		print >> ERROR_FILE, 'Missing one or more required properties, please check property file'
		return None
	# return an instance of Credentials
	return Credentials(properties[CGDS_DATABASE_USER],
					   properties[CGDS_DATABASE_PW],
					   properties[BITLY_USER],
					   properties[BITLY_KEY])