def _pack_prms():
    """if you introduce new 'save-able' parameter dictionaries, then you have
    to include them here"""

    config_dict = {
        "Paths": prms.Paths.to_dict(),
        "FileNames": prms.FileNames.to_dict(),
        "Db": prms.Db.to_dict(),
        "DbCols": prms.DbCols.to_dict(),
        "DataSet": prms.DataSet.to_dict(),
        "Reader": prms.Reader.to_dict(),
        "Instruments": prms.Instruments.to_dict(),
        # "excel_db_cols": prms.excel_db_cols.to_dict(),
        # "excel_db_filename_cols": prms.excel_db_filename_cols.to_dict(),
        "Batch": prms.Batch.to_dict(),
    }
    return config_dict