Return the offset to use before placing this gate.

        :param string gate: The name of the gate whose pre-offset is desired.
        :return: Offset to use before the gate.
        :rtype: float

def _gate_pre_offset(self, gate):
        """
        Return the offset to use before placing this gate.

        :param string gate: The name of the gate whose pre-offset is desired.
        :return: Offset to use before the gate.
        :rtype: float
        """
        try:
            gates = self.settings['gates']
            delta_pos = gates[gate.__class__.__name__]['pre_offset']
        except KeyError:
            delta_pos = self._gate_offset(gate)
        return delta_pos