def absstart(self):
        """Returns the absolute start of the element by including docstrings
        outside of the element definition if applicable."""
        if hasattr(self, "docstart") and self.docstart > 0:
            return self.docstart
        else:
            return self.start
def absstart ( self ) : if hasattr ( self , "docstart" ) and self . docstart > 0 : return self . docstart else : return self . start
Returns the absolute start of the element by including docstrings
        outside of the element definition if applicable.