def getConstant(name):
<EOL>if '<STR_LIT>' in connection.introspection.table_names() and not isPreliminaryRun():<EOL><INDENT>params = global_preferences_registry.manager()<EOL>try:<EOL><INDENT>return params.get(name)<EOL><DEDENT>except NotFoundInRegistry as e:<EOL><INDENT>logger.error('<STR_LIT>' % e)<EOL>return None<EOL><DEDENT><DEDENT>
This is a convenience function that makes it easy to access the value of a preference/constant
without needing to check if the django_dynamic_preferences app has been set up and without
needing to load from that model directly.