def dashcount(entry):
    """
    Counts the number of dashes at the beginning of a string. This
    is needed to determine the depth of options in categories.

    Args:
        entry (str): String to count the dashes at the start of

    Returns:
        dashes (int): Number of dashes at the start
    """
    dashes = 0
    for char in entry:
        if char == "-":
            dashes += 1
        else:
            return dashes
    return dashes