def resolve_dotted_attribute(obj, attr, allow_dotted_names=True):
    """resolve_dotted_attribute(a, 'b.c.d') => a.b.c.d

    Resolves a dotted attribute name to an object.  Raises
    an AttributeError if any attribute in the chain starts with a '_'.

    If the optional allow_dotted_names argument is false, dots are not
    supported and this function operates similar to getattr(obj, attr).
    """
    if hasattr(obj, '_prefix') and obj._prefix and attr.startswith(obj._prefix):
        attr = attr[len(obj._prefix):]

    if allow_dotted_names:
        attrs = attr.split('.')
    else:
        attrs = [attr]

    for i in attrs:
        if i.startswith('_'):
            raise AttributeError(
                'attempt to access private attribute "%s"' % i
                )
        else:
            obj = getattr(obj,i)
    return obj