/// <summary>Run migrations before loading Configuration for the first time. Then load and return Configuration</summary>
        public static Configuration RunPreConfigMigrations()
        {
            // must occur before access to Configuration instance
            Migrations.migrate_to_v5_2_0__pre_config();

            //***********************************************//
            //                                               //
            //   do not use Configuration before this line   //
            //                                               //
            //***********************************************//
            return(Configuration.Instance);
        }