[kepler-users] kepler parameters

[Christopher Brooks]

Hi Kianwee,
My comments are interspersed with your text below.

On 10/24/11 8:39 AM, Edward A. Lee wrote:
>
> The documentation for FileParameter says:
>
> "If this attribute contains a parameter named allowFiles with value 
> false, then when a file browser is used to select a file, that file 
> browser will be set to not show files (only directories will be 
> shown). If this attribute contains a parameter named allowDirectories 
> with value true, then the file browser will permit the user to select 
> directories (the default behavior is that when a directory is 
> selected, that directory is opened and its contained files and 
> directories are listed)."
>
> (I'm not sure about Kepler, but in Ptolemy, just drag in a FileParameter
> from the Utilities menu, right click on it, and select Documentation.)
>
> I'm not sure what you mean by "list parameter." Can you cite a specific
> example?
>
> Edward
>
>
> On 10/24/11 3:22 AM, kianwee chen wrote:
>> Hi everyone, I am trying to create a composite actor and trying to setup
>> the parameters for the composite actor. Thus I have some question on
>> adding parameters in composite actors.
>>
>> 1.) Directory parameter:
>>
>> -I would like to let the users specify a directory on the composite
>> actor parameters interface, I know there is a file parameter but I need
>> a directory parameter. How can I customise a directory parameter ?

See Edward's explanation above.
>>
>> -I have a problem with relative path too, when I setup a file parameter
>> it returns the string of the path relative to my current kepler file
>> that is open. Is there a way to get the base file path ? Something like
>> $CWD, but instead the file path of my currently open file ?

The FileParameter documentation says:

<p>If the model containing this
  attribute has been saved to a MoML file, then the file name can be
  given relative to the directory containing that MoML file.
  If the model has not been saved to a file,
  then the classpath is used for identifying relative file names.</p>

<p>Files can be given relative to a <i>base</i>, where the baseis
  the URI of the first container above this one that has a URIAttribute.
  Normally, this URI specifies the file or URL containing the model
  definition. Thus, files that are referred to here can be kept in the
  same directory as the model, or in a related directory, and can
  moved together with the model.</p>

So, if you type in a relative path, then the file should be relative to 
the model.

There is a Ptolemy test at
ptolemy/actor/lib/io/test/auto/FileReader.xml
that illustrates the various possibilities.  If this test is run in the 
ptolemy/actor/lib/io/test
directory, then it will work.  If the test is run elsewhere, then the 
"FileReader Relative to CWD"
actor will fail because that actor uses $CWD, which is expected to be 
ptolemy/actor/lib/io/test
in that test.

In Java, the value of the user.dir property is the " User's current 
working directory".
However, when a Java program is opened in a graphical windowing system 
by clicking on
a menu choice, then the value of user.dir is not clearly defined.  It 
should probably be
the same value as the user's home directory, but I've seen various values.
For a FileParameter, the value of $CWD is set to the value of the 
user.dir property,
which is probably not what you want.  I often end up using $CLASSPATH, 
which looks in
the classpath for the resource.  The file chooser does not have a way to 
add $CLASSPATH,
you have to type it in manually.


>>
>> 2.) List Parameter:
>> - I have seen some actor have List parameters how do I customise one for
>> my composite actor too ?

For atomic actors, the ptolemy/actor/lib/MathFunction.java uses the 
addChoice() method:

        // Parameters
         function = new StringParameter(this, "function");
         function.setExpression("exp");
         function.addChoice("exp");
         function.addChoice("log");
         function.addChoice("modulo");
         function.addChoice("sign");
         function.addChoice("square");
         function.addChoice("sqrt");
         _function = _EXP;

I believe that addChoice() is defined in ptolemy/gui/Query.java

For a CompositeActor, you would probably need to edit the MoML by hand 
and add a Parameter:

<property name="function" class="ptolemy.data.expr.StringParameter" 
value="square">
<property name="style" class="ptolemy.actor.gui.style.ChoiceStyle">
<property name="exp" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="exp">
</property>
<property name="log" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="log">
</property>
<property name="modulo" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="modulo">
</property>
<property name="sign" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="sign">
</property>
<property name="square" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="square">
</property>
<property name="sqrt" class="ptolemy.kernel.util.StringAttribute" 
value="sqrt">
</property>
</property>
</property>

_Christopher
>>
>> Thanks alot !!
>> ckw
>>
>>
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>
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-- 
Christopher Brooks, PMP                       University of California
CHESS Executive Director                      US Mail: 337 Cory Hall
Programmer/Analyst CHESS/Ptolemy/Trust        Berkeley, CA 94720-1774
ph: 510.643.9841                                (Office: 545Q Cory)
home: (F-Tu) 707.665.0131 cell: 707.332.0670

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