[kepler-users] Kepler-users Digest, Vol 91, Issue 3

Mon Dec 10 16:43:32 PST 2012

No, I wasn't referring to actors written in Java.
I was referring to composite actors that are themselves
class definitions. It appears that Kepler does not expose
this capability in the GUI (the commands aren't there to
convert a composite actor to a class nor to instantiate
classes). So what you have in your example is a _copy_
of the composite actor.  Hence, updates to the original
have no effect on the copy.

The mechanism I'm referring to is that a composite actor
may define a _class_, and you can then have multiple
instances of the class. You can also have subclasses
that override certain aspects.

If someone is interested in making this capability available
in Kepler, it would be great. I think it's mostly a matter of
adding it to the menu commands.

There is a paper on this mechanism here:

http://ptolemy.eecs.berkeley.edu/publications/papers/07/classesandInheritance/index.htm

There are demos in the Ptolemy tree here:

$PTII/ptolemy/configs/doc/ClassesIllustrated.xml
$PTII/ptolemy/domains/sdf/demo/NoisySinewave/NoisySinewave.xml
$PTII/ptolemy/domains/sdf/demo/RijndaelEncryption/RijndaelEncryption.xml

Edward

On 12/10/12 3:56 PM, Alvin Sebastian wrote:
> I am also interested to know the details behind this problem. What
> Edward referred as base classes and sub classes apply only to  Java
> codes, where you have to write and compile an actor in Java. I believe
> the type of “base” actor that you described is called a composite
> actor/workflow.
>
> Is it possible to share the same instance of a composite actor among
> multiple workflows? I know that besides dragging an existing kar from
> the panel as described by Ian, you can also use an actor called
> CompositeActor. Are there any other methods to use a composite actor?
>
> Alvin
>
> *From:*kepler-users-bounces at kepler-project.org
> [mailto:kepler-users-bounces at kepler-project.org] *On Behalf Of *Ian Szarka
> *Sent:* Tuesday, 11 December 2012 9:25 AM
> *To:* 'kepler-users at kepler-project.org'
> *Subject:* Re: [kepler-users] Kepler-users Digest, Vol 91, Issue 3
>
> Hi Edward , thank you for the reply.
>
> Where can I find the "Open Instance" option? Only "Open Actor" appears
> in context or any other menu, see picture, if it is not scrubbed.
>
> Example attached, details also written below.
>
> I have tried a new scenario from scratch which results in the same
> problem, Ie changes not propagating. It appears that actors  are just
> getting plain copied into workflows that use them.
>
> Thank you for your attention,
>
> Ian.
>
>
> Steps to create problem:
>
> -I made a simple work flow “A”, return a string
>
> -Saved the .kar for A in the MyWorkflows directory, and closed Kepler
>
> -Relaunched Kepler,
>
> -Made a second work flow “B” dragging actor A from the components panel
>
> -Ran B, verified expected result
>
> -Saved B to desktop and closed Kepler.
>
> -Relaunched Kepler
>
> -Opened actor A and modified string
>
> -Saved A, and closed Kepler
>
> -Relaunched Kepler, opened B
>
> -Ran B, received previous result – the first string and not the updated
> string
>
> -Opened the A actor located on the canvas of B – it had the previous string
>
> -Opened the file A in the MyWorkflows directory – it had the update string.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kepler-users-bounces at kepler-project.org
> <mailto:kepler-users-bounces at kepler-project.org>
> [mailto:kepler-users-bounces at kepler-project.org] On Behalf Of
> kepler-users-request at kepler-project.org
> <mailto:kepler-users-request at kepler-project.org>
> Sent: Friday, 7 December 2012 7:00 AM
> To: kepler-users at kepler-project.org <mailto:kepler-users at kepler-project.org>
> Subject: Kepler-users Digest, Vol 91, Issue 3
>
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> Today's Topics:
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>     1. Re:  I need help making modular actors please. (Edward A. Lee)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
>
> Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:13:15 -0800
>
> From: "Edward A. Lee" <eal at eecs.berkeley.edu <mailto:eal at eecs.berkeley.edu>>
>
> To: Ian Szarka <ian.szarka at anu.edu.au <mailto:ian.szarka at anu.edu.au>>
>
> Cc: "'kepler-users at kepler-project.org'"
>
>                  <kepler-users at kepler-project.org
> <mailto:kepler-users at kepler-project.org>>
>
> Subject: Re: [kepler-users] I need help making modular actors please.
>
> Message-ID: <50BFFF3B.3090009 at eecs.berkeley.edu
> <mailto:50BFFF3B.3090009 at eecs.berkeley.edu>>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"; Format="flowed"
>
> Changes to base classes should propagate to instances or subclasses,
> unless the instances or subclasses override the base classes somehow.
> perhaps that is what is happening? If you select "Open instance" instead
> of "Open actor" you can see what is an override vs. what is inherited
> from the base class.
>
> An example would help...
>
> Edward
>
> On 12/4/12 5:12 PM, Ian Szarka wrote:
>
>  > Hi all.
>
>  >
>
>  > I am after advise about making modular actors. Please respond.
>
>  >
>
>  > I am developing a library of actors, currently I have 20 user actors -
>
>  > many of which do similar things. I have built the actors in a modular
>
>  > way with common functions in a handful of base actors. A few times I
>
>  > have found bugs or need to change base functionality used in all of
>
>  > the user actors.
>
>  >
>
>  > I have put base actors in the
>
>  > ?C:\Users\Ian\KeplerData\workflows\MyWorkflows? folder and built the
>
>  > composite user actors using them. However I have found that changes to
>
>  > the base actors do not propagate to the user actors.
>
>  >
>
>  > Currently I am opening each user actor and making the same change for
>
>  > the base actor 20 times!
>
>  >
>
>  > How can I do this so that functionality in base actors is correctly
>
>  > used by other actors.
>
>  >
>
>  > Please help, I am after advise.
>
>  >
>
>  > Regards
>
>  >
>
>  > Ian.
>
>  >
>
>  >
>
>  >
>
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