User:Mike

Name: Tengda Han (Mike)

University: ANU

Email: u5612799@anu.edu.au

Summary: I am doing GSOC2016 for ASCEND. I will do something on Canvas.

• Browse my code here: mike:
• Check out my code using svn co http://svn.ascend4.org/branches/mike

Discussion notes of 12 May 2016

To get the canvas GUI running in the trunk code, I used:

python ~/ascend/trunk/pygtk/canvas/canvas.py

May 12 to May 22

• Set development environment and play with canvas.

• Find a problem about module 'ascpy' in my branch, which cannot be found in canvas.py.

• But when I run canvas.py of main trunk, module 'ascpy' can be found, but another error is called:libascend.so.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

Discussion notes of 23 May 2016

• cannot find module 'ascpy' is because I need to compile by

scons -j4

• set paths properly before run canvas.py:

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=~/Desktop/ascend_mike/mike/:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export PYTHONPATH=~/Desktop/ascend_mike/mike/models/johnpye/fprops/python:$PYTHONPATH

• find a bug of Adrian's branch, which is, when run the solver, ascend kills the background terminal. Trying different ubuntu system may work.

May 23 to May 29

• Tested Adrian's branch on ubuntu 16.04 LTS. Previous bug doesn't exist (ascend kills the terminal)

• Try to understand Gaphas and libavoid.

• Link 'libavoid' on ASCEND wiki has 404 error.

• When 'scons' ASCEND in Ubuntu16.04, SWIG error comes. sulution here

Discussion notes of 30 May 2016

• When try to run canvas.py, should set PYTHONPATH to

ascend_trunk/trunk/model/johnpye/fprops/python

• For Adrian's version

canvas.py doesn't work because of

Error: sys.path must be a list of directory names

Reason: installed python-gaphas uses gtk2. But we require gtk3 branch of gaphas, Solution:

cd ~/desired directory
git clone https://github.com/amolenaar/gaphas
git checkout gtk3
git pull
sudo python setup.py install

However, after canvas.py pops up, TypeError: Couldn't find conversion for foreign struct 'cairo.Context' occurs when click on blank canvas

May 30 to June 5

• Solved TypeError: Couldn't find conversion for foreign struct 'cairo.Context' by

sudo apt-get python-gi-cairo

This package is a Python Cairo bindings for the GObject library

• If problems occur when installing gaphas by

sudo apt-get install python-gaphas

Check the universe repository before installation may help

• Undo button works (finishing the work of Adrian), redo haven't been implemented yet.

Discussion notes of June 6 2016

• Buttons now have labels. By adding tb.set_style(Gtk.ToolbarStyle.BOTH) after tb = Gtk.Toolbar()

• Delete unnecessary .svg image files in mike:pygtk/canvas only leave defaultblock.svg

• Block icons should be generated by strings, instead of load image. Example: mike:models/test/canvas/brayton_fprops_rachel.a4c

• Currently svn version is updated to changeset 3110

• I can improve blocks, firstly to make sure they can be properly solved in canvas.

June 6 to June 13

• models in mike:models/test/canvas/basic_electronics_model.a4c have been updated.

• Problems found: every time after using the model in canvas, a '.svg' file of that model will be generated.

June 13 to June 28

• Working on redo function. Implement redo function in mike:pygtk/canvas/undo.py

• Fix a bug that rankine_canvas.a4c in mike:models/test/canvas/ cannot run in canvas

• Fix a bug that rankine_stream.a4c in mike:models/test/canvas/ cannot run in canvas

• Fix a bug that rankine_stream_v2.a4c in mike:models/test/canvas/ cannot run in canvas

• Fix a bug that ammonia_synthesis_v2.a4c in mike:models/test/canvas/ cannot run in canvas

• GUI update: Load Library (Ctrl+L) is enabled from menu bar

• GUI update: Correct labels in Block Properties Dialog

June 29 to July 10

• Fix a bug when adjusting Error/Status Reporter Console

• Rotate(Ctrl+R) and Flip(Ctrl+F) operation is added to menu bar, and keyboard shortcuts of them are enabled.

• Correct current value (I) in running results from mike:models/test/canvas/basic_electronics_model.a4c library.

• Find a bug: In basic_electronics_model.a4c, when connect 2 ports of T-piece/Branch together and run, Canvas will quit.

• An Error occurs when load canvas files because blocks with same name exist. Solution: 1. add a checker before 'run' or 'save'. 2. avoid reduplicate names when generating blocks.

• Also, a warning 'CompareStatements called with unknown statement' always appears when load files, but seems don't affect the result.

• Add reporter for loading libraries and files.

• Errors including line number can be shown on canvas when loading is unsuccessful.

• Update information in 'Help' Menu

Discussion notes of July 11 2016

• Automatically generating .svg files when load libraries: save these images into ~/.ascend/tmp

• Preference of units should be improved: modify pygtk/preference.py

• Warning should be displayed when ports not connected

• Models with degree of freedom should not be solved. Warning should be displayed

• In 'Block Properties', equations of blocks should be displayed

July 11 to July 20

• Correct syntax error in some files

• Improving Block Properties to display equations, by editing relating python files and glade files.

• Warning Dialog added when load new libraries with canvas items existing.

• Warning Dialog added when exiting without saving canvas (still need improve).

Discussion notes for July 20 2016

• For equation display, some paths may be valuable to check: asclibrary - get module types - library.h - type.h - ismodel(); ascend/compiler - type.descio.h - writedefinition.

• Next Step: Create a library for piping system. Read Mechanics of Fluids. Be careful with flow network & over constrain issues.

July 21 to Aug 2

• Solve an issue that .svg image files will be generated in pygtk/canvas after load library: create directory 'pygtk/canvas/.temp' and save all the .svg files into that .temp directory. By modifying mike:models/test/canvas/blocktype.py

• Piping system library can be loaded now. But still working on equations.

Discussion notes for August 3 2016

• generate .svg files to ~/.cache/ascend, fix the permission issue by function os.path.expanduser(path).

• Combine Quit (Ctrl+Q) and close button together by assign 'dispensable' argument i.e. Event=None.

• Refresh the workflow for developing piping system model.

Aug 3 to Aug 9

• 'inout' port is partially implemented by adding similar 'inout' elements with previous 'input' and 'output' elements properly. However error occurs when right click and view 'block properties'.

• Piping system library can solve simple piping problems under fluid mechanics approximation.

Discussion notes for August 10

• Report current working status.

• General discussion about piping system library.

Aug 11 to Aug 18

• 'inout' port is fully implemented by checking glade file mike:pygtk/glade/bp.glade and match the variable names. Now, 'inout' port works properly for drawing feedback (can be connected with input/output/inout) and solving.

Discussion notes for August 19

• Report current working status.

• Schedule next meeting on Monday morning.

Aug 19 to Aug 22

• Potential connector and flow connector can be detected from library file via syntax 'potential:' and 'flow:', however it only has effects for one layer. E.g. library like this doesn't work:

MODEL electron_stream;
    V "potential:" IS_A voltage;
    I "flow:" IS_A current;
END electron_stream;

MODEL equipment;
    inlet "in:" IS_A electron_stream;
    outlet "out:" IS_A electron_stream;
END equipment;

MODEL something REFINES equipment;
    ...
END something;

But library like this can work, but it doesn't help much for solving problems:

MODEL equipment;
    inlet "in:" IS_A electron_stream;
    outlet "out:" IS_A electron_stream;
    V "potential:" IS_A voltage;
    I "flow:" IS_A current;
END equipment;

MODEL something REFINES equipment;
    ...
END something;

Therefore, further implement is required on this.

Work after GSOC

• Viewing block equations from right click - block properties is enabled, details in mike:pygtk/canvas/blockproperties.py

Final Review

• How to use 'inout' port: (use basic electronics model as an example) mike:models/test/canvas/basic_electronics_model.a4c

MODEL resistor_basic REFINES equipment;

NOTES

		'block' SELF {Basic Resistor}
		'icon' SELF {resistor.svg}
		'graphic' SELF {0,5-2,5
			2,5-2.5,8
			2.5,8-3.5,2
			3.5,2-4.5,8

4.5,8-5.5,2 5.5,2-6.5,8 6.5,8-7.5,2 7.5,2-8,5 8,5-10,5} END NOTES; Resistance "param: Resistance of the resisitor" IS_A resistance; inlet.I = outlet.I; outlet.V = inlet.V - (inlet.I * Resistance); END resistor_basic;

MODEL Ground; NOTES 'block' SELF {Ground} 'icon' SELF {ground.png} 'graphic' SELF {5,0-5,5 0,5-10,5 2,7-8,7 4,9-6,9} 'port_inout' SELF {inout:5,0} END NOTES; inout "inout:" IS_A electron_stream; inout.V = 0 {volt}; END Ground;

• See previous logs for setup environment of my branch.

• Contact me via u5612799@anu.edu.au if you encounter problems / have questions.

• TODO List from me:
  • Implement redo function in mike:pygtk/canvas/undo.py
  • Improve quit check (quit_confirm) function in mike:pygtk/canvas/blocklist.py
  • Improve functions of mike:models/test/canvas/basic_electronics_model.a4c
  • Improve functions of mike:models/test/canvas/piping_system.a4c
  • Improve potential and flow connectors in various files from mike:pygtk/canvas

Screenshots

• 
  Canvas GUI
• 
  'Inout' port is available in canvas
• 
  Basic electronic circuit simulation
• 
  Block equation can be viewed from 'block properties'
• 
  Warning dialog before quitting canvas is added