Syntax of an Auntorun Sequence

To write an autorun sequence, a set of standard commands are available to:

• Modify the Parameters of a Device -- SET command
• Perform a Run in an Autorun Sequence -- START or STOP command
• Wait for Special Conditions -- WAIT command
  • Wait a given Amount of Time
  • Wait for reaching Device Specific Condition
• Change the Titles of a Run
• Document the Autorun Sequence

Modify the Parameters of a Device -- SET command

To modify the parameters of a device, the command SET should be used:

Syntax:

SET  <alias>|<equipment name> [<device specific arguments>]

Examples:

• Setting the Cryostat Temperature (2-loops mode):

  SET Temperature 100.0 1.0 60 100.0 1.5 30
  

  where:
  • Temperature represents the alias for the temperature controller frontend,
  • 100.0 represents the new setpoint in Kelvin for the first heating loop,
  • 1.0 represents the tolerance in Kelvin for the first heating loop,
  • 60 represents the time that the first temperature needs to stay within the tolerance to be considered "in range",
  • 100.0 represents the new setpoint in Kelvin for the second heating loop,
  • 1.5 represents the tolerance in Kelvin for the second heating loop,
  • 30 represents the time that the second temperature needs to stay within the tolerance to be considered "in range".

• Setting the Cryostat Temperature (1-loop mode):

  SET Temperature 100.0 1.0 60
  

  where:
  • Temperature represents the alias for the temperature controller frontend,
  • 100.0 represents the new setpoint in Kelvin,
  • 1.0 represents the tolerance in Kelvin,
  • 60 represents the time that thetemperature needs to stay within the tolerance to be considered "in range".

• Setting an helium flow:

  SET Flow FLOW 2.5
  

  where:
  • Flow represents the alias for the flow controller frontend,
  • FLOW represents the parameter to be changed,
  • 2.5 represents the flow in l/min.

• Setting a magnet:

  SET Magnet WED 1000 60
  

  where:
  • Magnet represents the alias for the magnet controller frontend,
  • WED represents the name of a specific magnet,
  • 1000 represents the new field in Gauss,
  • 60 represents the waiting time for the field stbilization.

• Setting a sample rotation angle:

  SET Position ANGLE 130.0
  

  where:
  • Position represents the alias for the rotation controller frontend,
  • ANGLE represents the parameter to be changed,
  • 130.0 represents the new angle.

• Setting a new value for the Tube Heater:

  SET Tube_Heater I 0.230
  

  where:
  • Tube_Heater represents the alias for the Tube Heater frontend,
  • I represents the parameter to be changed (here the current),
  • 0.230 represents the new current in Ampere.

• Setting a new value for a beamline element:

  SET Beamline_PiM3 FS302 400
  

  where:
  • Beamline_PiM3 represents the alias for the Beamline Controller frontend,
  • FS302 represents the element to be changed (here the slits in front of GPS),
  • 400 represents the new DAC value for this element.

Perform a Run in an Autorun Sequence -- START or STOP command

To start a run in an autorun sequence, the command START should be used:

Syntax:

START S[CALER]    <number of scaler>|<label> <limit>

or

START H[ISTOGRAM] <number of histogram>|<label> <limit>

Examples:

• Starting a run to accumulate 10'000'000 events in the histogram 1:

  START Histogram 1 10000000
  

• Starting a run to accumulate 5'000'000 events in the histogram "Forw":

  START Histogram Forw 5000000
  

• Starting a run to accumulate 3'000'000 events in the scaler 5:

  START Scaler 5 3000000
  

  
  

As a rule, if a run was already active when an autorun sequence is started, it will be stopped. The users can nevertheless keep the running run and incoporate it in the autorunsequence by using the command STOP as the first command in the autorun sequence: :

Syntax:

STOP S[CALER]    <number of scaler>|<label> <limit>

or

STOP H[ISTOGRAM] <number of histogram>|<label> <limit>

Example:

• Stopping a run, already running before the autorun sequence is started, after an accumulation of 10'000'000 events in the histogram 1:

  STOP Histogram 1 10000000
  

Wait for Special Conditions -- WAIT command

Wait a given Amount of Time

There is the possibility to make the autorun sequence process wait a given amount of time before proceeding with the next command:

Syntax:

WAIT <time in seconds>

Example:

• Waiting 15 minutes before proceeding:

  WAIT 900
  

Wait for reaching Device Specific Condition

The autorun sequence can wait until a device has reached specific conditions.
(Note: to date this command applies only to the LTC21 Temperature Controller).

Syntax:

WAIT <alias>|<equipment name>|<interval [sec]>  [<device specific arg>] [<max interval>]

Example:

• Waiting that the temperature is in range

  WAIT Temperature INRANGE
  

Change the Titles of a Run

The titles for a run can be modified from the autorunsequence with the command TITLE:

Syntax:

TITLE    S[AMPLE]=<text> F[IELD]=<text> T[EMP]=<text> O[RIENT]=<text> C[OMMENT]=<text>

Note that normally the field, temperature and orientation entries are automatically changed when they have been modified by the command SET or if they have been changed interactively.
Example:

• Changing the comment entry

  TITLE C=This is just a test
  

Document the Autorun Sequence

Lines of the autorun sequence file beginning with "#" are considered as comments.
Blank lines will be ignored and can be used for styling the autorun sequence script.
The command SEQUENCE is usually placed at the top of the script and define the title of the autorun sequence. This title is displayed for example in the status window of the autorun sequence (see section Status of the Autorun Sequence).

---