send_command.py

About

Used to send arbitrary commands to a server outside of both the GUI and an experiment.

Useful for:

Controlling the min-eVOLVER
Sending custom commands if you have added an experimental parameter
Sending pump commands greater than 20 seconds if you are using the slow (~1mL/min) pumps or using IPPs

Usage

You must

Start the server before using send_command.py, otherwise commands will not go through.
In another terminal window, enter into the dpu virtual environment and navigate to the folder send_command.py is in: /dpu/experiment/

Send a Command

python3 send_command.py <port> <parameter> <value>

The <port> variable tells the program which eVOLVER to connect to

This is designated in the conf.yml file of the eVOLVER under 'port'
It is arbitrary, but we can choose something like 5555

Commands in the Server Log

When you send a command, you should see it come up in the window you're running the server in. See here for more information about the eVOLVER server and commands.

Annotated Server Log as a Command Comes in

Connected dpu as server    # Connection to the send_command.py script
Received COMMAND           # Command received the send_command.py script
stiri,0,0,_!               # Stir command, each vial is turned off
Disconnected dpu as Server
stire,0,0,end              # Response from the min-eVOLVER board. It got the command 
stira,,,_!                 # The server tells the min-eV board it can run the command

Examples

To set a parameter on all vials to one value: python3 `send_command.py`

For example, to turn stirring ON:
python3 send_command.py 5555 stir 11

Stirring OFF:
python3 send_command.py 5555 stir 0

Temperature OFF:
python3 send_command.py 5555 temp 64000

To run specific pumps (where s is a number of seconds):

python3 send_command.py 5555 pump s,s,s,s,s,s

For example:

python3 send_command.py 5555 pump 0,0,0,0,5,5

To set a non-pump parameter on specific vials:

python3 send_command.py <port> <parameter> <list_of_values>