5.1.3.2. Plugins#

../_images/dockPlugins.png

The plugin toolbox shows all loaded plugins included any opened instances. The plugins are divided into the following types:

  • Actuator (Motor) -> any actuator plugins.

  • DataIO >> Grabber -> any cameras.

  • DataIO >> ADDA -> any analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog converters.

  • DataIO >> RawIO -> further input/output plugins.

  • Algorithm -> all algorithm and extended-widget plugins.

The plugins of type actuator or dataIO behave in the way, that it is possible to open one or multiple instances of every plugin, while all algorithm plugins always provide a set of multiple algorithms (filters) or user interfaces.

At startup of itom all plugin libraries, located somewhere in the subfolder plugins of itom are loaded. If the load fails (for instance due to missing 3rd party libraries), their load is aborted and the reason can be seen in the dialog loaded plugins… (menu file >> loaded plugins). A right click to any hardware plugin opens the second context menu, depicted in the figure above. There you have the possibility to open a new instance of this plugin. After having created this instance, the plugin instance is unfolded an you see the instance by its identifier or ID like in it is the case for the plugin DummyMotor in the figure above. The context menu of an instance is also depicted in the figure.

Depending on the implementation of the plugin you have the following possibilities:

Name

Description

Configuration Dialog

If the plugin provides this a configuration dialog is started (else: disabled)

Show Plugin Toolbox

If provided, the instance’s toolbox is shown in the main window (else: disabled)

Close Instance

closes this instance (see note below)

Send to Python…

You can access this plugin’s instance by a global variable in Python under the name that you give in the input box that appears after clicking on this action.

Note

If you want to close an instance of a plugin by this toolbox, you need to consider the following remarks:

  • If you opened the instance by the toolbox and no python variable is created for this plugin, you can simply close it by the GUI

  • If you created the instance by the GUI, however created a python variable, a click on close instance deletes the reference, the GUI is holding to the plugin’s instance. However, the instance is only closed if all Python references are deleted as well.

  • If you created the instance by Python, you cannot delete it by the GUI.

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