PyOctal

PyOctal is a Python package equipped with sweep tests, analysis tools, and interfaces with equipments that are used primarily for optical chip testing. This package supports visa communications with a varitey of instruments.

• More About PyOctal
• Directory Structure
• Installation
  • Git Bash
  • Python Environment
  • Visual Studio Code (VSCode)
  • Install PyOctal
• Getting Started
  • How to Run a Test
  • Test and Setup Instruments
  • Debugging Issues
• Developer Guide
  • Git Bash
  • Expand this Library

More About PyOctal

This is a tool allowing you to do: remotely setup your instruments and run the sweeps. Please make some suggestions on what you would like to accomplish and we would love to help!

Take a look at here for detailed information of supported instruments.

Directory Structure

.
<folder>
├── pyoctal                  # core library - low-level definitions
├── tools                    # all sweep tests are stored here
├── tests                    # tests to run when commiting to Github
<files>
├── pyproject.toml           # pyoctal package setup 
├── requirements.txt         # contain all required python packages for this repository

Installation

Before installing any of the software, please make sure that you know exactly the operating system that you are running on and whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit.

Environment

This repository only works when two conditions are satisfied:

• Windows OS machine - this is neccessary for pywin32 module
• python version >= 3.6 - this is neccessary for f-string formatting

Method 1 - Install Python Run python -m pip install requirements.txt.

Method 1 - Install Anaconda:

The Anaconda version must

• Support your current Windows OS system
• Able to create a Python 3.6 environment

Install Anaconda version which supports your OS system and make sure all Listed packages in requirements.txt are installed.

To install packages, go to Enviornments tab, select not installed, and then search up the packages. There are some packages that might not be Listed because the channel which contain them are not imported upon installation. If that is the case, search up the python package and find the corresponding channel and include it in Anaconda environment.

If your Anaconda does not use Python 3.6 for its environment, it will fail to install pyvisa. Firstly, make sure that the current Anaconda python version is at least 3.6. Once the condition is satisfied, create a new environment with Anaconda Prompt and specify Python version as Python 3.6. After the new environment is successfully created, it can be viewed under Environments tab. The packages can then be installed on this new environment without errors.

# create a new conda environment
> conda create --name pyoctal_env python=<version>
# activate your new environment
> conda activate pyoctal_env
# deactivate
> conda deactivate

• pyvisa requires "conda-forge" channel
• pyaml requires "conda-forge" channel

NOTE FOR WINDOWS 7 USERS: If your system is running on Windows 7, please only install Anaconda versions which are equipped with Python versions older than 3.8. This is very important as versions since Python 3.9 do not support Windows 7. The safe option is install versions before anaconda3-2020-11.

If you attempt to install the later anaconda version on your Windows 7 system, you will get a "Failed to create menus" error. Refer to Using Anaconda on older operating systems for more information.

Method 2 - Use Virtual Python Environment:

Run this in the root-directory of this repository namely autotesting.

Platform	Shell	Command to activate virtual environment
Posix	bash/zsh	$ source .venv/bin/activate
	fish	$ source .venv/bin/activate.fish
	csh/tcsh	$ source .venv/bin/activate.csh
	PowerShell	$ .venv/bin/Activate.ps1
Windows	cmd.exe	> .venv\Scripts\activate.bat
	PowerShell	> .venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

# This automatically setup your virtual environment
> python3 -m venv_setup

# Windows PS example
# Activate a venv machine.
> .venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

# Deactivate a venv machine
> deactivate

Install PyOctal

For users, I recommend to update your current old repository to a newer version by cloning or downloading this repository again and delete the old ones.

Method 1 - Clone from Git (Preferred):

Getting the repository cloned to a local direcotory

# Create a directory named autotesting
> mkdir pyoctal
# Go into that directory
> cd pyoctal
# Clone this repository down to your autotesting directory
> git clone https://github.com/christina-chang-tw/PyOctal.git
# move into that directory
> cd PyOctal

Method 2 - Download from Github:

You can download a zip file containing this repository by navigating to <> Code tab and then select Local and Download ZIP.

Getting Started

How to Run a Test?

There has been a refactoring in this module. It used to be using argparse as an interface, but due to have more and more testings to be added, I have chosen to run each file individually and those files are stored in the tools directory.

Sweeps

# Example: 
> python -m tools.sweeps.pulse

Instrument Setup

An interface to easily setup an instrument. Go to tools > setups > config.yml to change the settings for the corresponding instrument.

Test	Instrument	Description
agilent816xB	Agilent 8163B, 8164B	Setup the multimeter to the auto-range and desired wavelength and output power
E3640A	Set the output voltage and current limit for the DC power source

# Example: 
> python -m tools.setups.main 816xB

Debugging issues

1. f-string formatting method cannot be used is an issues related to the python version. Only versions after Python 3.6 adopts f-string format.
2. Contact me if need extra help: tyc1g20@soton.ac.uk