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Feature request: Support formulas in the Write PV action value field

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Assessment

Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Newbie friendliness
48/100
Issue type
Feature
Clarity
Mostly clear
Activity status
Active
Tech stack
java
Domain
tooling

Research direction

Start by locating the Write PV action implementation and reading how it handles the Value field and PV values. Check whether the project already has formula or expression handling that could apply here. Done means the field can evaluate a formula that reads another PV and supports arithmetic such as incrementing a PV, without requiring a script.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

codathon discussion

It would useful to be able to use formulas in the "Value" field of a "Write PV" action. This would simplify many use cases that would otherwise require scripting, which we aim to minimise at ISIS. Below are some examples of where we would find this feature helpful.

Assign the value of one PV to another

e.g. PV Name: destination, Value: =`source`

We have a display that shows suggested steering magnet setpoints calculated by some diagnostics next to the current magnet setpoints, then there are buttons to assign the suggested to the actual setpoints if the operator chooses to use them. This requires a short script to implement, but would be simpler with the requested feature.

Image

Custom increment buttons

e.g. PV Name: $(pv_name), Value: =`$(pv_name)` + 1

We have some displays where users are used to having more increment/decrement options than the spinner or thumbwheel widgets provide. Being able to do in-place addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc would make this possible without scripting.

Dominant language
Java
Stars
130
Forks
132
Avg merge
2d 11h
Merged PRs (30d)
23

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