1. Qt GUI and IDE development in EPICS
Andrew Rhyder
Senior Controls Engineer
Australian Synchrotron

2. EPICS GUI alternatives
EDM
MEDM
CSS
wxPython
Borland Delphi (AS)
Qt/Python (Diamond)
KWT (PAL)
Tcl/tk
KEK
Matlab
Labview
Looking for a GUI solution in 2008
Standardise GUIs
Lifetime of openMotif with implications for medm
Aging style
Scope of personel resources for GUI development

3. QCa Framework
QCa. A cross-platform application and GUI framework based on Qt for accessing EPICS data using Channel Access.
The QCa framework provides a Qt based C++ framework for easy CA access to EPICS data. It provides access to EPICS data at several levels from programmatic reading and writing of data using Qt’s signals and slots through to EPICS aware Qt user interface plugins such as push buttons, sliders, and text widgets.

4. GUI development models
Document model A single static application can open display files. Displays are added by designing new display files.
Medm – opens .edl files
Edm – opens .adl files
ASgui – opens .ui files  Part of QCa framework
CSS?
Application model A single application with displays embedded within the application. Displays are added by extending the application.
CSS
Australian Synchrotron control room GUI
QCa framework

5. Code Free GUI development • Rich, robust, intuitive, form editor
• Allows interaction with MEDM / EDM and other applications
• Integration with other Qt plugins
• Any application that can load Qt UI files can display EPICS GUIs

6. Code Rich GUI development
• Use existing EPICS display and control widgets for rapid and consistant development
• Develop speciality EPICS widgets using Qt friendly EPICS data classes
• Include as much or as little application specific code as required

7. Console app development • Full access to EPICS data
• Hides most CA specific functionality unless required
• Qt signals and slots used for data reading and writing

8. QCa framework development components
Form editor Qt’s Designer
IDE Qt’s Creator
Display application ASgui (QCa framework)
EPICS aware graphical widgets QCa framework
EPICS aware data classes QCa framework

9. Form editor – Qt’s ‘Designer’
QCa widgets live at design time

10. IDE – Qt’s Creator

11. Display Application - ASgui

12. Class usage

13. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

14. CaObject part 1

15. CaObject part 2

16. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

17. QCaObject

18. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

19. QCaFloating

20. QCaInteger

21. QCaString

22. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

23. QCaLabel

24. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

25. QCaLabelPlugin

26. QCaLabelPlugin

27. QCa Framwork class hierarchy
Type of access to CA data
Functionality
Main classes
C++ access to the CA library.
Provides convenient C++ access to the CA library.
CaObject
Qt based access to CA.
Hides CA specific functionality. Adds Qt functionality such as signals and slots.
QCaObject
Data type independent access.
Hides EPICS data types, providing read and write conversions where required.
QCaInteger
QCaString
QCaFloating
EPICS aware graphical widgets.
Implements graphical Qt based widgets that provide access to EPICS data.
QCaLabel QCaSlider
QCaLineEdit QCaSpinBox
QCaPushButton QCaComboBox
QCaShape QCaPlot
EPICS aware graphical Qt plugins.
Adds Qt plugin interfaces to EPICS aware widgets.
QCaLabelPlugin QCaSliderPlugin
QCaLineEditPlugin QCaSpinBoxPlugin
QCaPushButtonPlugin QCaComboBoxPlugin
QCaShapePlugin QCaPlotPlugin
GUI support widgets
Implements Qt based widgets that support control system GUIs. These widgets to not access the CA library.
AsGuiForm Link
GuiPushButton
CmdPushButton

28. Processing CA callbacks within QCa

29. Processing CA callbacks within QCa

30. QCaShape widget example

31. Plot widget example

32. Simple camonitor example

33. Variable substitution
A form can be designed to accept substitutions from the command line, or from the form it is embedded within
Default substitutions aid form design

34. ASgui - Single instance startup
Command line switch –s will force an existing instance to display the required form.

35. ASgui – available plugins
QCa widgets
Standard Qt widgets
Any other widgets
EPICS aware widgets that are not part of the QCa framework

36. Avoiding database support for GUIs
Qt’s standard signals and slots, with the QCa link widget allows rich interaction between display widgets without the need for EPICS PV performing calculations and logic.
For example:
A mode switch enabling text entry fields or push buttons
A combo box selecting a tab on a sub form

37. Ongoing development
Add properties to ensure 100% coverage of edm/medm functionality
Rich set of properties for plot widget
Cut and past from widgets
ASgui window menu
Doxygen doco
Conversion tools???

39. Australian Synchrotron www.synchrotron.org.au
Master Pres Template AS-PM-0110 Rev0