hasyutils 2.0.0__py2.py3-none-any.whl

HasyUtils/MsUtils.py

@@ -0,0 +1,1283 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+'''
+this file contains the helper functions for the MacroServer
+'''
+#
+# not fatal because pyspViewer.py might be called on a non-exp host
+#
+try: 
+    import PyTango as _PyTango
+except:
+    pass
+from . import TgUtils
+import os as _os
+import imp as _imp
+import sys as _sys
+import math as _math
+
+def _findTangoDevice( macro, poolDevice): 
+    '''
+    return the TangoDevice belonging to a poolDevice
+    '''
+    try:
+        poolProxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( poolDevice)
+        temp = poolProxy.read_attribute( "TangoDevice").value 
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils._findTangoDevice: failed for %s, %s" %
+                      ( poolDevice, str( e)))
+        macro.abort()
+        return None
+    #macro.output( "MsUtils._findTangoDevice: %s" % temp)
+    return temp
+
+def _findFilewriter( macro, name):
+    '''
+    name is the Tango device name of an EigerDectris. This 
+    function returns the name of the corresponding filewriter.
+    '''
+    #
+    # find an EigerFilewriter for the EigerDectris
+    #
+    deviceNameFw = None
+    TangoHost = None
+    if name.find( ":10000"):
+        lst = name.split( ':')
+        TangoHost = "%s:10000" % lst[0]
+
+    devsFw = TgUtils.getDeviceNamesByClass( "EigerFilewriter", tangoHost = TangoHost)
+    for devFw in devsFw:
+        prop = TgUtils.getDeviceProperty( devFw, 'EigerDevice', tangoHost = TangoHost)
+        #
+        # prop[0]: p62/eiger/e4m vs. hasnp62eh:10000/p62/eiger/e4m
+        #
+        if name.find( prop[0]) != -1:
+            deviceNameFw = devFw
+            break
+    if deviceNameFw is None: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils._findFilewriter: failed to find filewriter for %s" % 
+                      (name))
+        macro.abort()
+        return None
+    if TangoHost is not None: 
+        deviceNameFw = "%s/%s" % (TangoHost, deviceNameFw)
+    return deviceNameFw
+
+def prepareEigerDectrisAttrs( macro, name = None, NbImages = 1, 
+                              CountTime = None, TriggerMode = None, NbTriggers = 1, 
+                              ArmFlag = True, ImagesPerFile = 1000):
+    '''
+
+    called from MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs()
+
+    sets these detector attributes
+      CountTime  
+      NbImages   
+      NbTriggers 
+      TriggerMode 
+
+    the Filewriter FileNamePattern ist derived from ScanFile, ScanDir, ScanID
+    #
+    # ScanDir == "/gpfs/commissioning/raw"
+    #
+    if scan_dir.find( "commissioning/raw") != -1: 
+        temp = "commissioning/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    #
+    # ScanDir == "/gpfs/local"
+    #
+    elif scan_dir.find( "/gpfs/local") != -1: 
+        temp = "local/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    #
+    # ScanDir == /gpfs/current/raw
+    #
+    else: 
+        temp = "current/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    eigerFw_proxy.FilenamePattern = temp
+
+    scanNameDir = "%s/%s_%05d" % ( scan_dir, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    fileDir = "%s/%s_%05d/%s" % ( scan_dir, prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName)
+      *** scanNameDir and fileDir are created with 0777 
+          this feature has been added to avoid permission issues for beamlines
+          with two different users, e.g. p99user and p99femto
+
+    ImagesPerFile   = 1000 by default
+
+    Eventually execute arm()
+      ArmFlag can be False, if users want to do some extra initialisations
+
+
+    Here is an example (PreScan Hook)                    
+
+        scanInfo = HasyUtils.createScanInfo( self.getParentMacro().getCommand())
+        if HasyUtils.isInMg( self, detectorName):
+            if not HasyUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs( self, 
+                                                   name = detectorName,
+                                                   trig_mode = 'ints',
+                                                   nbFrames = 1, # per trigger 
+                                                   acq_time = scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'], 
+                                                   NbTriggers = scanInfo[ 'intervals'] + 1,
+                                                   ImagesPerFile = 1000):
+                self.output( "general_features.gh_pre_scan: prepareDetectors: returned error")
+                return False
+
+    '''
+
+    detectorName = name
+    if detectorName is None: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: no detectorName")
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+    #
+    # detectorName is a pool device name, find the Tango device
+    #
+    tangoDevice = _findTangoDevice( macro, detectorName)
+    if tangoDevice is None: 
+        return
+    try:
+        eiger_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( tangoDevice)
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: Eiger %s" % tangoDevice)
+        macro.debug("MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: %s found in active MG" % detectorName)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s, %s" % 
+                      (detectorName, controllerProxy.TangoDevice, str( e)))
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    #
+    # disarm the detector before setting the attributes
+    #
+    eiger_proxy.disarm()
+
+    #
+    # CountTime (exposure time)
+    #
+    if CountTime is not None: 
+        eiger_proxy.CountTime    = float( CountTime)
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: CountTime to %g" % eiger_proxy.CountTime)
+        #eiger_proxy.FrameTime = float( CountTime)*1.001
+        #macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: FrameTime to %g" % eiger_proxy.CountTime)
+    #
+    # NbImages per Trigger
+    #
+    eiger_proxy.NbImages     = int( NbImages)
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: NbImages to %d" % eiger_proxy.NbImages)
+    
+    #
+    # TriggerMode, usually 'ints' for internal triggers
+    #
+    if TriggerMode is not None: 
+        eiger_proxy.TriggerMode  = TriggerMode
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: TriggerMode to %s" % eiger_proxy.TriggerMode)
+    #
+    # NbTriggers
+    #
+    eiger_proxy.NbTriggers = int( NbTriggers)
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: NbTrigger to %d" % eiger_proxy.NbTriggers)
+
+    #
+    # handle Filewriter
+    #
+    deviceNameFw = _findFilewriter( macro, tangoDevice)
+    if deviceNameFw is None: 
+        return 
+
+    try: 
+        eigerFw_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( deviceNameFw)
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: FileWriter %s" % deviceNameFw)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s" % 
+                      ( deviceNameFw, str( e)))
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    #
+    # tst.fio -> tst
+    #
+    scan_file = macro.getEnv("ScanFile")
+    if type(scan_file).__name__ == 'list':
+        scan_file = scan_file[0]
+
+    prefix = scan_file.split( '.')[0]
+    scan_id = macro.getEnv("ScanID")
+    #
+    # use ScanDir to select 
+    #    current/raw/<prefix>_<ScanID>/<detectorName>/<prefix>_$id
+    #  or 
+    #    commissioning/raw/<prefix>_<ScanID>/<detectorName>/<prefix>_$id
+    #
+    #  $id is handled by Dectris
+    #
+    # on the DCU we will always have /data/current/raw
+    # the download job looks at ScanDir
+    #
+    scan_dir = macro.getEnv( "ScanDir")
+    scanNameDir = "%s/%s_%05d" % ( scan_dir, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    fileDir = "%s/%s_%05d/%s" % ( scan_dir, prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName)
+    try:
+        _os.makedirs( fileDir, exist_ok=True)
+        _os.chmod( fileDir, 0o777)
+        _os.chmod( scanNameDir, 0o777)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to create %s, %s" % (fileDir, e))
+        return False
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDetectorAttrs: creating %s" % (fileDir))
+    #+++
+    #
+    # 9.3.2021: taken out $id for Florian Bertram
+    #
+    if scan_dir.find( "commissioning/raw") != -1: 
+        #temp = "commissioning/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_$id" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix)
+        temp = "commissioning/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    #
+    # ScanDir == "/gpfs/local"
+    #
+    elif scan_dir.find( "/gpfs/local") != -1: 
+        #temp = "local/%s_%05d/%s/%s_$id" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix)
+        temp = "local/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    else: 
+        #temp = "current/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_$id" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix)
+        temp = "current/raw/%s_%05d/%s/%s_%05d" % ( prefix, int( scan_id), detectorName, prefix, int( scan_id))
+    eigerFw_proxy.FilenamePattern = temp
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: FilenamePattern to %s" % eigerFw_proxy.FilenamePattern)
+    #
+    # ImagesPerFile
+    #
+    # eigerFw_proxy.ImagesPerFile = NbImages*NbTriggers
+    # Florian like the 'fixed' 1000 better, to avoid large files
+    #
+    eigerFw_proxy.ImagesPerFile = ImagesPerFile
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: ImagesPerFile to %d" % eigerFw_proxy.ImagesPerFile)
+
+    #
+    # eventually arm() the detector
+    #
+    if ArmFlag: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: calling arm()")
+        eiger_proxy.arm()
+    else: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs: NOT calling arm()")
+
+    return True
+
+
+def resetEigerDectrisAttrs( macro, name = None):
+    '''
+    make sure that:
+     - the detector is disarmed to close the file
+     - NbTriggers is set to 1 in order to allow for 'ct' 
+     - ImagesPerFile is set to 1 in order to allow for 'ct' 
+    '''
+
+    import time
+    detectorName = name
+    if detectorName is None: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: no detectorName")
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    tangoDevice = _findTangoDevice( macro, detectorName)
+    if tangoDevice is None: 
+        return 
+    try: 
+        eiger_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( tangoDevice)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s" % 
+                      ( tangoDevice, str( e)))
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+
+    deviceNameFw = _findFilewriter( macro, tangoDevice)
+    if deviceNameFw is None: 
+        return 
+    try: 
+        eigerFw_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( deviceNameFw)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s" % 
+                      ( deviceNameFw, str( e)))
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    if eigerFw_proxy.state() == _PyTango.DevState.MOVING: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: FW (%s)  is MOVING -> disarm detector" % deviceNameFw)
+        eiger_proxy.disarm()
+        startTime = time.time()
+        while eigerFw_proxy.state() != _PyTango.DevState.ON: 
+            time.sleep( 0.1)
+            if (time.time() - startTime) > 2: 
+                macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: FW %s does not become ON" % deviceNameFw)
+                return False
+        while eigerFw_proxy.status() != 'ready':
+            time.sleep( 0.1)
+            if (time.time() - startTime) > 2: 
+                macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: FW %s does not become 'ready'" % deviceNameFw)
+                return False 
+
+    scan_file = macro.getEnv("ScanFile")
+    if type(scan_file).__name__ == 'list':
+        scan_file = scan_file[0]
+    lst = scan_file.split( '.')
+    #
+    # this creates current/raw/SingleShots
+    #
+    eigerFw_proxy.FilenamePattern = "current/raw/SingleShots/%s_$id" % lst[0]
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: FilenamePattern to %s" % eigerFw_proxy.Filenamepattern)
+
+    eigerFw_proxy.ImagesPerFile = 1
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: ImagesPerFile to %d" % int( eigerFw_proxy.ImagesPerFile))
+    eiger_proxy.NbImages = 1
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: NbImages to %d" % int( eiger_proxy.NbImages))
+    eiger_proxy.NbTriggers = 1
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: NbTriggers to %d" % int( eiger_proxy.NbTriggers))
+    eiger_proxy.TriggerMode = 'ints'
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs: TriggerMode to %s" % eiger_proxy.TriggerMode)
+                
+    return True
+
+def prepareDetectorAttrs( macro, name = "pilatus", rootDir = "/ramdisk", 
+                          nbFrames = 1, acq_time = None, trig_mode = None, NbTriggers = 1, 
+                          ArmFlag = True, ImagesPerFile = 1000, do_check_if_detector_in_mg=True):
+    '''
+      prepareDetectorAttrs() uses the input arguments and the MacroServer
+      environment variables ScanFile and ScanID to set these detector attributes:
+        FileDir|SaveFilePath|saving_directory: /<rootDir>/<scanName>/<detectorName>
+                                               /ramdisk/au_01390/pilatus
+        FilePrefix|saving_prefix:  <scanName>
+                                   au_01390
+        NbFrames|FrameNumbers|acq_nb_frames: nbFrames
+
+        FileStartNum|saving_next_number:     0
+     
+     This directory is created: 
+        rootDir + "/" + scanName + "/" + detectorName
+        /gpfs/current/raw/au_00001/pilatus
+
+     As a safety measure, rootDir is compared with FileDir|SaveFilePath|saving_directory. 
+     An error is thrown, if the values are incompatible. Both
+     strings are compatible, if FileDir starts with rootDir
+
+     So far Dalsa, Eiger, Pilatus, Lambda, Kromo and Lima (Andor) servers are supported
+
+     trig_mode: FreeRunning, ExtTrigger, Snapshot, TimedSnap, TrigSequence
+
+    for doku about the Eiger interface, see HasyUtils.prepareEigerDectrisAttrs? and
+    HasyUtils.resetEigerDectrisAttrs?
+
+    ArmFlag == True
+      Eiger: ArmFlag can be False, if users want to do some extra initialisations
+    ImagesPerFile, for the EigerFilewriter
+    '''
+    detectorName = name
+
+    if do_check_if_detector_in_mg and not isInMg( macro, detectorName):
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: MG does not contain %s " % detectorName)
+        return True
+
+    try: 
+        clss = TgUtils.getClassNameByDevice( _findTangoDevice( macro, detectorName))
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: error finding class for %s" % detectorName)
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: %s" % repr( e))
+        return 
+    if clss == "EigerDectris": 
+        return prepareEigerDectrisAttrs( macro, 
+                                         name = detectorName, 
+                                         NbImages = nbFrames, 
+                                         CountTime = acq_time,
+                                         TriggerMode = trig_mode,
+                                         NbTriggers = NbTriggers, 
+                                         ArmFlag = ArmFlag, 
+                                         ImagesPerFile = ImagesPerFile)
+
+    scan_file = macro.getEnv("ScanFile")
+    if type(scan_file).__name__ == 'list':
+        scan_file = scan_file[0]
+    scan_id = macro.getEnv("ScanID")
+
+    tangoDevice_proxy = None
+    count = 0
+    while True:
+        try:
+            controllerProxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy(detectorName)
+            temp = controllerProxy.read_attribute( "TangoDevice").value 
+            tangoDevice_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( temp)
+            macro.debug("MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: %s found in active MG" % detectorName)
+            break
+        except Exception as e:
+            count += 1
+            if count > 5: 
+                macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s, %s" % 
+                              (detectorName, controllerProxy.TangoDevice, str( e)))
+                macro.abort()
+                return False
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s, retry" % 
+                          (detectorName, controllerProxy.TangoDevice))
+
+    #
+    # ScanName, e.g.: au_012345
+    #
+    scanName = "%s_%05d" % (scan_file.split('.')[0], int( scan_id))
+    fileDirName = None
+    lst = ["FileDir", "SaveFilePath", "saving_directory"]
+    for elm in lst:
+        if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+            fileDirName = elm
+            break
+    else:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: attribute %s is missing on %s" % 
+                      (str(lst), tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        rootDirSrv = tangoDevice_proxy.read_attribute( fileDirName).value
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: caught exception during reading %s of %s, %s" % 
+                      (fileDirName, tangoDevice_proxy.name(), str(e)))
+        return
+
+    if rootDirSrv is None: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: rootDirSrv is None, fileDirName %s" % (fileDirName))
+        return
+    # 
+    # see, if rootDir is compatible with the FileDir on the server
+    # 
+    if rootDirSrv.find( rootDir) != 0:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs:")
+        macro.output( "  %s: %s which is an attr of %s " % (fileDirName, rootDirSrv, tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        macro.output( "    and")
+        macro.output( "  rootDir: %s found in general_features" % (rootDir))
+        macro.output( "    are incompatible")
+        macro.output( "  Please fix it, maybe by changing the %s attribute in the detector server" % fileDirName)
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: device %s" % ( tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+    # 
+    # it is important to create the directory before it is written to the server
+    #
+    if rootDir[-1] == '/':
+        fileDir = rootDir + scanName + "/" + detectorName
+    else: 
+        fileDir = rootDir + "/" + scanName + "/" + detectorName
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: creating %s %s (0o777)" % (fileDirName, fileDir))
+    try:
+        _os.makedirs( fileDir)
+        _os.chmod( fileDir, 0o777)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to create %s, %s" % (fileDir, e))
+        return False
+    macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: setting %s to %s" % (fileDirName, fileDir))
+    try:
+        tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( fileDirName, fileDir)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: caught exception writing %s to %s, %s " % \
+                      (fileDir, fileDirName,  tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        macro.output( "%s" % ( repr(e)))
+        return False
+    #
+    # FrameNumbers
+    #
+    set_nbframes = 1
+    nbFramesName = None
+    lst = ["NbFrames", "FrameNumbers", "acq_nb_frames"]
+    for elm in lst:
+        if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+            nbFramesName = elm
+            break
+    else:
+        set_nbframes = 0
+
+    if set_nbframes:
+        try:
+            tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( nbFramesName, nbFrames)
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: Number of frames set to 1")
+        except Exception as e: 
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: caught exception writing to %s, %s, %s" % \
+                          (nbFramesName, tangoDevice_proxy.name(), str(e)))
+            return False
+    #
+    # fileStartNum
+    #
+    fileStartNum = None
+    lst = ["FileStartNum", "saving_next_number", "FileIndex", "FileRefNumber"]
+    for elm in lst:
+        if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+            fileStartNum = elm
+            break
+    else:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: attribute %s is missing on %s" % 
+                      (str(lst), tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        #
+        # P03, Jannik Woehnert: pscamera: FileRefNumber ist ein string
+        #
+        cfg = tangoDevice_proxy.get_attribute_config( fileStartNum)
+        if cfg.data_type == _PyTango.CmdArgType.DevString:
+            tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( fileStartNum, "0")
+        else:
+            tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( fileStartNum, 0)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: caught exception writing to %s, %s, %s" % 
+                      (fileStartNum, tangoDevice_proxy.name(), str(e)))
+        return False
+    #
+    # FilePrefix
+    #
+    filePrefix = None
+    lst = ["FilePrefix", "saving_prefix"] 
+    for elm in lst:
+        if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+            filePrefix = elm
+            #
+            # Lima does not provide the '_' between prefix and image number itself
+            #
+            if elm == "saving_prefix":
+                scanName += "_"
+            break
+    else:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: attribute %s is missing on %s" % 
+                      ( str(lst), tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( filePrefix, scanName)
+    except Exception as e:                    
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to set %s %s, %s, %s" % 
+                      (filePrefix, detectorName, scanName, str(e)))
+        return False
+    #
+    # ShutterTime
+    #
+    if acq_time is not None: 
+        actTimeName = None
+        lst = ["ExtendedExposure", "ShutterTime"]
+        for elm in lst:
+            if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+                actTimeName = elm
+                break
+        if actTimeName is None: 
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: device has no %s attributes" % 
+                          ( detectorName, str(lst)))
+            return False
+        return False
+            
+        try:
+            tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( actTimeName, acq_time)
+        except Exception as e:                    
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to set %s %s to %s, %s" % 
+                          (detectorName, actTimeName, acq_time, repr( e)))
+    #
+    # TriggerMode: FreeRunning, ExtTrigger, Snapshot, TimedSnap, TrigSequence (Dalsa)
+    #
+    if trig_mode is not None: 
+        lst = ["TriggerMode"]
+        trigModeName = None
+        for elm in lst:
+            if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+                trigModeName = elm
+                break
+        if trigModeName is None: 
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: device has no %s attributes" % 
+                          ( detectorName, str(lst)))
+            return False
+        try:
+            tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( trigModeName, trig_mode)
+        except Exception as e:                    
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.prepareDetectorAttrs: failed to set %s %s to %s, %s" % 
+                          (detectorName, trigModeName, trig_mode, repr( e)))
+
+    return True
+
+def resetDetectorAttrs( macro, name = "pilatus", rootDir = "/ramdisk", do_check_if_detector_in_mg=True):
+    '''
+      resetDetectorAttrs() is intended to be use in post-scan hooks to
+      store imgages created by the 'ct' command in rootDir
+
+        FileDir|SaveFilePath|saving_directory: to <rootDir>
+
+     So far Pilatus, Lambda and Eiger servers are supported
+    '''
+    detectorName = name
+
+    if do_check_if_detector_in_mg and not isInMg( macro, detectorName):
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: MG does not contain %s" % detectorName)
+        return True
+
+    clss = TgUtils.getClassNameByDevice( _findTangoDevice( macro, detectorName)) 
+    if clss == "EigerDectris": 
+        return resetEigerDectrisAttrs( macro, name = detectorName)
+
+    tangoDevice_proxy = None
+
+    count = 0
+    while True:
+        try:
+            controllerProxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy(detectorName)
+            temp = controllerProxy.read_attribute( "TangoDevice").value 
+            tangoDevice_proxy = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( temp)
+            macro.debug("MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: %s found in active MG" % detectorName)
+            break
+        except:
+            count += 1
+            if count > 5: 
+                macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s" % 
+                              (detectorName, controllerProxy.TangoDevice))
+                macro.abort()
+                return False
+            macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: failed to create proxy to %s, %s, retry" % 
+                          (detectorName, controllerProxy.TangoDevice))
+
+    fileDirName = None
+    lst = ["FileDir", "SaveFilePath", "saving_directory"]
+    for elm in lst:
+        if TgUtils.proxyHasAttribute( tangoDevice_proxy, elm):
+            fileDirName = elm
+            break
+    else:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: attribute %s is missing on %s" % 
+                      (str(lst), tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        rootDirSrv = tangoDevice_proxy.read_attribute( fileDirName).value
+    except Exception:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: caught exception during reading FileDir of %s" % 
+                      tangoDevice_proxy.name())
+
+    try:
+        tangoDevice_proxy.write_attribute( fileDirName, rootDir)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.resetDetectorAttrs: caught exception writing %s to %s, %s " % \
+                      (fileDir, fileDirName,  tangoDevice_proxy.name()))
+        macro.output( "%s" % ( repr(e)))
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+def isInMg( macro, detectorName):
+    '''
+    getObj() disables Ctrl-Cs
+    '''
+    import sardana.macroserver.macro as _ms
+    _ms.Type = TgUtils.TypeNames()
+
+    active_mg = macro.getEnv("ActiveMntGrp")
+    try:
+        mg = macro.getObj(active_mg, type_class=_ms.Type.MeasurementGroup)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.isInMg: getObj active_mg exception %s, aborting" % e)
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+
+    channels = mg.getChannelLabels()
+    if detectorName in channels:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+def isInMgWOgetObj( macro, detectorName):
+    '''
+    returns True, if detectorName in in the ActiveMntGrp
+    '''
+    active_mg = macro.getEnv("ActiveMntGrp")
+    try:
+        mg = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( active_mg)
+    except Exception as e:
+        macro.output( "MsUtils.isInMg: failed to create a proxy to %s,  %s, aborting" % (active_mg, e))
+        macro.abort()
+        return False
+    channels = mg.read_attribute( "ElementList").value
+    if detectorName in channels:
+            return True
+    return False
+
+def testImportOld( filename): 
+    """
+    uses 'import importlib.util'
+    returns (True, ""), if filename can be imported
+    returns (False, "exception-string") otherwise
+    """
+    import importlib.util
+
+    status = True
+    msg = ""
+    try: 
+        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location( '', filename)
+        a = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+        spec.loader.exec_module(a)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        status = False
+        msg = repr( e)
+    finally: 
+        pass
+
+    return( status, msg)
+
+def testImport( filename): 
+    """
+    uses importlib.import_module to see whether a python
+      file can be importet
+
+    returns (True, ""), if filename can be imported
+    returns (False, "exception-string") otherwise
+    
+    Works at least on Debian-11 and Debian-12
+    """
+    import importlib
+
+    dirName = _os.path.dirname( filename)
+    baseName = _os.path.basename( filename)
+
+    prefixName = baseName
+    if baseName.find( '.py') > 0:
+        prefixName = baseName.rpartition('.')[0]
+
+    if dirName not in _sys.path:
+        _sys.path.insert( 0, dirName)
+
+    status = True
+    msg = ""
+    try: 
+        mod = importlib.import_module( prefixName)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        msg = repr( e)
+        status = False
+
+    return (status, msg) 
+
+def getModule( filename): 
+    """
+    returns the module or None
+    """
+    import importlib.util
+
+    status = True
+    msg = ""
+    try: 
+        spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location( '', filename)
+        a = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+        spec.loader.exec_module(a)
+    except Exception as e: 
+        a = None
+
+    return( a)
+#
+# ===
+#
+def _appendAbs( scanInfo, mot, start, stop, intervals = None): 
+    '''
+    function to append absolute scans to the scanInfo
+    ascan exp_dmy01 0 10 10 0.1
+
+    extend the motor array of scanInfo by an entry of the kind
+    { name:  someName, 
+      start: the start of the scan
+      stop:  the stop of the scan
+    }
+    '''
+    mDct = {}
+    mDct['name'] = mot
+    mDct['start'] = float( start)
+    mDct['stop'] = float( stop)
+    if intervals is not None:
+        mDct['intervals'] = int( intervals)
+    scanInfo[ 'motors'].append( mDct)
+    return
+#
+# ===
+#
+def _appendRel( scanInfo, mot, left, right, intervals = None): 
+    '''
+    function to append relative scans to the scanInfo
+    dscan exp_dmy01 -1 1 10 0.1
+
+    extend the motor array of scanInfo by an entry of the kind
+    { name:  someName, 
+      start: the start of the scan
+      stop:  the stop of the scan
+    }
+    '''
+    mDct = {}
+    mDct['name'] = mot
+    try:
+        p = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( mDct[ 'name'])
+    except Exception as e:
+        print( "MsUtils._appendRel: failed to create proxy to %s" % mDct['name'])
+    mDct['start'] = p.position + float( left)
+    mDct['stop'] = p.position + float( right)
+    if intervals is not None:
+        mDct['intervals'] = int( intervals)
+    scanInfo[ 'motors'].append( mDct)
+    return
+
+def getScanFileName(): 
+    '''
+    returns the file name used by the last scan
+    returns None, if the file does not exist
+
+    uses the MacroServer environment variables: ScanDir, ScanFilem ScanID
+    '''
+    scanDir = TgUtils.getEnv( "ScanDir") 
+    scanFile = TgUtils.getEnv( "ScanFile") 
+    scanID = TgUtils.getEnv( "ScanID") 
+    
+    if type( scanFile) is list: 
+        scanFileTemp = scanFile[0]
+    else: 
+        scanFileTemp = scanFile
+    #
+    # ['tst.fio'] -> ['tst', 'fio'] 
+    #
+    lst = scanFileTemp.split( ".")
+
+    fileName = "%s/%s_%05d.%s" % ( scanDir, lst[0], int( scanID), lst[1])
+
+    if not _os.path.exists( fileName): 
+        argout = None
+    else: 
+        argout = fileName
+
+    return fileName
+   
+#
+# ===
+#
+def createScanInfo( title = None):
+    '''
+    Depending on whether createScanInfo() is called in an after-scan-scenario or
+    a pre-scan-scenario the title has to be supplied or not.
+
+    title == None (after-scan-scenario): the function takes the title from ScanHistory 
+             returns None, if ScanID != serialno (history), probably because
+             the last scan has been aborted (ctrl-c)
+
+    title != None (pre-scan-scenario): if ScanHistory is not valid because createScanInfo() 
+             is called from a hook, the title has to be supplied.
+
+             pre_scan_hook example: 
+               scanInfo = HasyUtils.createScanInfo( self.getParentMacro().getCommand())
+
+    returns a data structure describing the scan, see below, used e.g. mvsa and CursorApp
+
+    {'motors': [{'name': 'exp_dmy01', 'start': 0.0, 'stop': 10.0}], 
+    'title': 'ascan exp_dmy01 0.0 10.0 10 1.0', 
+    'serialno': 1502, 
+    'intervals': 10, 
+    'nPts': 11, 
+    'sampleTime': 1.0}
+
+   {'motors': [{'name': 'exp_dmy01', 'start': 0.0, 'stop': 10.0}, 
+               {'name': 'exp_dmy02', 'start': 2.0, 'stop': 3.0}], 
+    'title': 'a2scan exp_dmy01 0.0 10.0 exp_dmy02 2.0 3.0 3 1.0', 
+    'serialno': 1503, 
+    'intervals': 3, 
+    'nPts': 4, 
+    'sampleTime': 1.0}
+
+    {'motors': [{'name': 'exp_dmy01', 'start': 0.0, 'stop': 1.0, 'intervals': 2}, 
+                {'name': 'exp_dmy02', 'start': 2.0, 'stop': 3.0, 'intervals': 3}], 
+    'title': 'mesh exp_dmy01 0.0 1.0 2 exp_dmy02 2.0 3.0 3 0.1 False None', 
+    'serialno': 1504, 
+    'nPts': 12, 
+    'sampleTime': 0.1}
+
+    serialno is taken from the environment.
+    nPts is normally (intervals + 1). For mesh scans it is the
+      total no. of points in the mesh
+    '''
+    #print( "MsUtils.createScanInfo: title %s" % repr(title))
+    env = TgUtils.getEnvDct()
+    scanInfo = {}
+    scanInfo[ 'motors'] = []
+    #
+    # 1. case: after a scan, ScanHistory can be used
+    #
+    if title is None:
+        if 'ScanHistory' not in list( env.keys()):
+            return None 
+        lastScan = env['ScanHistory'][-1]
+
+        scanInfo[ 'serialno'] = lastScan['serialno']
+        #
+        # serialno is from ScanHistory which is created after the scan completed successfully
+        # ScanID is updated when a scan starts. ScanID != sericalno may be an indication
+        # that the last scan has been ctrl-c'ed
+        #
+        if TgUtils.getEnv( "ScanID") != scanInfo['serialno']:
+            return None
+        scanInfo[ 'title'] = lastScan['title']
+    #
+    # 2. case: from e.g. a hook
+    #
+    else:
+        if type( title) is str:
+            scanInfo[ 'title'] = title
+            scanInfo[ 'serialno'] = env['ScanID']
+        else:
+            return None
+
+    scanTitleToScanInfo( scanInfo[ 'title'], scanInfo)
+
+    #print( "MsUtils.createScanInfo %s " % repr( scanInfo))
+    return scanInfo
+#
+#
+#
+def scanTitleToScanInfo( title, scanInfo):
+        
+    #print( "MsUtils.py: this is scanTitleToScanInfo, title %s" % title) 
+
+    #
+    # if bad syntrax for fscan commands, indepvar contain spaces
+    #
+    if title is None:
+        return 
+    
+    lst = title.split()
+    #
+    # ascan exp_dmy01 0 1 10 0.1
+    #
+    if lst[0] == 'ascan':
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[4])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[4]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[5])
+    #
+    # a2scan exp_dmy01 0 1 exp_dmy02 0 2 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'a2scan':
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[4], lst[5], lst[6])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[7])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[7]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[8])
+    #
+    # a3scan exp_dmy01 0 1 exp_dmy02 0 2 ... 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'a3scan':
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[4], lst[5], lst[6])
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[7], lst[8], lst[9])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[10])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[10]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[11])
+
+    #
+    # ascan_repeat exp_dmy01 0 1 10 0.1 2
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'ascan_repeat':
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[4])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[4]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[5])
+        scanInfo[ 'repeats'] = int( lst[6])
+    #
+    # hscan 1.0 1.1 20 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'hscan':
+        if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+        elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[3]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[4])
+    elif lst[0] == 'kscan':
+        if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[1], lst[2])
+        elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[1], lst[2])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[3]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[4])
+    elif lst[0] == 'lscan':
+        if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[1], lst[2])
+        elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[1], lst[2])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[3]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[4])
+        
+    #
+    # hklscan 1.0 1.1 2 2.2 3 3.3 20 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'hklscan':
+        diffH = _math.fabs( float( lst[2]) - float( lst[1]))
+        diffK = _math.fabs( float( lst[4]) - float( lst[3]))
+        diffL = _math.fabs( float( lst[6]) - float( lst[5]))
+        if diffH > diffK and diffH > diffL:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+        elif diffK > diffH and diffK > diffL:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+        elif diffL > diffH and diffL > diffK:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+        elif diffH > 0.:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+        elif diffK > 0.:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+        else:
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_l'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_l', lst[5], lst[6])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_h'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_h', lst[1], lst[2])
+            if TgUtils.isDevice( 'e6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'e6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+            elif TgUtils.isDevice( 'kozhue6cctrl_k'):
+                _appendAbs( scanInfo, 'kozhue6cctrl_k', lst[3], lst[4])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[7])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[7]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[8])
+    #
+    # dscan exp_dmy01 -1 1 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'dscan':
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[4])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[4]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[5])
+    #
+    # d2scan exp_dmy01 0 1 exp_dmy02 0 2 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'd2scan':
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[4], lst[5], lst[6])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[7])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[7]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[8])
+    #
+    # d3scan exp_dmy01 0 1 exp_dmy02 0 2 ... 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'd3scan':
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[4], lst[5], lst[6])
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[7], lst[8], lst[9])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[10])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[10]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[11])
+
+    #
+    # dscan_repeat exp_dmy01 -1 1 10 0.1 2
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'dscan_repeat':
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3])
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[4])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[4]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[5])
+        scanInfo[ 'repeats'] = int( lst[6])
+    #
+    # mesh exp_dmy01 0 1 10 exp_dmy02 1 2 12 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'mesh':
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3], lst[4])
+        _appendAbs( scanInfo, lst[5], lst[6], lst[7], lst[8])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = (int( lst[4]) + 1)*(int( lst[8]) + 1)
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[9])
+    #
+    # dmesh exp_dmy01 1 1 10 exp_dmy02 -1 2 12 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'dmesh':
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[1], lst[2], lst[3], lst[4])
+        _appendRel( scanInfo, lst[5], lst[6], lst[7], lst[8])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = (int( lst[4]) + 1)*(int( lst[8]) + 1)
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[9])
+    #
+    # timescan 10 0.1
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'timescan':
+        scanInfo[ 'intervals'] = int( lst[1])
+        scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = int( lst[1]) + 1
+        scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[2])
+    #
+    # fscan np=1500 0.1 exp_dmy01 exp_dmy02, this is a fake because I do not calculate start/stop for fscans
+    # the real syntax: fscan "x=[1,3,5,7,9],y=arange(5)" 0.1 exp_dmy01 x**2 exp_dmy02 sqrt(y*x+3)
+    #
+    elif lst[0] == 'fscan':
+        #np = int( lst[1].split( '=')[1])
+        np = 1500
+        nPts = 1
+        for mot in lst[ 3:]: 
+            _appendAbs( scanInfo, mot, 0, 100, intervals = np)
+            nPts = nPts*(np + 1)
+        try: 
+            scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = float( lst[2])
+            scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = nPts
+        except: 
+            scanInfo[ 'sampleTime'] = -1
+            scanInfo[ 'nPts'] = -1
+    else: 
+        pass
+    #raise ValueError( "MsUtils.scanTitleToScanInfo: failed to identify scan type %s" % lst[0])
+    
+    return
+#
+# ===
+#
+def repairFscanTitle( title): 
+    # 
+    # u"fscan x=[0,1,2],y=[10,11,12] 0.1 \
+    #    [[Motor(tango://haso107tk.desy.de:10000/motor/dummy_mot_ctrl/1), 'x'], \
+    #     [Motor(tango://haso107tk.desy.de:10000/motor/dummy_mot_ctrl/2), 'y']]"
+    # -> 'fscan' np=3 0.1 exp_dmy0 exp_dmy02'
+
+    # about fscan syntax, see remark in diary 17.3.2023
+
+    lines = title.split( ' ')
+
+    try: 
+        nameSpace = {}
+        exec( "a = dict( %s)" % lines[1], nameSpace)
+        lengths = []
+        lenMin = 10000000000
+        for elm in nameSpace[ 'a']:
+            if len( nameSpace[ 'a'][ elm]) < lenMin: 
+                lenMin = len( nameSpace[ 'a'][ elm]) 
+    except: 
+        lenMin = 1500
+
+    cmdLine = lines[0] + " "
+    cmdLine += "np=%d " % lenMin
+    cmdLine += lines[2] + " "
+        
+    temp = ""
+    for line in lines[3:]: 
+        temp += line
+    temp = temp.replace( 'Motor(tango://', '\'')
+    temp = temp.replace( ')', '\'')
+        
+    try: 
+        nameSpace = {}
+        exec( "a = %s" % temp, nameSpace)
+        for elm in nameSpace[ 'a']: 
+            p = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( elm[0])
+            cmdLine += " %s" % (p.alias())
+    except Exception as e: 
+        cmdLine = None
+        #raise Exception( "MsUtils.RepairFscanTitle", "failed to parse %s" % title)
+    
+    return cmdLine
+
+
+def dataRecordToScanInfo( dataRecord):
+    '''
+    creates the scanInfo dictionary from the  first dataRecord
+
+    scanInfo: 
+      {'title': u'ascan exp_dmy01 0.0 0.1 10 0.1', 
+      'serialno': 1775, 
+      'motors': [{'start': 0.0, 'stop': 0.1, 'name': u'exp_dmy01', 'proxy': Motor(motor/dummy_mot_ctrl/1)}], 
+      'scanfile': [u'tst.fio', u'tst.nxs'],
+      'filename': [u'tst_01780.fio', u'tst_01780.nxs'],
+      'starttime': u'Thu Oct 13 15:35:48 2016', 
+      'scandir': u'/home/kracht/Misc/IVP/temp'}
+    '''
+    scanInfo = {}
+    scanInfo['scanfile'] = dataRecord[1]['data'][ 'scanfile']
+    if scanInfo['scanfile'] is None:
+        raise Exception( "MsUtils.dataRecordToScanInfo", "scanfile not defined")
+    scanInfo['scandir'] = dataRecord[1]['data'][ 'scandir']
+    if scanInfo['scandir'] is None:
+        raise Exception( "MsUtils.dataRecordToScanInfo", "scandir not defined")
+    scanInfo['serialno'] = dataRecord[1]['data'][ 'serialno']
+
+    scanInfo['filename'] = []
+    if type(scanInfo['scanfile']) is list:
+        for sf in scanInfo['scanfile']:
+            tpl = sf.rpartition('.')
+            scanInfo['filename'].append( "%s_%05d.%s" % (tpl[0], scanInfo['serialno'], tpl[2]))
+    else:
+        tpl = scanInfo['scanfile'].rpartition('.')
+        scanInfo['filename'].append( "%s_%05d.%s" % (tpl[0], scanInfo['serialno'], tpl[2]))
+
+    scanInfo['starttime'] = dataRecord[1]['data']['starttime']
+    if dataRecord[1]['data']['title'].find( 'fscan') == 0:
+        scanInfo['title'] = repairFscanTitle( dataRecord[1]['data']['title'])
+    else: 
+        scanInfo['title'] = dataRecord[1]['data']['title']
+    #
+    # scanInfo is None for an fscan command spaces in the indepvar definition
+    #
+    if scanInfo is not None:
+        scanInfo[ 'motors'] = []
+        scanTitleToScanInfo( scanInfo[ 'title'], scanInfo)
+
+    return scanInfo
+
+def doorAbortMacro( doorName = None): 
+    '''
+    executes abortMacro() on the specified Door 
+    or choses the first Door. This is more than
+    executing abort()
+    '''
+    if doorName is None: 
+        try: 
+            doorName = TgUtils.getDoorNames()[0]
+        except Exception as e: 
+            print( "MsUtils.abortMacro: failed to get doorName")
+            print( repr( e))
+            return False
+
+    p = _PyTango.DeviceProxy( doorName)
+    p.abortMacro()
+
+    return True
+