System Commands

sics_exitus . A single word commands which shuts the server down. Only managers may use this command.

wait time waits time seconds before the next command is executed. This does not stop other clients from issuing commands.

resetserver resets the server after an interrupt.

dir a command which lists objects available in the SICS system. Dir without any options prints a list of all objects. The list can be restricted with:

dir var

prints all SICS primitive variables

dir mot

prints a list of all motors

dir inter driv

prints a list of all drivable objects. This is more then motors and includes virtual motors such as environment devices and wavelength as well.

dir inter count

Shows everything which can be counted upon.

dir inter env

Shows all currently configured environment devices.

dir match wildcard

lists all objects which match the wildcard string given in wildcard.

status A single word command which makes SICS print its current status. Possible return values can be: Eager to execute commands, Scanning, Counting, Running, Halted. Note that if a command is executing which takes some time to complete the server will return an ERROR: Busy message when further commands are issued.

status interest initiates automatic printing of any status change in the server. This command is primarily of interest for status display client implementors.

backup [file] saves the current values of SICS variables and selected motor and device parameters to the disk file specified as parameter. If no file parameter is given the data is written to the system default status backup file. The format of the file is a list of SICS commands to set all these parameters again. The file is written on the instrument computer relative to the path of the SICS server. This is usually /home/INSTRUMENT/bin.

backup motsave toggles a flag which controls saving of motor positions. If this flag is set, commands for driving motors to the current positions are included in the backup file. This is useful for instruments with slipping motors.

restore [file] reads a file produced by the backup command described above and restores SICS to the state it was in when the status was saved with backup. If no file argument is given the system default file gets read.

restore listerr prints the list of lines which caused errors during the last restore.

killfile decrements the data number used for SICS file writing and thus consequently overwrites the last datafile. This is useful when useless data files have been created during tests. As this is critical command in normal user operations, this command requires managers privilege.

sicsidle prints the number of seconds since the last invocation of a counting or driving operation. Used in scripts.