VME Scripts — mvme 1.17.5 documentation

# VME Scripts

## Overview

VME Scripts are plain text files with one command per line. Comments may be started using the `#` character. They extend to the end of the line. Alternatively blocks can be commented out starting with `/*` and ending with `*/`.

Scripts belonging to a module (Module Init Scripts, VME Interface Settings, Module Reset and the readout code) will have the module base address added to most of the commands. This allows writing scripts containing module-relative addresses only. Exceptions are the writeabs and readabs commands which do not modify their address argument. The base address can also be temporarily replaced with a different value by using the setbase and resetbase commands.

The commands below accept the following values for VME address modes and data widths:

Table 2 VME Address Modes
Address Mode (<amode>)
a16
a24
a32

Additionally raw numeric amode values (e.g. 0x39) are also accepted.

Table 3 VME Data Widths
Data Width (<dwidth>)
d16
d32

The combination of amode, dwidth and BLT/MBLT/2eSST yields a VME address modifier to be sent over the bus. Internally these non-privileged (aka user) address modifiers will be used:

Table 4 VME address modifiers used by mvme
amode | single | BLT | MBLT
--- | --- | --- | ---
a16 | 0x29 |  |
a24 | 0x39 | 0x3b |
a32 | 0x09 | 0x0b | 0x08
cr | 0x2f |  |

Numbers in the script (addresses, transfer counts, masks) may be specified in decimal, hex or floating point notation using the standard C prefixes (`0x` for hex). Additionally register values may be written in binary starting with a prefix of `0b` followed by `0`s and `1`s, optionally separated by `'` characters.

Example: `0b1010'0101'1100'0011` is equal to `0xa5c3`

CR/CSR addressing is implemented for the MVLC VME controller and recognized by all commands dealing with address modes, e.g. read, write and mvlc_read_to_accu.

## Commands

### Writing

- write <amode> <dwidth> <address> <value>

- writeabs <amode> <dwidth> <address> <value>

writeabs uses the given <address> unmodified, meaning the module base address will not be added.

There is a short syntax version of the write command: if a line consists of only two numbers separated by whitespace, a write using 32-bit addressing (a32) and 16-bit register width (d16) is assumed. The address is the first number, the value to be written is the second number.

Example: `0x6070 3` is the same as `write a32 d16 0x6070 3`

### Reading

- read <amode> <dwidth> <address> [‘slow’|’late’] [‘fifo’, ‘mem’]

- readabs <amode> <dwidth> <address> [‘slow’|’late’] [‘fifo’, ‘mem’]

Reads a single value from the given <address>.

readabs uses the given <address> unmodified, meaning the module base address will not be added.

The optional argument ‘slow’|’late’ is implemented for the MVLC only. It causes the VME read to be carried out on the trailing edge of the modules DTACK signal instead of at the leading edge. This is a workaround for VME modules which do signal DTACK while not having the actual data ready yet.

The second optional argument ‘fifo’|’mem’ is also MVLC only. It controls if the read address is kept as is (fifo) or incremented (mem) for VME reads that are turned into block reads due to the MVLC stack accumulator being set.

During manual script execution the value read from the VME bus is stored in the script local software accumulator. The accumulator can be modified and tested using accu_mask_rotate and accu_test.

### Block Transfers

mvme supports the following read-only block transfer commands:

- blt <amode> <address> <count>

- bltfifo <amode> <address> <count>

- mblt <amode> <address> <count>

- mbltfifo <amode> <address> <count>

- mblts <amode> <address> <count> (MVLC only, word swapped)

- mbltsfifo <amode> <address> <count> (MVLC only, word swapped)

- 2esst <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only, FIFO mode)

- 2esstfifo <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only, FIFO mode)

- 2esstmem <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only)

- 2essts <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only, FIFO mode, word swapped)

- 2esstsfifo <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only, FIFO mode, word swapped)

- 2esstsmem <address> <rate> <count> (MVLC only, word swapped)

- read <amode> <dwidth> <address> [‘slow’|’late’] [‘fifo’, ‘mem’] (MVLC only, used with the stack accu)

- readabs <amode> <dwidth> <address> [‘slow’|’late’] [‘fifo’, ‘mem’] (MVLC only, used with the stack accu)

blt and bltfifo transfer <count> number of 32-bit words, mblt and mbltfifo transfer 64-bit words. 2esst uses the 2eSST protocol for data transfer.

The fifo variants do not increment the given starting address.

mblts stands for MBLT swapped and is the same as MBLT but swaps the two 32-bit words in each transferred 64-bit word. It is only supported by the MVLC.

The 2esst and 2essts commands accept the following <rate> arguments:

Table 5 2esst rates
160 | 160mb | 0
276 | 276mb | 1
320 | 320mb | 2

2essts is the word swapped version of 2esst like mblts for MBLT transfers.

The read and readabs commands usually return a single data word not contained in a block read structure. When used in combination with the MVLC stack accumulator these commands do produce block read structures. Example:

    mvlc_set_accu 100
    read a32 d16 0x0000 mem

Performs 100 reads from 0x0000 with incrementing read addresses. The data is yielded in a block read structure in the readout data stream just like, e.g. a mblt command would.

### Miscellaneous

#### wait

- wait <waitspec>

Delays script execution for the given amount of time. <waitspec> is a number followed by one of `ns`, `ms` or `s` for nanoseconds, milliseconds and seconds respectively. If no suffix is given milliseconds are assumed.

Note

The wait command is only available when directly executing a script from within mvme. It is not supported in command stacks for the MVLC and SIS3153 controllers.

The VMUSB has limited support for the wait command in command stacks with a waitspec resolution of 200 ns and the maximum possible delay being 51000 ns.

Example: `wait 500ms # Delay script execution for 500ms`

#### marker

- marker <marker_word>

The marker command adds a 32-bit marker word into the data stream. This can be used to separate data from different modules.

#### setbase/resetbase

- setbase <address>

- resetbase

These commands can be used to temporarily replace the current base address with a different value. setbase sets a new base address, which will be effective for all following commands. Use resetbase to restore the original base address.

#### write_float_word

- write_float_word <address_mode> <address> <part> <value>

The write_float_word command is a helper function for dealing with VME modules using IEEE-754 floating point numbers internally (e.g. the ISEG VHS4030). The command writes a 16-bit part of a 32-bit float into the given register without performing any integer conversions.

Arguments:

- address_mode

  The VME address mode: a16, a24 or a32

- address

  Address of the register to write to.

- part

  One of upper / 1 and lower / 0. The upper part contains the 16 most significant bits of the float, the lower part the 16 least significant bits.

- value

  The floating point value using a . as the decimal separator.

Example

    write_float_word a16 0x0014 upper 3.14
    write_float_word a16 0x0016 lower 3.14

Writes the 32-bit float value 3.14 to the two 16-bit registers 0x14 and 0x16.

#### print

Prints its arguments to the log output on a separate line. Arguments are separated by a space by default which means string quoting is not strictly required.

Example

    print "Hello World!"
    print Hello World!  # Quoting the string is optional

#### accu_set

- accu_set <value> Set the script local accumulator to a constant value.

#### accu_mask_rotate

- accu_mask_rotate <mask> <rotate_amount>

First applies the 32 bit <mask> value to the accu, then left rotates the accu by <rotate_amount> bits.

#### accu_test

- accu_test <compare_op> <compare_value> <message>

Compares the current accumulator value against the constant <compare_value> and prints a message containing the result. If the comparison fails an error is generated and the script execution is stopped.

Table 6 accu_test comparison operators
eq | ==
neq | !=
lt | <
lte | <=
gt | >
gte | >=

#### accu_test_warn

- accu_test_warn <compare_op> <compare_value> <message>

Same as accu_test but does not stop script execution on failure.

#### accu_add

- accu_add <value>

Adds the given value to the script local accumulator.

#### accu_write

- accu_write <amode> <dwidth> <address> <value>

Same as write but writes the current value of the script local accumulator.

#### mvme_require_version

- mvme_require_version <min version string>

Runtime check for minimum mvme version required to run the current script.

- Example: `mvme_require_version 1.9.0`

  Will error out if the current mvme version is less than 1.9.0.

### MVLC special commands

#### mvlc_wait

- mvlc_wait <clocks>

Delay execution of the following stack commands by the given number of clock cycles. The maximum value of the clocks argument is `(2**24) - 1`.

#### mvlc_signal_accu

- mvlc_signal_accu

Signal the internal accumulator of the current command stack.

#### mvlc_mask_shift_accu

- mvlc_mask_shift_accu <mask> <shift>

Set the stack accumulator mask and shift values. When the accumulator value is used for a VME block read, first the mask is applied, then the result is rotated left by the shift argument. The resulting value is the number of block read cycles to perform.

#### mvlc_set_accu

- mvlc_set_accu <value>

Set the stack accumulator to the given 32-bit value.

#### mvlc_read_to_accu

- mvlc_read_to_accu <amode> <dwidth> <address> [‘slow’]

Same as read but reads into the stack accumulator instead of outputting to the data stream.

#### mvlc_compare_loop_accu

- mvlc_compare_loop_accu (‘eq’|’lt’|’gt’) <value>

Repeatedly compares the value stored in the accumulator to the given value using the specified comparison operator. If the comparison fails jumps to the previous stack command, otherwise proceeds to the next command.

#### mvlc_writespecial

- mvlc_writespecial (‘timestamp’|’accu’|<numeric_value>)

Writes the value of the specified internal MVLC variable to the current output.

#### mvlc_stack_begin/end

Allows to specify that a group of VME Script commands should be executed as a single MVLC command stack instead of running each command individually. This allows making use of features that require a stack context, e.g. the MVLC stack accumulator logic.

mvlc_stack_begin/end only has an effect when manually executing the VME Script, e.g. via Run in the VME Script Editor. During the DAQ initialization phase, if a script that is part of a MVLC readout stack (e.g. module readout) is processed, the mvlc_stack_begin/end lines are ignored and the block contents are used normally as part of the resulting readout stack.

#### mvlc_custom_begin/end

This is an advanced block command allowing to specify arbitrary stack data to upload and run on the MVLC. Example:

    mvlc_custom_begin output_words=2
      0x140D0001   # read 16 bit word to accu
      0x00006030   #  from address 6030
      0xC5000000   # shift mask: no rotation
      0x0000FFFF   # mask lower 16 bits
      0xC1000001   # write_special_word = 1 (Accu)
    mvlc_custom_end

The output_words argument specifies the expected, fixed number of output words the execution of the custom stack will produce.

### VMUSB specific

- vmusb_write_reg (<register_address>|<register_name>) <value>

- vmusb_read_reg (<register_address>|<register_name>)

These commands only work when using the WIENER VM-USB controller and allow read/write access to its internal registers. For details on the registers see the VM-USB manual section 3.4 - Internal Register File.

Instead of using register addresses some registers are also accessible via name. The following name mappings are defined:

Table 7 VMUSB Register Names
Register Name | address
--- | ---
dev_src | 0x10
dgg_a | 0x14
dgg_b | 0x18
dgg_ext | 0x38
sclr_a | 0x1c
sclr_b | 0x20
daq_settings | 0x08

## Floating Point Values, Variables and Mathematical Expressions

Since mvme-0.9.7 VME scripts support evaluation of numerical expressions and can contain references to variables. Additionally floating point values can be used where previously only unsigned integers where allowed.

It is up to each specific command how floating point values are interpreted and what limits are imposed. The VME read and write commands use mathematical rounding and test that the resulting value fits in an unsigned 16 or 32 bit integer (depending on the commands data width argument). On the other hand the write_float_word command uses the floating point value directly without performing an integer conversion.

### Variables

The variable system in VME Scripts is based on simple string replacement. Whenever a variable reference of the form `${varname}` is encountered the value stored under the name `varname` is looked up and is used to replace the variable reference. Variable expansion is currently not recursive so `${${foo}}` will try to look up the value of a variable named `${foo}`.

Variables are stored in lists of symbol tables with the variables from the first (innermost) table overriding those defined in the outer scopes.

Each object in the VME Config tree carries a symbol table: VME Events, VME Modules and VME Script objects each have a set of variables attached to them. When parsing a VME script the list symbol tables is assembled by traversing the VME Config tree upwards towards the root node. Each objects symbol table is appened to the list of tables. This way variables defined at script scope take precedence over those defined at module scope. The same is true for module and event scopes.

In addition to variables defined by VME Config objects variables can also be locally defined inside a VME Script using the `set` command. The variable will be entered into the most local symbol table and will override any other definition of a variable with the same name.

The mvme GUI currently contains a dedicated editor for variables defined at VME Event scope. Select an event in the VME Config tree and click the Edit Variables button above the tree. Module level variables can be accessed via Edit Module Settings from the context menu. A dedicated editor for Module and Script objects is going to be added in the future.

#### Example

    set threshold 500
    write a32 d16 0x1234 ${threshold}   # -> write a32 d16 0x1234 500

    set addr 0x6789
    set value 0b1010

    write a32 d16 ${addr} ${value}      # -> write a32 d16 0x6789 0b1010
    ${addr} ${value}                    # same as above using the short form of the write command

### Expressions

Mathematical expressions in VME scripts are enclosed between `$(` and `)`. The enclosed string (including the outermost parentheses) is passed to the exprtk library for evaluation and the resulting value replaces the expression string before further parsing is done.

exprtk internally uses floating point arithmetic and the result of evaluating an expression is always a floating point value. It is up to the specific command of how the value is treated.

Variable references inside expressions are expanded before the expression is given to the exprtk library for evaluation.

#### Example

    # From the MDPP-32-QDC init script: Window start = 16384  + delay[ns] / 1.56;
    0x6050  $(16384 - 100 / 1.56)

    # or using a local variable to hold the delay:
    set my_delay -100
    0x6050  $(16384 + ${my_delay} / 1.56)

## Example Script

    # BLT readout from VME address (module specific base address + 0x0000).
    # Maximum number of transfers = 10000. Readout stops at BERR or when the
    # number of transfers is reached.
    bltfifo a32 0x0000 10000

    # Write the value 3 to address 0x6070. If this appears in a module specific
    # script (init, readout, reset) the module base address is added to the
    # given address.
    0x6070 3

    # Same as above but explicitly using the write command.
    write a32 d16 0x6070 3

    # Set a different base address. This will replace the current base address
    # until resetbase is used.
    setbase 0xbb000000

    # Results in an a32/d16 write to 0xbb006070.
    0x6070 5

    # Restore the original base address.
    resetbase

    # Binary notation for the register value.
    0x6070 0b0000'0101

## VME block read command mappings

FIFO reads do not increment the read address, mem reads do. VMEReadMem and VMEReadMemSwapped are available since MVLC firmware `FW0036`.

Table 8 VME block read command mappings
VMEScript | MVLC YAML | MVLC command | Notes
--- | --- | --- | ---
blt | vme_block_read_mem | 0x32 VMEReadMem |
bltfifo | vme_block_read | 0x12 VMERead |
mblt | vme_block_read_mem | 0x32 VMEReadMem |
mbltfifo | vme_block_read | 0x12 VMERead |
mblts | vme_block_read_mem_swapped | 0x33 VMEReadMemSwapped |
mbltsfifo | vme_block_read_swapped | 0x13 VMEReadSwapped |
2esst | vme_block_read | 0x12 VMERead | for compatibility this is fifo, not mem
2esstfifo | vme_block_read | 0x12 VMERead | same as `2esst`
2esstmem | vme_block_read_mem | 0x32 VMEReadMem | explicit mem version
2essts | vme_block_read_swapped | 0x13 VMEReadSwapped | for compatibility this is fifo, not mem
2esstsfifo | vme_block_read_swapped | 0x13 VMEReadSwapped | same as `2essts`
2esstsmem | vme_block_read_mem_swapped | 0x33 VMEReadMemSwapped | explicit mem version
read | vme_read | 0x12 VMERead | MVLC stack accu + ‘fifo’ flag
read | vme_read_mem | 0x32 VMEReadMem | MVLC stack accu + ‘mem’ flag

The mapping of the read command depends on whether the ‘fifo’ or ‘mem’ flags are specified. This is only used in combination with the MVLC stack accumulator.