To manage Python sources together with the related AutomationDesk elements, such as automation blocks, you can add Python modules and packages to a custom library. This lets you create, edit, and store the Python code by means of AutomationDesk in the custom library's folder in the file system.

The task in this step is to calculate the areas of a ring that is specified by its inner and outer radius.

The formulas are:

• For the inner area:

  $$A_{inner}=r_{inner}^2 \cdot \pi$$

• For the ring area:

  $$A_{ring} = A_{outer}- A_{inner}= r_{outer}^2 \cdot \pi - r_{inner}^2 \cdot \pi$$

The calculated result for the ring area could be required in other automation tasks, so it must be written to a project-specific data object.

1. On the Library ribbon, click Custom Library - New to create a new custom library.

   The Create Custom Library dialog opens.

2. In the File name edit field, enter IntegratingPythonLib as the name of the new custom library and click Create.

   The IntegratingPythonLib library is created in your working folder and the custom library element is displayed in the Library Browser.

3. From the context menu of the IntegratingPythonLib library, select New Python module.

   A new element named module is added to the custom library in the Library Browser.

4. Rename the new Python module to CircleCalculations.

5. Double-click the CircleCalculations module to open it in the Python Editor.

6. Enter the following Python code to implement a function that calculates the area of a circle by its radius:

   import math
   def CalculateCircleArea(r):
       f = math.pi*math.pow(r,2)
       return (f)

   This script only defines the CalculateCircleArea function. The function is not executed.

7. Close the Python Editor.

8. On the Library ribbon, click Custom Library - Save to save the module together with the library.

   

You created a new custom library that contains a Python Module.

In the next part, you use the function that is provided by the Python module in an Exec block.

1. In the Project Manager, add a new folder to the IntegratingPython project and rename it to UsingPythonModulesInLibraries.

2. Add a Float data object to the folder and rename it to InnerRadius.

3. Select the UsingPythonModulesInLibraries folder, and in the Data Object Editor, specify 5.0 as the value of the InnerRadius Float data object.

   

4. Add a new sequence to the UsingPythonModulesInLibraries folder and rename the sequence to UsingPythonFunctions.

5. In the Sequence Builder, add a new Exec block to the UsingPythonFunctions sequence and rename it to CalculateInnerArea.

6. From the block's context menu, select Set Python Namespace – Local.

   The block icon changes to indicate that for its script execution the local namespace is used.

7. Select the CalculateInnerArea Exec block and click Home - Insert - Float to add a Float data object to the block's parameters.

8. In the Data Object Editor, rename the Float data object to Radius and set the project-specific InnerRadius Float data object as its reference.

   

9. In the Sequence Builder, double-click the CalculateInnerArea block.

   The CalculateInnerArea Python script is opened in the Python Editor.

10. In the Python Editor, enter the following Python code:

    import CircleCalculations
    InnerArea = CircleCalculations.CalculateCircleArea(_AD_.Radius)
    print("Inner radius of ring  : ", _AD_.Radius)
    print("=> Inner area of ring : ", InnerArea)
    InnerArea = None

    This script uses the CalculateCircleArea function of the custom library's module to calculate the inner area of the ring.

11. Close the Python Editor and save your project.

When you execute this sequence, the Exec block reads the value of the project‑specific InnerRadius data object. It calculates the related inner area of the ring and prints the result to the Output Viewer.

You used the function from the custom library's Python module in the Python code of an Exec block.

In the next part, you create a template for an automation block that uses the Python module.

1. In the Library Browser, select the IntegratingPythonLib library.

2. Click Home - Insert - Exec to add a new Exec block to the library and rename the new block to CalculateRingArea.

3. Click Home - Insert - Float three times to add three Float data objects as the block's parameters. Rename them to Inner, Outer, and Area.

4. From the context menu of the Area data object, select Set Data Object as Output.

   This specifies that the CalculateRingArea block provides the value of this data object as output data. This parameter of the block is read-only.

5. For each of the Inner and Outer data objects, select Set Data Object as Input from their context menu.

   This specifies that the CalculateRingArea uses this parameters as input data.

   

6. Double-click the CalculateRingArea block to open it in the Python Editor.

7. Enter the following Python code to implement a block that calculates the area of a ring by its inner and its outer radius:

   from CircleCalculations import CalculateCircleArea
   _AD_.Area = CalculateCircleArea(_AD_.Outer) - CalculateCircleArea(_AD_.Inner)
   print("Inner radius of ring  : ", _AD_.Inner)
   print("Outer radius of ring  : ", _AD_.Outer)
   print("=> Area of ring       : ", _AD_.Area)

   To calculate the areas of the inner and the outer circle, the script uses the CalculateCircleArea function that you implemented in the CalculateCircleArea module.

8. Close the Python Editor.

9. On the Library ribbon, click Custom Library - Save to save your changes and make the block template available to be used in sequences.

You created a template for an automation block that uses the Python module.

In the next part, you use this block in a sequence.

1. In the Project Manager, add two Float data objects to the UsingPythonModulesInLibraries folder and rename them to OuterRadius and RingArea.

2. Add a new sequence to the UsingPythonModulesInLibraries folder and rename it to UsingLibraryBlocks.

3. Double-click the UsingLibraryBlocks sequence to open it in the Sequence Builder.

4. From the Library Browser, drag an IntegratingPythonLib - CalculateRingArea block template to the sequence.

   A new instance of the block template is added to the sequence.

5. In the Data Object Editor, set the project-specific OuterRadius data object as the reference for the block's Outer data object.

6. Specify 15.0 as the value of the OuterRadius data object.

7. Specify the project-specific InnerRadius data object as the reference for the block's Inner data object.

8. Specify the project-specific RingArea data object as the reference for the block's Area data object.

   

When you execute this sequence, the CalculateRingArea block reads the values of the project‑specific data object InnerRadius and OuterRadius. It calculates the ring area, writes it to the project-specific RingArea data object, and prints it to the Output Viewer.

For a summary of the lesson's exercises, refer to Results of Lesson 6.