The EPICS collaboration has produced IDL interface programs (procedures and functions) to access EPICS data. Overview documentation can be found here. A description of the IDL routines can be seen here. The IDL package on portal will work with IDL version 6.0 and higher.
From a PPPL Linux cluster (e.g., portal, nstxpool)
To access EPICS data using IDL, login to portal and type the following:
1) module load nstx
2) module load nstx/epics
| An example that reads the shot number: (the next two lines need be run one time) IDL>.RUN ezcaIDL IDL> CAINIT IDL> name =
"ck_currshotSEL" |
The IDL functions and procedures to interface with EPICS are documented here.
From the PPPL VMS cluster
IDL functions and procedures have been implemented on the VMS Cluster, but to a very limited degree. Only the procedures CAGET and CAGETCOUNTANDTYPE are supported at this time. I hope that CAPUT can be added in the near future. For more information see the VME_EPICS Notes.
From a Windows PC
The IDL EPICS functions should run under Windows, but it hasn't been tested yet at PPPL. Contact the NSTX EPICS System Administrator if this would be useful to you.
From a Macintosh
There is no support at PPPL for EPICS data access using IDL on a Macintosh.
Page edited 03NOV2015 by Bill Davis