Python Questions - July 25, 2015

[tjohnson]

On Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 5:40:02 AM UTC-4, E.D.G. wrote:
> Posted by E.D.G. July 25, 2015
> 
>        This posting involves general interest matters and some specific 
> questions regarding Python code usage.  Any help would be appreciated.
> 
> 1. Program conversion effort
> 2. Specific code questions
> 
> 
> 1.  PROGRAM CONVERSION EFFORT
> 
>        An effort is underway by several people including myself to convert a 
> complex Perl language program to some other language such as Python so that, 
> among other things, the program's numerous calculations will run faster.
> 
>        Perl with the PDL module would probably work.  But we could not get 
> the needed type of support for the PDL module.  We also looked at Julia and 
> several versions of Basic.  But they also did not appear to presently have 
> the type of support that is needed.
> 
>        Fortran was tried.  It is great for calculation speed and the Fortran 
> users were quite helpful.  But we could not get certain important questions 
> answered regarding using Fortran to create Windows "Pipes" to other running 
> programs etc.
> 
>        We are presently checking to see if Python has the needed features 
> and adequate support from Python newsgroups or forums.
> 
>        At the moment our Perl programs use Windows "Pipes" plus files in an 
> interactive mode to send data to Gnuplot so that the data can be plotted. 
> That actually produces good results.  But it is a complex and inefficient 
> process.  So part of the conversion process involves learning how to have 
> Python or some other program plot data in the same interactive mode.
> 
>        In this case "interactive" means that when a chart is being displayed 
> on the computer screen for example, a key such as a Right Arrow Key can be 
> pressed.  My main Perl program checks for key presses perhaps 10 times a 
> second and if it detects one it sends the appropriate information to Gnuplot 
> through a "Pipe" so that Gnuplot will open some data file and use its 
> contents to draw a new chart.  That redrawing process on a moderately fast 
> computer occurs so rapidly the transition cannot even be seen.
> 
>        The Perl program does not simply wait for a key to be pressed because 
> it is at times processing data in the background.
> 
>        It has been my experience that sending large amounts of data from one 
> program to another using a Windows pipe doesn't work very well.  So files 
> are presently being used for bulk data transfers.
> 
> 
> 2.  SPECIFIC CODE QUESTIONS
> 
>        It will likely take some time to get all of these questions 
> completely answered, especially the ones involving graphics.
> 
> 
> 1. The initial version of Python being used has to be a free download that 
> is easy to understand.  And it has to be compatible with Windows.
> 
>        Where can the best free download version of Python be obtained?
> 
>        Is the ActiveState version the best one for people who are not Python 
> experts?
> 
>        I always found it quite easy to install ActiveState versions of Perl.
> 
> 
> 2.  Graphics - This is likely a fairly complicated question.
> 
>        What are some of the graphics options available with Python?
> 
>        Does it have its own internal graphics routines?  Perl does not as 
> far as I can tell.  And we never had time to explore Fortran's graphics 
> capabilities.
> 
>        I am aware of the existence of Matlab.  But as stated, everything 
> involved with this present effort has to be a free download so that 
> programmers around the world can easily and inexpensively generate program 
> subroutines etc.
> 
> 
> 3.  Fast Calculations
> 
>        It is my expectation that Python by itself does not do calculations 
> very fast when compared to a language such as Fortran.
> 
>        So, what options are available for increasing the speed of Python 
> calculations?
> 
>        Python could call a Fortran program to do the calculations just as 
> Perl could.  But we would like to avoid having to use more than one language 
> with this effort.
> 
> 
> 4. What is the code for opening a Windows "Pipe" between a running Python 
> program and some other program such as another Python or Perl program that 
> can work with pipes?
> 
>        Three examples are needed if possible, one for just sending, one for 
> just receiving, and one that allows both sending and receiving.  I know how 
> to open Windows pipes using Perl.
> 
> 
> 5. We would want Python to check for a key press now and then without 
> actually waiting until a key is pressed.  What would be the command for 
> that?  It is likely something like Get_Key
> 
> 
> 6. What is Python's version of the DOS level "System" command that many 
> programs use as in:
> 
> system "open notepad.exe"
> 
> 
> 7. What is Python's version of the SendKey command that many programs use to 
> send information to an active Windows program as in:
> 
> SendKey("Message to be printed on the Notepad screen")
> 
> or
> 
> SendKey(Right Arrow Key)
> 
> 
> 8. What commands does Python use to send to, and retrieve information from, 
> the Windows clipboard?
> 
> 
>        Regards, and thanks again for any assistance with this.
> 
> E.D.G.

It looks like Laura has answered most of your questions pretty well. I'm sorry that I forgot about your questions until now. I was busy because the hard drive on my primary PC failed last night.

The only thing I can think of right now to add is that regarding #8, you can also use the PyWin32 module on Windows for clipboard access. If your code needs to be cross-platform, this isn't an option, but if not, you might find it to be very useful. It might also have capabilities for #3 and #7, but I don't have it installed anymore, so I'm not sure.