Cluster

The Cluster driver is separated into three layers:

  • QCoDeS driver: Instrument driver based on QCoDeS and the instrument’s native interface.

  • Native interface: Instrument API that provides control over the instrument and is an extension of the the SCPI interface.

  • SCPI interface: Instrument API based on the SCPI standard which in turn is based on IEEE488.2.

Warning

This is a preliminary driver for the Cluster that is currently under development.

QCoDeS driver

class qblox_instruments.Cluster(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any)[source]

Bases: Cluster, Instrument

This class connects QCoDeS to the Cluster native interface.

__init__(name: str, identifier: Optional[str] = None, port: Optional[int] = None, debug: Optional[int] = None, dummy_cfg: Optional[Dict] = None)[source]

Creates Cluster QCoDeS class and adds all relevant instrument parameters. These instrument parameters call the associated methods provided by the native interface.

Parameters

  • name (str) – Instrument name.

  • identifier (Optional[str]) – Instrument identifier. See resolve(). If None, the instrument is identified by name.

  • port (Optional[int]) – Override for the TCP port through which we should connect.

  • debug (Optional[int]) – Debug level (0 | None = normal, 1 = no version check, >1 = no version or error checking).

  • dummy_cfg (Optional[Dict]) – Configure as dummy using this configuration. For each slot that needs to be occupied by a module add the slot index as key and specify the type of module in the slot using the type ClusterType.

property modules: List

Get list of modules.

Returns

List of modules.

Return type

list

reset() → None[source]

Resets device, invalidates QCoDeS parameter cache and clears all status and event registers (see SCPI).

QCoDeS instrument parameters

QCoDeS parameters generated by Cluster.

Cluster.IDN

Please see QCoDeS for a description.

Properties

  • value: Anything

Cluster.reference_source

Sets/gets reference source (‘internal’ = internal 10 MHz, ‘external’ = external 10 MHz).

Properties

  • value: Enum: {‘external’, ‘internal’}

QCoDeS module parameters

Besides instrument parameters, the Cluster also has parameters for each module in the Cluster which are described in QCM-QRM.

Native interface

class qblox_instruments.native.Cluster(identifier: str, port: Optional[int] = None, debug: Optional[int] = None, dummy_cfg: Optional[Dict] = None)[source]

Bases: Cluster

Class that provides the native API for the Cluster. It provides methods to control all functions and features provided by the Cluster.

Note that the bulk of the functionality of this class is contained in the generic_func module so that this functionality can be shared between instruments.

__init__(identifier: str, port: Optional[int] = None, debug: Optional[int] = None, dummy_cfg: Optional[Dict] = None)[source]

Creates Cluster native interface object.

Parameters

  • identifier (str) – Instrument identifier. See resolve() for more information.

  • port (Optional[int]) – Instrument port. If None, this will be determined automatically.

  • debug (Optional[int]) – Debug level (0 | None = normal, 1 = no version check, >1 = no version or error checking).

  • dummy_cfg (Optional[Dict]) – Configure as dummy using this configuration. For each slot that needs to be occupied by a module add the slot index as key and specify the type of module in the slot using the type ClusterType.

Raises
property instrument_class: InstrumentClass

Get instrument class (e.g. Pulsar, Cluster).

Returns

Instrument class

Return type

InstrumentClass

property instrument_type: InstrumentType

Get instrument type (e.g. MM, QRM, QCM).

Returns

Instrument type

Return type

InstrumentType

get_idn() → Dict[source]

Get device identity and build information and convert them to a dictionary.

Returns

Dictionary containing manufacturer, model, serial number and build information. The build information is subdivided into FPGA firmware, kernel module software, application software and driver software build information. Each of those consist of the version, build date, build Git hash and Git build dirty indication.

Return type

dict

get_system_state() → SystemState[source]

Get general system state and convert it to a SystemState.

Returns

Tuple containing general system status and corresponding flags.

Return type

SystemStatus

arm_sequencer(slot: Optional[int] = None, sequencer: Optional[int] = None) → None[source]

Prepare the indexed sequencer to start by putting it in the armed state. If no sequencer index is given, all sequencers are armed. Any sequencer that was already running is stopped and rearmed. If an invalid sequencer index is given, an error is set in system error.

Parameters

sequencer (Optional[int]) – Sequencer index.

Raises

RuntimeError – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

start_sequencer(slot: Optional[int] = None, sequencer: Optional[int] = None) → None[source]

Start the indexed sequencer, thereby putting it in the running state. If an invalid sequencer index is given or the indexed sequencer was not yet armed, an error is set in system error. If no sequencer index is given, all armed sequencers are started and any sequencer not in the armed state is ignored. However, if no sequencer index is given and no sequencers are armed, and error is set in system error.

Parameters

sequencer (Optional[int]) – Sequencer index.

Raises

RuntimeError – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

stop_sequencer(slot: Optional[int] = None, sequencer: Optional[int] = None) → None[source]

Stop the indexed sequencer, thereby putting it in the stopped state. If an invalid sequencer index is given, an error is set in system error. If no sequencer index is given, all sequencers are stopped.

Parameters

sequencer (Optional[int]) – Sequencer index.

Raises

RuntimeError – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_sequencer_state(slot: int, sequencer: int, timeout: int = 0, timeout_poll_res: float = 0.02) → SequencerState[source]

Get the sequencer state. If an invalid sequencer index is given, an error is set in system error. If the timeout is set to zero, the function returns the state immediately. If a positive non-zero timeout is set, the function blocks until the sequencer completes. If the sequencer hasn’t stopped before the timeout expires, a TimeoutError is thrown.

Parameters

  • sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

  • timeout (int) – Timeout in minutes.

  • timeout_poll_res (float) – Timeout polling resolution in seconds.

Returns

Tuple containing sequencer status and corresponding flags.

Return type

SequencerState

Raises

TimeoutError – Timeout

get_waveforms(slot: int, sequencer: int) → Dict[source]

Get all waveforms and weigths in the AWG waveform list of indexed sequencer. The returned dictionary is structured as follows:

  • name: waveform name.

    • data: waveform samples in a range of 1.0 to -1.0.

    • index: waveform index used by the sequencer Q1ASM program to refer

      to the waveform.

Parameters

sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

Returns

Dictionary with waveforms.

Return type

dict

get_weights(slot: int, sequencer: int) → Dict[source]

Get all weigths in the acquisition weight lists of indexed sequencer. The returned dictionary is structured as follows:

-name : weight name.

  • data: weight samples in a range of 1.0 to -1.0.

  • index: weight index used by the sequencer Q1ASM program to refer

    to the weight.

Parameters

sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

Returns

Dictionary with weights.

Return type

dict

Raises

NotImplementedError – Functionality not available on this module.

get_acquisition_state(slot: int, sequencer: int, timeout: int = 0, timeout_poll_res: float = 0.02) → bool[source]

Return acquisition binning completion state of the indexed sequencer. If an invalid sequencer is given, an error is set in system error. If the timeout is set to zero, the function returns the state immediately. If a positive non-zero timeout is set, the function blocks until the acquisition binning completes. If the acquisition hasn’t completed before the timeout expires, a TimeoutError is thrown. Note that when sequencer state checking is enabled, the sequencer state is checked using get_sequencer_state with the selected timeout period first and then the acquisition state is checked with the same timeout period. This means that the total timeout period is two times the set timeout period.

Parameters

  • sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

  • timeout (int) – Timeout in minutes.

  • timeout_poll_res (float) – Timeout polling resolution in seconds.

  • check_seq_state (bool) – Check if sequencer is done before checking acquisition state.

Returns

Indicates the acquisition binning completion state (False = uncompleted, True = completed).

Return type

bool

Raises
delete_acquisition_data(slot: int, sequencer: int, name: str = '', all: bool = False) → None[source]

Delete data from an acquisition specified by name in the acquisition list of indexed sequencer or delete data in all acquisitions if all is True.

Parameters

  • sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

  • name (str) – Weight name

Raises

NotImplementedError – Functionality not available on this module.

store_scope_acquisition(slot: int, sequencer: int, name: str) → None[source]

After an acquisition has completed, store the scope acquisition results in the acquisition specified by name of the indexed sequencers. If an invalid sequencer index is given an error is set in system error. To get access to the acquisition results, the sequencer will be stopped when calling this function.

Parameters

  • sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

  • name (str) – Acquisition name.

Raises

NotImplementedError – Functionality not available on this module.

get_acquisitions(slot: int, sequencer: int) → Dict[source]

Get all acquisitions in acquisition lists of indexed sequencer. The acquisition scope and bin data is normalized to a range of -1.0 to 1.0 taking both the bit widths of the processing path and average count into considaration. For the binned integration results, the integration length is not handled during normalization and therefore these values have to be divided by their respective integration lenghts. The returned dictionary is structured as follows:

  • name: acquisition name

    • index: acquisition index used by the sequencer Q1ASM program to

      refer to the acquisition.

    • acquisition: acquisition dictionary

      • scope: Scope data

        • path0: input path 0

          • data: acquisition samples in a range of 1.0 to -1.0.

          • out-of-range: out-of-range indication for the entire

            acquisition (False = in-range, True = out-of-range).

          • avg_cnt: number of averages.

        • path1: input path 1

          • data: acquisition samples in a range of 1.0 to -1.0.

          • out-of-range: out-of-range indication for the entire

            acquisition (False = in-range, True = out-of-range).

          • avg_cnt: number of averages.

      • bins: bin data

        • integration: integration data

          • path_0: input path 0 integration result bin list

          • path_1: input path 1 integration result bin list

        • threshold: threshold result bin list

        • valid: list of valid indications per bin

        • avg_cnt: list of number of averages per bin

Parameters

sequencer (int) – Sequencer index.

Returns

Dictionary with acquisitions.

Return type

dict

Raises

NotImplementedError – Functionality not available on this module.

set_dummy_binned_acquisition_data(slot_idx: int, sequencer: int, acq_index_name: str, data: Iterable[Optional[DummyBinnedAcquisitionData]])[source]

Set dummy binned acquisition data for the dummy.

Parameters

  • slot_idx (int) – Slot of the hardware you want to set the data to on a cluster.

  • sequencer (int) – Sequencer.

  • acq_index_name (str) – Acquisition index name.

  • data (Iterable[Union[DummyBinnedAcquisitionData, None]]) – Dummy data for the binned acquisition. An iterable of all the bin values.

set_dummy_scope_acquisition_data(slot_idx: int, sequencer: Optional[int], data: DummyScopeAcquisitionData)[source]

Set dummy scope acquisition data for the dummy.

Parameters

  • slot_idx (int) – Slot of the hardware you want to set the data to on a cluster.

  • sequencer (Union[int, None]) – Sequencer.

  • data (DummyScopeAcquisitionData) – Dummy data for the scope acquisition.

SCPI interface

class qblox_instruments.scpi.Cluster(transport: Transport, debug: int = 0)[source]

Bases: Ieee488_2

This interface provides an API for the mandatory and required SCPI calls and adds Pulsar related functionality (see SCPI).

__init__(transport: Transport, debug: int = 0)[source]

Creates SCPI interface object.

Parameters

  • transport (Transport) – Transport class responsible for the lowest level of communication (e.g. Ethernet).

  • debug (int) – Debug level (0 = normal, 1 = no version check, >1 = no version or error checking).

Raises

ConnectionError – Debug level is 0 and there is a device or version mismatch.

get_system_error() → str[source]

Get system error from queue (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

System error description string.

Return type

str

get_num_system_error() → int[source]

Get number of system errors (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Current number of system errors.

Return type

int

get_system_version() → str[source]

Get SCPI system version (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

SCPI system version.

Return type

str

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_name(name: str) → None[source]

Sets the customer-specified name of the instrument. The name must not contain any newlines, backslashes, or double quotes.

Parameters

name (str) – The new name for the device.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_name() → str[source]

Returns the customer-specified name of the instrument.

Parameters

None –

Returns

The name of the device.

Return type

str

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_ip_config(config: str) → None[source]

Reconfigures the IP address of this device. The configuration will not go into effect until reboot() is called or the device is power-cycled.

Parameters

config (str) –

IP configuration. May be one of the following things:

  • an IPv4 address including prefix length, for example 192.168.0.2/24, - the string dhcp to enable IPv4 DHCP, - an IPv6 address including prefix length, for example 1:2::3:4/64, or - a semicolon-separated combination of an IPv4 configuration (IP address or dhcp) and an IPv6 address.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_ip_config() → str[source]

Returns the IP address configuration that will go into effect when the device reboots.

Parameters

None –

Returns

IP configuration. Can be one of the following things:

  • an IPv4 address including prefix length, for example 192.168.0.2/24, - the string dhcp to enable IPv4 DHCP, - an IPv6 address including prefix length, for example 1:2::3:4/64, or - a semicolon-separated combination of an IPv4 configuration (IP address or dhcp) and an IPv6 address.

Return type

str

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

reboot() → None[source]

Reboots the instrument.

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

clear() → None[source]

Clear all status and event registers (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_status_byte() → int[source]

Get status byte register. Register is only cleared when feeding registers are cleared (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status byte register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_service_request_enable(reg: int) → None[source]

Set service request enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

reg (int) – Service request enable register.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_service_request_enable() → int[source]

Get service request enable register. The register is cleared after reading it (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Service request enable register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_standard_event_status_enable(reg: int) → None[source]

Set standard event status enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

reg (int) – Standard event status enable register.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_standard_event_status_enable() → int[source]

Get standard event status enable register. The register is cleared after reading it (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Standard event status enable register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_standard_event_status() → int[source]

Get standard event status register. The register is cleared after reading it (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Standard event status register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_operation_complete() → None[source]

Set device in operation complete query active state (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_operation_complete() → bool[source]

Get operation complete state (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Operation complete state (False = running, True = completed).

Return type

bool

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

test() → bool[source]

Run self-test. Currently not implemented (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Test result (False = failed, True = success).

Return type

bool

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

wait() → None[source]

Wait until operations completed before continuing (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

preset_system_status() → None[source]

Preset system status registers. Connects general system status flags for PLL unlock and temperature out-of-range indications to event status enable, status questionable temperature and status questionable frequency registers respectively (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_questionable_condition() → int[source]

Get status questionable condition register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status questionable condition register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_questionable_event() → int[source]

Get status questionable event register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status questionable event register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_questionable_enable(reg: int) → None[source]

Set status questionable enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

reg (int) – Status questionable enable register.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_questionable_enable() → int[source]

Get status questionable enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status questionable enable register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_operation_condition() → int[source]

Get status operation condition register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status operation condition register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_operation_events() → int[source]

Get status operation event register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status operation event register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

set_operation_enable(reg: int) → None[source]

Set status operation enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

reg (int) – Status operation enable register.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_operation_enable() → int[source]

Get status operation enable register (see SCPI).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Status operation enable register.

Return type

int

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

identify() → None[source]

Toggle frontpanel LEDs to visually identify the instrument.

Parameters

None –

Return type

None

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_fpga_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get current FPGA junction temperature (inside device).

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Current FPGA junction temperature.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_fpga_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get maximum FPGA junction temperature since boot or clear (inside device).

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Maximum FPGA junction temperature.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_carrier_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get current carrier board temperature (inside device).

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Current carrier board temperature.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_carrier_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get maximum carrier board temperature since boot or clear (inside device).

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Maximum carrier board temperature.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_bp_temperature_0() → float[source]

Get current backplane board temperature from sensor 0 (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Current backplane board temperature from sensor 0.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_bp_temperature_0() → float[source]

Get maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 0 since boot or clear (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 0.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_bp_temperature_1() → float[source]

Get current backplane board temperature from sensor 1 (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Current backplane board temperature from sensor 1.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_bp_temperature_1() → float[source]

Get maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 1 since boot or clear (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 1.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_bp_temperature_2() → float[source]

Get current backplane board temperature from sensor 2 (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Current backplane board temperature from sensor 2.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_bp_temperature_2() → float[source]

Get maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 2 since boot or clear (inside device).

Parameters

None –

Returns

Maximum backplane board temperature from sensor 2.

Return type

float

Raises

Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_assembler_status(slot: int) → bool[source]

Get assembler status. Refer to the assembler log to get more information regarding the assembler result.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Assembler status (False = failed, True = success).

Return type

bool

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_assembler_log(slot: int) → str[source]

Get assembler log.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

Assembler log.

Return type

str

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_afe_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get current AFE temperature.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

current

Return type

float

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_afe_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get maximum AFE temperature.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

maximum

Return type

float

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_current_lo_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get current LO temperature.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

current

Return type

float

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

get_maximum_lo_temperature(slot: int) → float[source]

Get maximum LO temperature.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Returns

maximum

Return type

float

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

start_adc_calib(slot: int) → None[source]

Calibrates ADC delay and offset values. This method sets the correct delay values for every input data index (IO data lane) in order to avoid timing violations which occur while sampling ADC data. It also calibrates offsets internal to the ADC.

Parameters

slot (int) – slot index.

Return type

None

Raises

  • Exception – Invalid input parameter type.

  • Exception – An error is reported in system error and debug <= 1. All errors are read from system error and listed in the exception.

Supporting classes and functions

Please have a look at: