Command help improvements

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ The project uses [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 - Added progress indicator to more commands
 - `points` option in set measurement and station calculation is now a multi
   option, instead of a comma separated string list
+- `chunk` option of file download now expects size in bytes, instead of
+  encoded hex characters
 
 ### Fixed
 

docs/about.rst

@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ These have to be set before specifying the command groups.
 
     iman --info --file iman.log measure ...
 
-Usage
------
+.. tip::
 
-.. click:: instrumentman:cli
-    :prog: iman
+    See the command help for all logging options.
+
+    .. code-block:: shell
+
+        iman -h

docs/commands/files/download.rst

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 Downloading
 ===========
 
-A useful file management feature is the ability to download a file from the
-instrument. The download command can be used to download a file identified
+A useful file management feature that gives the ability to download a file from
+the instrument. The download command can be used to download a file identified
 by either a file name and type, or a full file path.
 
 .. caution::

docs/commands/protocoltest/geocom.rst

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ see what part of the protocol might be usable on the instrument.
 
 .. note::
 
-    The commands only does surface level testing by executing one command
+    The command only does surface level testing by executing one command
     from each subsystem. The results are only informative, they might not be
     completely accurate. It might happen, that an instrument responds to the
     command used for testing, but does not actually respond to the other

docs/commands/targets/index.rst

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Targets
 
 To run a point measurement program, the targets first must be defined. This is
 done in JSON format, providing the point IDs, prism types and their 3D
-coordinates in an arbitrary coordinate system. This application provdes ways
+coordinates in an arbitrary coordinate system. This application provides ways
 to create such a definition.
 
 .. note::

docs/commands/targets/measure.rst

@@ -12,9 +12,8 @@ aimed at.
 .. caution::
     :class: warning
 
-    The appropriate prism type needs to be set on the instrument before
-    recording each target point. The program will automatically request
-    the type from the instrument after the point is measured.
+    The appropriate prism type and target height needs to be set on the
+    instrument before recording each target point.
 
     This is needed, because the automated measurement programs support target
     series with mixed reflector types. The prism types are set according to

src/instrumentman/__init__.py

@@ -53,8 +53,43 @@ def cli(
     dateformat: str = "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S",
     rotate: tuple[int, int] | None = None
 ) -> None:
-    """Automated measurement programs and related utilities for surveying
-    instruments."""
+    """
+    \b
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+    |                                                                    |
+    |       .---------.                                                  |
+    |      / +-------+ \\                                                 |
+    |     .__| +---+ |__.                                                |
+    |     |  | |   | |  |    ___                                         |
+    |     |  |=| @ |=|  |   |_ _|          _ __ ___     __ _   _ __      |
+    |     |  | |   | |  |    | |   _____  | '_ ` _ \\   / _` | | '_ \\     |
+    |     |  | +---+ |  |    | |  |_____| | | | | | | | (_| | | | | |    |
+    |    .+--+-------+--+.  |___|         |_| |_| |_|  \\__,_| |_| |_|    |
+    |    | .----.   123  |                                               |
+    |    | |____|   456  |                                               |
+    |    '_______________'                                               |
+    |                                                                    |
+    +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
+
+    Instrumentman (or I-man for short) is a collection of command line programs
+    related to the automation of surveying instruments (primarily robotic total
+    stations) through serial line command protocols (mainly Leica GeoCom).
+
+    The individual commands are available through their respective action
+    based command groups. The help page for each command can be accessed
+    through the -h/--help option. Logging can be set up with options of this
+    root command.
+
+    Examples:
+
+    iman download file -h
+
+    iman --debug --file log.log measure inclination -o incline.csv -p 3 COM1
+
+    iman calc sets merged.json results.csv
+
+    iman terminal
+    """
     configure_logging(
         protocol,
         debug,

src/instrumentman/datatransfer/__init__.py

@@ -26,30 +26,45 @@
 @option(
     "-o",
     "--output",
-    help="file to save received data",
+    help="File to save received data",
     type=File("wb", encoding="utf8", lazy=True)
 )
 @option(
     "--eof",
-    help="end-of-file marker (i.e. the last line to receive)",
+    help="End-of-file marker (i.e. the last line to receive)",
     type=str,
     default=""
 )
 @option(
     "--autoclose/--no-autoclose",
-    help="close transfer automatically upon timeout or when EOF is received",
+    help="Close transfer automatically upon timeout or when EOF is received",
     default=True
 )
 @option(
     "--include-eof/--no-include-eof",
     help=(
-        "wether the EOF marker is part of the output format "
+        "Wether the EOF marker is part of the output format "
         "(or just sent by the instrument regardless of the format in question)"
     ),
     default=False
 )
 def cli_download(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
-    """Receive data sent from the instrument."""
+    """
+    Receive data sent from the instrument.
+
+    This command is intended to receive and save ASCII or extended ASCII
+    documents line by line, such as typical data exports from instruments.
+
+    To sucessfully receive the data, the program has to be started before the
+    instrument starts sending the lines.
+
+    Since not all ASCII export formats have an EOF marker, the download can be
+    closed by two mechanisms if no marker is set. The process can be closed
+    manually by keyboard interrupt once all data expected was received.
+    Alternatively the process can close automatically at the first connection
+    timeout (only if a first line was ever received, otherwise the program
+    waits indefinitely and has to be interrupted manually).
+    """
     from .app import main_download
 
     main_download(**kwargs)
@@ -63,20 +78,34 @@ def cli_download(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
 @com_port_argument()
 @argument(
     "file",
-    help="data file to upload",
+    help="Data file to upload",
     type=File("rt", encoding="ascii")
 )
 @com_baud_option(1200)
 @com_timeout_option()
 @option(
     "-s",
     "--skip",
-    help="number of header rows to skip",
+    help="Number of header rows to skip",
     type=IntRange(min=0),
     default=0
 )
 def cli_upload(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
-    """Upload ASCII data to the instrument."""
+    """
+    Upload ASCII data to the instrument.
+
+    This command can be used to send ASCII data line by line to an instrument,
+    that supports serial data transfer. Such data can be a CSV formatted
+    coordinate list, or an instrument specific format type (e.g. Leica GSI,
+    Sokkia SDR).
+
+    To ensure the successful reception of the data, it is recommended to use
+    1200 baud. At higher speeds the instrument might not be able to process the
+    data quickly enough, leading to the receiving buffer filling up, which will
+    result in loss of data.
+
+    The instrument should be set to receiving mode before starting the upload.
+    """
     from .app import main_upload
 
     main_upload(**kwargs)

src/instrumentman/filetransfer/__init__.py

@@ -23,15 +23,15 @@
 @com_port_argument()
 @argument(
     "directory",
-    help="directory to list files in (path should end with '/')",
+    help="Directory to list files in",
     type=str,
-    default="/"
+    default=""
 )
 @com_option_group()
 @option(
     "-d",
     "--device",
-    help="memory device",
+    help="Memory device",
     type=Choice(
         (
             "internal",
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 @option(
     "-f",
     "--filetype",
-    help="file type (ignored in recursive mode)",
+    help="File type (all files are shown when not set)",
     type=Choice(
         (
             "image",
@@ -65,14 +65,26 @@
 @option(
     "--depth",
     help=(
-        "recursive depth "
+        "Recursive depth "
         "(0: unlimited; 1<=x: depth of directory search)"
     ),
     type=IntRange(0),
     default=1
 )
 def cli_list(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
-    """List files on an instrument."""
+    """
+    List files on an instrument.
+
+    For each file in the specified directory (and discovered subdirectories
+    when recursive search is enabled) the file name, file size and the time of
+    last modification is displayed. Not empty directories and items, that are
+    likely directories are show in blue and light blue colors. Known text
+    formats are shown green. Image and drawing formats are shown in magenta.
+    Database files are red. Other files are shown without special color.
+
+    This command requires a GeoCom capable instrument, that supports file
+    operations (TPS1200 and later).
+    """
     from .app import main_list
 
     main_list(**kwargs)
@@ -87,21 +99,21 @@ def cli_list(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
 @argument(
     "filename",
     help=(
-        "file to download (including path with '/' separators if filetype "
+        "File to download (including path with '/' separators if filetype "
         "option is not specified)"
     ),
     type=str
 )
 @argument(
     "output",
-    help="file to save downloaded data to",
+    help="File to save downloaded data to",
     type=File("wb", lazy=False)
 )
 @com_option_group()
 @option(
     "-d",
     "--device",
-    help="memory device",
+    help="Memory device",
     type=Choice(
         (
             "internal",
@@ -117,7 +129,7 @@ def cli_list(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
 @option(
     "-f",
     "--filetype",
-    help="file type",
+    help="File type (full file path is required if this option is not set)",
     type=Choice(
         (
             "image",
@@ -137,17 +149,27 @@ def cli_list(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
 @option(
     "-c",
     "--chunk",
-    help="chunk size (max 450 for normal and 1800 for VivaTPS large download)",
-    type=IntRange(1, 1800),
-    default=450
+    help="Chunk size (max. 225 for normal and 900 for large download mode)",
+    type=IntRange(1, 900),
+    default=225
 )
 @option(
     "--large",
-    help="use large download commands (only available from VivaTPS)",
+    help="Use large download commands (only available from VivaTPS)",
     is_flag=True
 )
 def cli_download(**kwargs: Any) -> None:
-    """Download a file from the instrument."""
+    """
+    Download a file from the instrument.
+
+    Any format can be transferred. The file is downloaded in chunks of hex
+    encoded binary data. The speed is strongly dependent on the connection
+    baud and chunk size. Use the highest baud supported by the instrument, and
+    the largest chunk size for the fastest download.
+
+    This command requires a GeoCom capable instrument, that supports file
+    operations (TPS1200 and later).
+    """
     from .app import main_download
 
     main_download(**kwargs)

src/instrumentman/filetransfer/app.py

@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ def run_download(
     file: BufferedWriter,
     device: str = "internal",
     filetype: str = "unknown",
-    chunk: int = 450,
+    chunk: int = 225,
     large: bool = False
 ) -> None:
     setup = tps.ftr.setup_download
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ def run_download(
     logger.debug(f"Download setup: large={str(large)}, chunk={chunk:d}")
     resp_setup = setup(
         filename,
-        chunk,
+        chunk * 2,  # chunk size is in bytes, but command expects in hex chars
         _DEVICE[device],
         _FILE[filetype]
     )
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ def main_download(
     sync_after_timeout: bool = False,
     device: str = "internal",
     filetype: str = "unknown",
-    chunk: int = 450,
+    chunk: int = 225,
     large: bool = False
 ) -> None:
     logger = getLogger("iman.files.download")