CommunicationScriptsType

communication type 'communicationscript'

In this case, the channel must be configured with Type: communicationscript.
In the communicationscript some functions will be called:

• connect (required)
• main (optional, 'main' should handle files one by one)
• disconnect (optional)

Different ways of working:

1. for incoming files (bots receives the files):

   • connect puts all files in a directory, there is no 'main' function. bots can remove the files (if you use the 'remove' switch of the channel). See example 1.
   • connect only builds the connection, 'main' is a generator that passes the messages one by one (using 'yield'). bots can remove the files (if you use the 'remove' switch of the channel). See example 2.

2. for outgoing files (bots sends the files):

   • no 'main' function: the processing of all the files can be done in 'disconnect'. bots can remove the files (if you use the 'remove' switch of the channel). See example 3.
   • if there is a 'main' function: the 'main' function is called by bots after writing each file. bots can remove the files (if you use the 'remove' switch of the channel). See example 4.

Example 1: incoming files via external program all at once

Calls an external program.
Think eg of a specific communication module for a VAN.
All files are received at once to a folder, then processed like a normal file channel.

import subprocess

def connect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    subprocess.call(['C:/Program files/my VAN/comms-module.exe','-receive'])

Example 2: incoming files via external program one by one

TODO: make a valid example using yield.
main is a generator.

import subprocess

def connect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    ''' function does nothing but it is required.'''
    pass

def main(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):

    yield ?

Example 3: outgoing files via external program all at once

Calls an external program.
Think eg of a specific communication module for a VAN.
In this example the 'disconnect' script is called after all files are written to directory;
in disconnect all files are passed to external communication-module.

import subprocess
import os

def connect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    ''' function does nothing but it is required.'''
    pass

def disconnect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    subprocess.call(['C:/Program files/my VAN/comms-module.exe','-send',os.path.join(channeldict['path'],'*.xml'])

Example 4: outgoing files via external program one by one

Calls an external program.
Think eg of a specific communication module for a VAN.
In this example the 'main' script is called for each outgoing file.

import subprocess

def connect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    ''' function does nothing but it is required.'''
    pass

def main(channeldict,filename,ta,*args,**kwargs):
    subprocess.call(['C:/Program files/my VAN/comms-module.exe','-send',filename])

Example 5: outgoing files to a printer

Send data (eg. ZPL code to print fancy labels) directly to a Windows configured printer.
The printer can be defined in Windows either as "Generic/Text Only" or with the proper driver, because this script just sends raw data, bypassing the driver.
Dependencies: Requires pywin32
Reference: http://timgolden.me.uk/pywin32-docs/win32print.html

import os
import win32print
import bots.transform as transform

def connect(channeldict,*args,**kwargs):
    ''' function does nothing but it is required.'''
    pass

def main(channeldict,filename,ta,*args,**kwargs):

    # set printer values required
    ta.synall()
    printer = transform.partnerlookup(ta.topartner,'attr1')
    jobname = ta.botskey

    # read the output file
    with open(filename,'r') as content_file:
        content = content_file.read()

    # send data to the printer
    hPrinter = win32print.OpenPrinter(printer)
    hJob = win32print.StartDocPrinter(hPrinter,1,(jobname,None,'RAW'))
    win32print.WritePrinter(hPrinter,content)
    win32print.EndDocPrinter(hPrinter)
    win32print.ClosePrinter(hPrinter)