Embedded Python Block

Allows you to create a new (custom) block in Python without needing to make and install an Out of Tree Module (OOT). When you add the block to your flowgraph, the pre-populated code simply takes the input stream and multiplies it by a constant. Note that the structure of this Python block matches the structure of an Out of Tree Module (OOT) Python block. It's essentially a Python OOT block built into a grc flowgraph.

Initial code in the Python block

Here is the pre-populated code:

"""
Embedded Python Blocks:

Each time this file is saved, GRC will instantiate the first class it finds
to get ports and parameters of your block. The arguments to __init__  will
be the parameters. All of them are required to have default values!
"""

import numpy as np
from gnuradio import gr


class blk(gr.sync_block):  # other base classes are basic_block, decim_block, interp_block
    """Embedded Python Block example - a simple multiply const"""

    def __init__(self, example_param=1.0):  # only default arguments here
        """arguments to this function show up as parameters in GRC"""
        gr.sync_block.__init__(
            self,
            name='Embedded Python Block',   # will show up in GRC
            in_sig=[np.complex64],
            out_sig=[np.complex64]
        )
        # if an attribute with the same name as a parameter is found,
        # a callback is registered (properties work, too).
        self.example_param = example_param

    def work(self, input_items, output_items):
        """example: multiply with constant"""
        output_items[0][:] = input_items[0] * self.example_param
        return len(output_items[0])

User notes

• To revise the Python code:
  • right click on the Embedded Python block
  • select Properties
  • select Open in Editor
  • select Use Default or Choose Editor
  • For some platforms the Use Default button may do nothing; see below.
  • if you select Choose Editor, the /usr/bin folder will open for you to pick one.
  • When you have finished editing, save the file (usually Ctrl-S).
  • close the edit window.
  • If there are any syntax errors, they are shown in the Properties window.
  • select OK. It is not necessary to select Apply.
• to change the default editor (works for Debian):
  • open File Manager
  • single right click a file of type .py
  • left click on 'Properties'
  • click on the pull down for 'Open with:'
  • click on the editor of your choice
  • click OK

Important: It is highly recommended that any flowgraph using an Embedded Python Block be placed in a separate directory (folder); particularly so if more than one Embedded Python Block is used in the same directory. This is because the generation process creates a file epy_block_0.py from that flowgraph. If you generate a different flowgraph in the same directory, its Embedded Python Block will overwrite the file.

Warning: To make changes to the Python code, you must follow the steps above. If you edit the epy_block_0.py file directly and then generate the flowgraph again, your changes will be wiped out! (The most recent edited code is actually stored in the .grc file.)

Parameters

The parameters for this block are simply those of your embedded Python block itself.

Note that every parameter needs a default value. For example, in the code above, note line:

def __init__(self, example_param=1.0):  # only default arguments here

If you don't have any parameters, change that line of code to

def __init__(self):

If you have a vector length equal to a variable of your block, note that the default value must be "hardcoded".

Example Flowgraph

This flowgraph shows how an Embedded Python Block can be used to convert a string from a Message Edit Box to a byte string for the output port. The text is sent through a Throttle to a File Sink. The file sink should have Unbuffered = On. In this particular case, the Throttle block is not required. Text output is in the black screen at the bottom of the image.

This is the epy_block_0.py code:

"""
Embedded Python Block demo
"""

#  epy_block_0.py
#  created 10/17/2019

import numpy as np
from gnuradio import gr

import pmt

textboxValue = ""

class my_sync_block(gr.sync_block):
    """
    reads input from a message port
    outputs text
    """
    def __init__(self):
        gr.sync_block.__init__(self,
            name = "Embedded Python demo",
            in_sig = None,
            out_sig = [np.byte])
        self.message_port_register_in(pmt.intern('msg_in'))
        self.message_port_register_out(pmt.intern('clear_input'))
        self.set_msg_handler(pmt.intern('msg_in'), self.handle_msg)

    def handle_msg(self, msg):
        global textboxValue

        textboxValue = pmt.symbol_to_string (msg)
        # print (textboxValue)
    
    def work(self, input_items, output_items):
        global textboxValue

        # get length of string
        _len = len(textboxValue)
        if (_len > 0):
            # terminate with LF
            textboxValue += "\n"
            _len += 1
            # store elements in output array
            for x in range(_len):
                output_items[0][x] = ord(textboxValue[x])
            textboxValue = ""
            self.message_port_pub(pmt.intern('clear_input'), pmt.intern(''))
            return (_len)
        else:
            return (0)

Another example can be found in https://github.com/duggabe/gr-morse-code-gen