2.9.3 INI_VARS issue

Using the sims.ini file, I set up the following:
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[RS274NGC]
INI_VARS = 1

[TOOLSETTER]
z_tool = -1
Z_TOOL_HOME = -0.1
X_TOOL_HOME = 0
Y_TOOL_HOME = -10.25


OK ... when I boot up the system, no errors are indicated.  I "home" the system, and switch to the MDI box.

I then put in the following command:

G0 Z#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool>

It errors and says that the variable doesn't exist.  Hmmm...   so I tried doing ..

#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool> = -1.25

It took that without issue...  I then executed 

G0 Z#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool>

and now it works.  hmmm..  What am I doing wrong?  It is supposed to have a variable defined during ini time... but it isn't, at least that is what I am seeing.

It is appearing to allocate the variable AFTER ok, but not during the ini ...    Please set me right.



 

1: After a lot of playing around, I think I found the flaws in my thinking.  First of all, the variables in the INI file MUST be capital.  So changing my file as below allowed me to use it as a READ ONLY variable.

[TOOLSETTER]
Z_TOOL = -1
Z_TOOL_HOME = -0.1
X_TOOL_HOME = 0
Y_TOOL_HOME = -10.25

2: You cannot CAN NOT use the ini variables as a regular read / write variable.  Is this brought out in the documentation?  I must have glossed over it .. see this:  Nowhere in here does it state capital or read only state.  I think that needs to be added to the manual.

3: So that begs another question...  is there any script that can be configured to run on initialization of LinuxCNC so we can create variables and set them to certain values? I don't remember reading anything like that in the manual.   It would be nice if the ini section had an entry for that.I can't really mark this solved, because of the remarks I made here. Yes, I have a better understanding now.. IF I am correct in my assumptions.  But it has led to some confusion, and days wasted troubleshooting this.  ( I have been programming since 1967, long retired now. )

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So I confirmed that all declared ini variables are READ_ONLY

file: src/emc/rs274ngc/interp_namedparams.cc

param.attr = PA_GLOBAL | PA_READONLY | PA_FROM_INI;

Documentation should make that clear.

Thanks for that answer...  however... it still is unanswered in my original post I did this:

"G0 Z#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool>

It errors and says that the variable doesn't exist.  Hmmm...   so I tried doing ..

#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool> = -1.25

It took that without issue...  I then executed 

G0 Z#<_ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool>

and now it works.  hmmm..  What am I doing wrong?  It is supposed to have a variable defined during ini time... but it isn't, at least that is what I am seeing."


So, it is ok to generate a variable of the form  _ini[TOOLSETTER]z_tool ?  That started my path down this thread.  If all _ini variables are READ ONLY, then why did it all me creating and setting the variable like I did in the first example?  It should have errored out and give me some message like "ini variables cannot be dynamically declared"  or something like that.

I thank you for finding the documentation on the proper usage of the ini variables..
 

I repeated these issues with both the axis.ini setup for sim, and MY_MILL.ini. interesting. 2.9.3 LinuxCNC distribution, no mods. total install of ISO

Thanks... I'll try the same thing yet again, and post my results