> How can I add information to an object to explain what it expects as
> it's attributes? For instance I may have an object that creates a CAD
> file based on a set of default values which are set by the __init__
> but can be altered before it runs. for example;
Why don't you specify a doc-string in your class declaration?
class MakeBasicShape:
"""basic information
detailed information about attributes
"""
But, with what you do, why don't you add parameters to MakeIt()?
def MakeIt(self, shape='cuboid', bounds=[0.,10.,0.,10.,0.,10.]):
self.boundsInfo = [shape, bounds]
Or perhaps, let your class be the object you're creating (and rename
it to 'BasicShape'; verbs in class names seem a bit odd to me)? The
__init__ method would then fulfill the function of the MakeIt method,
and things would become:
shape0 = BasicShape()
shape1 = BasicShape('cylinder', [20.,10.,36.])
etc.
That is, unless you're doing other things in your factory object that
don't show up here.
> def MakeIt(self):
> assert self.boundsInfo[0] in self.boundsOptions,
> "Option not recognised: %s", self.boundsInfo[0]
I also wouldn't use assert, but try: except: in MakeIt() for example
(assert is really for debugging, but here it looks more like you're
trying to prevent user mistakes).
Anyway, hope that that gets you further.
Evert
> if self.boundsInfo[0] == 'cuboid'
> bounds = self.boundsInfo[1]
> .... # code to make box
> elif self.boundsInfo[0] == 'cylinder'
> [height, radius, noSides] = self.boundsInfo[1]
> .... # code to make cylinder
> elif self.boundsInfo[0] == 'cad'
> fileName = self.boundsInfo[1]
> .... # code to load CAD file
> return shape
>
>
> if __name__ == '__main__':
> shapeFactory0 = MakeBasicShape()
> shape0 = shapeFactory.MakeIt() # a box
>
> shapeFactory1 = MakeBasicShape()
> shapeFactory1.boundsInfo = ['cylinder' ,[20.,10.,36]]
> shape1 = shapeFactory.MakeIt() # a cylinder
>
> shapeFactory2 = MakeBasicShape()
> shapeFactory2.boundsInfo = ['cad' ,'/home/Wes/BigHand.stl']
> shape2 = shapeFactory.MakeIt() # a CAD file
>
> While this example could be coded with different functions for making
> a box, cylinder, and loading the CAD file I wanted to use attributes
> to control the object to simplify interaction with it from the user
> interface code. I would like to move away from getters and setters as
> they're taking up vast chunks of my code at the moment and do very
> little!
>
> Can I also stop new attributes being added to the MakeBasicShape
> class?
>
> Thanks in advance of any help.
>
> Wesley Brooks
>
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