separate setup for additional aliases

- remove multiple aliases in frappy_config

devices.py

@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ def applyAliasConfig():
                 break
 
 
+class FrappyAliases(Device):
+    parameters = {
+        'aliases': Param('dict of additional aliases', type=anytype, default={})
+    }
+
+
 class FrappyConfig(Device):
     # respect the order: e.g. temperature_regulation must be after temperature
     # and temperature_drivable must be the last in the temperature group
@@ -95,17 +101,21 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
     meanings.remove('nodes')
 
     def remove_aliases(self):
+
+        def remove_alias(aliasname):
+            aliasdev = session.devices.get(aliasname)
+            if aliasdev:
+                session.destroyDevice(aliasname)
+            session.configured_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
+            session.dynamic_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
+
         for meaning in self.meanings:
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
-            aliasnames = info['alias']
-            if isinstance(aliasname, str):
-                aliasnames = [aliasnames]
-            for aliasname in aliasnames:
-                aliasdev = session.devices.get(aliasname)
-                if aliasdev:
-                    session.destroyDevice(aliasname)
-                session.configured_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
-                session.dynamic_devices.pop(aliasname, None)
+            remove_alias(info['alias'])
+        frappy_aliases = session.devices.get('frappy_aliases')
+        if frappy_aliases:
+            for aliasname in frappy_aliases.aliases:
+                remove_alias(aliasname)
 
     def set_envlist(self):
         """create aliases for SECoP devices
@@ -132,9 +142,7 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
         drivables = {}
         for meaning in self.meanings:
             info = getattr(self, meaning)
-            aliasnames = info['alias']
-            if isinstance(aliasnames, str):
-                aliasnames = [aliasnames]
+            aliasname = info['alias']
             envlistflag = info.get('envlist', True)
             aliascfg = info.get('targets', {})
             importance_list = sample_devices.get(meaning, [])
@@ -156,14 +164,12 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                     # marked as xxx_drivable, but not really drivable: skip
                     continue
                 if dev:
-                    for aliasname in aliasnames:
-                        session.log.debug('create alias %r pointing to %r', aliasname, devname)
-                        devcfg = ('nicos.core.DeviceAlias', {})
-                        session.configured_devices[aliasname] = devcfg
-                        session.dynamic_devices[aliasname] = 'frappy'
-                        aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
-                        aliasdev.alias = devname
-                    aliasname = aliasnames[0]
+                    session.log.debug('create alias %r pointing to %r', aliasname, devname)
+                    devcfg = ('nicos.core.DeviceAlias', {})
+                    session.configured_devices[aliasname] = devcfg
+                    session.dynamic_devices[aliasname] = 'frappy'
+                    aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
+                    aliasdev.alias = devname
                     if devname not in devset and envlistflag:
                         # take only the first one
                         devset.add(devname)
@@ -172,8 +178,17 @@ class FrappyConfig(Device):
                         newenv.pop(aliasname, None)
                     break
             else:
-                for aliasname in aliasnames:
-                    newenv.pop(aliasname, None)
+                newenv.pop(aliasname, None)
+
+        frappy_aliases = session.devices.get('frappy_aliases')
+        if frappy_aliases:
+            for aliasname, aliastarget in frappy_aliases.aliases.items():
+                session.log.debug('create alias %r pointing to %r', aliasname, devname)
+                devcfg = ('nicos.core.DeviceAlias', {})
+                session.configured_devices[aliasname] = devcfg
+                session.dynamic_devices[aliasname] = 'frappy'
+                aliasdev = session.createDevice(aliasname, recreate=True, explicit=True)
+                aliasdev.alias = devname
 
         applyAliasConfig()  # for other aliases
         if set(newenv) != set(session.experiment.envlist):

setups/frappy.py

@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ devices = dict(
         # device, using the given importance number, with similar values as
         # given by the SECoP standard (10: instrument, 20: cryostat, 30: insert)
         temperature = {  # the SECoP meaning
-           'alias': ['Ts', 'temperature'], # the name(s) to be given to the alias
+           'alias': 'Ts', # the name(s) to be given to the alias
            'targets': # possible devices in addition with importance
               {'se_ts': 20, 'se_tt': 19, 'se_tm': 18},
         },
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ devices = dict(
             'envlist': False,
         },
         magneticfield = {
-            'alias': ['B', 'magfield'],
+            'alias': 'B',
             'targets': {'se_mf': 20},
         },
         rotation_z = {