path: root/lib/taurus/qt/qtgui/taurusgui/taurusgui.py

#!/usr/bin/env python

#############################################################################
##
## This file is part of Taurus
##
## http://taurus-scada.org
##
## Copyright 2011 CELLS / ALBA Synchrotron, Bellaterra, Spain
##
## Taurus is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
## it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
## the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
## (at your option) any later version.
##
## Taurus is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
## but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
## MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
## GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
##
## You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
## along with Taurus.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
##
###########################################################################

"""This package provides the TaurusGui class"""

__all__ = ["DockWidgetPanel", "TaurusGui"]

__docformat__ = 'restructuredtext'


import os
import sys
import copy
import weakref
import inspect

from lxml import etree

import taurus
from taurus.external.qt import Qt
from taurus.qt.qtgui.resource import getIcon, getThemeIcon
from taurus.qt.qtcore.configuration import BaseConfigurableClass
from taurus.qt.qtcore.communication import SharedDataManager
from taurus.qt.qtgui.util import TaurusWidgetFactory
from taurus.qt.qtgui.base import TaurusBaseWidget, TaurusBaseComponent
from taurus.qt.qtgui.container import TaurusMainWindow
from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui.utils import ExternalApp, PanelDescription, \
    ToolBarDescription, AppletDescription
from taurus.qt.qtgui.panel import QDoubleListDlg
from taurus.qt.qtgui.util.ui import UILoadable


@UILoadable(with_ui='ui')
class AssociationDialog(Qt.QDialog):
    '''A dialog for viewing and editing the associations between instruments
    and panels'''

    def __init__(self, parent, flags=None):
        if flags is None:
            flags = Qt.Qt.Widget
        Qt.QDialog.__init__(self, parent, flags)
        self.loadUi()

        self.refresh()
        self.connect(self.ui.instrumentCB, Qt.SIGNAL('activated (QString)'), self.onInstrumentChanged)
        self.connect(self.ui.buttonBox, Qt.SIGNAL("clicked(QAbstractButton *)"), self.onDialogButtonClicked)
        self.connect(self.ui.refreshBT, Qt.SIGNAL("clicked()"), self.refresh)

    def refresh(self):
        currentinstrument = self.ui.instrumentCB.currentText()
        mainwindow = self.parent()

        self.associations = mainwindow.getAllInstrumentAssociations()

        #fill the comboboxes
        self.ui.instrumentCB.clear()
        self.ui.panelCB.clear()
        self.ui.instrumentCB.addItems(sorted(self.associations.keys()))
        self.ui.panelCB.addItems(['__[None]__'] + mainwindow.getPanelNames())

        #restore the index
        idx = self.ui.instrumentCB.findText(currentinstrument)
        if idx == -1 and self.ui.instrumentCB.count() > 0:
            idx = 0
        self.ui.instrumentCB.setCurrentIndex(idx)
        self.onInstrumentChanged(self.ui.instrumentCB.currentText())

    def onInstrumentChanged(self, instrumentname):
        instrumentname = unicode(instrumentname)
        panelname = self.associations.get(instrumentname)
        if panelname is None:
            self.ui.panelCB.setCurrentIndex(0)
            return
        else:
            idx = self.ui.panelCB.findText(panelname)
            self.ui.panelCB.setCurrentIndex(idx)

    def onDialogButtonClicked(self, button):
        role = self.ui.buttonBox.buttonRole(button)
        if role in (Qt.QDialogButtonBox.AcceptRole, Qt.QDialogButtonBox.ApplyRole) :
            if self.ui.panelCB.currentIndex() > 0:
                panelname = unicode(self.ui.panelCB.currentText())
            else:
                panelname = None
            instrumentname = unicode(self.ui.instrumentCB.currentText())
            self.associations[instrumentname] = panelname
            self.parent().setInstrumentAssociation(instrumentname, panelname)


class DockWidgetPanel(Qt.QDockWidget, TaurusBaseWidget):
    '''
    This is an extended QDockWidget which provides some methods for being used
    as a "panel" of a TaurusGui application. Widgets of TaurusGui are inserted
    in the application by adding them to a DockWidgetPanel.
    '''
    def __init__(self, parent, widget, name, mainwindow):
        Qt.QDockWidget.__init__(self, None)
        TaurusBaseWidget.__init__(self, name, parent=parent)

        self.setAllowedAreas(Qt.Qt.TopDockWidgetArea)

        self.setWidget(widget)
        #self._widget = self.widget()  #keep a pointer that may change if the widget changes
        name = unicode(name)
        self.setWindowTitle(name)
        self.setObjectName(name)
        self._custom = False

        #store a weakref of the main window
        self._mainwindow = weakref.proxy(mainwindow)

    def isCustom(self):
        return self._custom

    def setCustom(self, custom):
        self._custom = custom

    def isPermanent(self):
        return self._permanent

    def setPermanent(self, permanent):
        self._permanent = permanent

    def setWidgetFromClassName(self, classname, modulename=None):
        if self.getWidgetClassName() != classname:
            try:
                klass = TaurusWidgetFactory().getWidgetClass(classname)
                w = klass()
            except:
                try:
                    if classname is not None and '.' in classname:
                        mn, classname = classname.rsplit('.', 1)
                        modulename = ("%s.%s" % (modulename or '', mn)).strip('. ')
                    module = __import__(modulename, fromlist=[''])
                    klass = getattr(module, classname)
                    w = klass()
                except Exception, e:
                    raise RuntimeError('Cannot create widget from classname "%s". Reason: %s' % (classname, repr(e)))
            #set customwidgetmap if necessary
            if hasattr(w, 'setCustomWidgetMap'):
                w.setCustomWidgetMap(self._mainwindow.getCustomWidgetMap())
            self.setWidget(w)
            wname = "%s-%s" % (str(self.objectName()), str(classname))
            w.setObjectName(wname)

    def getWidgetModuleName(self):
        w = self.widget()
        if w is None:
            return ''
        return w.__module__

    def getWidgetClassName(self):
        w = self.widget()
        if w is None:
            return ''
        return w.__class__.__name__

    def applyConfig(self, configdict, depth=-1):
        #create the widget
        try:
            self.setWidgetFromClassName(configdict.get('widgetClassName'), modulename=configdict.get('widgetModuleName', None))
            if isinstance(self.widget(), BaseConfigurableClass):
                self.widget().applyConfig(configdict['widget'])
        except Exception, e:
            self.info('Failed to set the widget for this panel. Reason: %s' % repr(e))
            self.traceback(self.Debug)
            return
        TaurusBaseWidget.applyConfig(self, configdict, depth)

    def createConfig(self, *args, **kwargs):
        configdict = TaurusBaseWidget.createConfig(self, *args, **kwargs)
        configdict['widgetClassName'] = self.getWidgetClassName()
        configdict['widgetModuleName'] = self.getWidgetModuleName()
        if isinstance(self.widget(), BaseConfigurableClass):
            configdict['widget'] = self.widget().createConfig()
        return configdict


class TaurusGui(TaurusMainWindow):
    '''
    This is main class for constructing the dynamic GUIs. TaurusGui is a 
    specialised TaurusMainWindow which is able to handle "panels" and load 
    configuration files.
    There are several ways of using TaurusGui. In the following we will give 
    3 examples on how to create a simple GUI called "MyGui" which contains one 
    panel called "Foo" and consisting of a `QWidget`:
    
    **Example 1: use declarative configuration files.**
    
    You can create a purely declarative configuration file to be interpreted by 
    the standard `taurusgui` script::
    
        from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui.utils import PanelDescription

        GUI_NAME = 'MyGui'
        panel = PanelDescription('Foo', 
                                 classname='taurus.external.qt.Qt.QWidget')   
    
    Note that this just a very simple example. For a much richer one, see the
    :mod:`taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui.conf.tgconf_example01`
      
    **Example 2: do everything programmatically.**
    
    A stand-alone python script that launches the gui when executed. No 
    configuration file is used here. Panels and other components are added 
    programatically::
    
        if __name__ == '__main__':
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.application import TaurusApplication
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui import TaurusGui
            from taurus.external.qt import Qt
            app = TaurusApplication(app_name='MyGui') 
            gui = TaurusGui()
            panel = Qt.QWidget()
            gui.createPanel(panel, 'Foo')
            gui.show()
            app.exec_()
            
            
    **Example 3: mixing declarative and programmatic ways**
    
    It is also possible to create a stand-alone python script which loads itself
    as a configuration file. In this way you can add things programmatically and 
    at the same time use the declarative way::
    
        GUI_NAME = 'MyGui' # <-- declarative! 
        if __name__ == '__main__':
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.application import TaurusApplication
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui import TaurusGui
            from taurus.external.qt import Qt
            app = TaurusApplication()
            gui = TaurusGui(confname=__file__)
            panel = Qt.QWidget()
            gui.createPanel(panel, 'Foo')  # <-- programmatic!
            gui.show()
            app.exec_()
    
    '''

    IMPLICIT_ASSOCIATION = '__[IMPLICIT]__'

    def __init__(self, parent=None, confname=None, configRecursionDepth=None):
        TaurusMainWindow.__init__(self, parent, False, True)

        if configRecursionDepth is not None:
            self.defaultConfigRecursionDepth = configRecursionDepth

        self.__panels = {}
        self.__synoptics = []
        self.__instrumentToPanelMap = {}
        self.__panelToInstrumentMap = {}
        self.setDockNestingEnabled(True)

        self.registerConfigProperty(self._getPermanentCustomPanels, self._setPermanentCustomPanels, 'permanentCustomPanels')
        self.registerConfigProperty(self.getAllInstrumentAssociations, self.setAllInstrumentAssociations, 'instrumentAssociation')

        from taurus import tauruscustomsettings
        self.setCustomWidgetMap(getattr(tauruscustomsettings, 'T_FORM_CUSTOM_WIDGET_MAP', {}))

        #Create a global SharedDataManager
        Qt.qApp.SDM = SharedDataManager(self)

        self.__initPanelsMenu()
        self.__initViewMenu()
        self.__initPanelsToolBar()
        self.__initQuickAccessToolBar()
        self.__initJorgBar()
        self.__initSharedDataConnections()
        self.__initToolsMenu()

        self.loadConfiguration(confname)

        #connect the main window itself as a reader/writer of "short messages"
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectReader("shortMessage", self.onShortMessage)
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("shortMessage", self, 'newShortMessage')

        #emit a short message informing that we are ready to go
        msg = '%s is ready' % Qt.qApp.applicationName()
        self.emit(Qt.SIGNAL('newShortMessage'), msg)

        if self.defaultConfigRecursionDepth >= 0:
            Qt.QMessageBox.information(self, "Fail-proof mode",
                                   ('Running in fail-proof mode.' +
                                    '\nLoading of potentially problematic settings is disabled.' +
                                    '\nSome panels may not be loaded or may ignore previous user configuration' +
                                    '\nThis will also apply when loading perspectives'),
                                   Qt.QMessageBox.Ok, Qt.QMessageBox.NoButton)

    def closeEvent(self, event):
        try:
            self.__macroBroker.removeTemporaryPanels()
        except:
            pass
        TaurusMainWindow.closeEvent(self, event)

    def __updatePanelsMenu(self):
        '''dynamically fill the panels menus'''
        panelsmenu = self.sender()
        permanent = (panelsmenu == self.__permPanelsMenu)
        panelsmenu.clear()
        panelnames = sorted([n for n, p in self.__panels.items() if (p.isPermanent() == permanent)])
        for name in panelnames:
            panelsmenu.addAction(self.__panels[name].toggleViewAction())

    def __initPanelsMenu(self):
        #Panels menu
        self.__panelsMenu = Qt.QMenu('Panels', self)
        self.menuBar().insertMenu(self.helpMenu.menuAction(), self.__panelsMenu)
        self.hideAllPanelsAction = self.__panelsMenu.addAction(getIcon(':/actions/hide.svg'), "Hide all panels", self.hideAllPanels)
        self.showAllPanelsAction = self.__panelsMenu.addAction(getIcon(':/actions/show.svg'), "Show all panels", self.showAllPanels)
        self.newPanelAction = self.__panelsMenu.addAction(getThemeIcon("window-new"), "New Panel...", self.createCustomPanel)
        self.removePanelAction = self.__panelsMenu.addAction(getThemeIcon("edit-clear"), "Remove Panel...", self.removePanel)
        self.__panelsMenu.addAction(getThemeIcon("preferences-desktop-personal"), "Switch temporary/permanent status...", self.updatePermanentCustomPanels)
        #temporary and permanent panels submenus
        self.__panelsMenu.addSeparator()
        self.__permPanelsMenu = Qt.QMenu('Permanent Panels', self)
        self.__panelsMenu.addMenu(self.__permPanelsMenu)
        self.connect(self.__permPanelsMenu, Qt.SIGNAL('aboutToShow()'), self.__updatePanelsMenu)
        self.__tempPanelsMenu = Qt.QMenu('Temporary Panels', self)
        self.__panelsMenu.addMenu(self.__tempPanelsMenu)
        self.connect(self.__tempPanelsMenu, Qt.SIGNAL('aboutToShow()'), self.__updatePanelsMenu)
        self.__panelsMenu.addSeparator()

    def __initViewMenu(self):
        self.viewMenu.addSeparator()  #the superclass may already have added stuff to the viewMenu
        #view locking
        self.viewMenu.addSeparator()
        self._lockviewAction = Qt.QAction(getThemeIcon("system-lock-screen"), "Lock View", self)
        self._lockviewAction.setCheckable(True)
        self.connect(self._lockviewAction, Qt.SIGNAL("toggled(bool)"), self.setLockView)
        self._lockviewAction.setChecked(not self.isModifiableByUser())
        self.viewMenu.addAction(self._lockviewAction)

    def __initPanelsToolBar(self):
        #Panels toolbar
        self.panelsToolBar = self.addToolBar("Panels")
        self.panelsToolBar.setObjectName("PanelsToolbar")
        self.panelsToolBar.addAction(self.newPanelAction)
        self.viewToolBarsMenu.addAction(self.panelsToolBar.toggleViewAction())

    def __initQuickAccessToolBar(self):
        self.quickAccessToolBar = self.addToolBar("Quick Access")
        self.quickAccessToolBar.setObjectName("quickAccessToolbar")
        self.quickAccessToolBar.setToolButtonStyle(Qt.Qt.ToolButtonTextBesideIcon)
        self.viewToolBarsMenu.addAction(self.quickAccessToolBar.toggleViewAction())

    def __initJorgBar(self):
        #Fancy Stuff ToolBar (aka Jorg's Bar ;) )
        self.jorgsBar = Qt.QToolBar('Fancy ToolBar')
        self.jorgsBar.setObjectName('jorgsToolBar')
        self.addToolBar(Qt.Qt.RightToolBarArea, self.jorgsBar)
        self.jorgsBar.setIconSize(Qt.QSize(60, 60))
        self.jorgsBar.setMovable(False)

    def __initSharedDataConnections(self):
        #register the TAURUSGUI itself as a writer/reader for several shared data items
        splashScreen = self.splashScreen()
        if splashScreen is not None:
            self.splashScreen().showMessage("setting up shared data connections")
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("macroserverName", self, 'macroserverNameChanged')
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("doorName", self, 'doorNameChanged')
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectReader("SelectedInstrument", self.onSelectedInstrument)
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("SelectedInstrument", self, 'SelectedInstrument')
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectReader("executionStarted", self.setFocusToPanel)
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectReader("selectedPerspective", self.loadPerspective)
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("perspectiveChanged", self, 'perspectiveChanged')

    def __initToolsMenu(self):
        if self.toolsMenu is None:
            self.toolsMenu = Qt.QMenu("Tools")
        self.toolsMenu.addAction(getIcon(":/apps/preferences-system-session.svg"), "manage instrument-panel associations", self.onShowAssociationDialog)
        self.toolsMenu.addAction(getThemeIcon("document-save"), "Export current Panel configuration to XML", self.onExportCurrentPanelConfiguration)
        self.toolsMenu.addAction(getIcon(":/actions/data-transfer.svg"), "Show Shared Data Manager connections", self.showSDMInfo)

    def setCustomWidgetMap(self, map):
        '''
        Sets the widget map that is used application-wide. This widget map will
        be used by default in all TaurusForm Panels belonging to this gui.
        
        :param map: (dict<str,Qt.QWidget>) a dictionary whose keys are device
                    type strings (e.g. see :class:`PyTango.DeviceInfo`) and
                    whose values are widgets to be used
                    
        .. seealso:: :meth:`TaurusForm.setCustomWidgetMap`, :meth:`getCustomWidgetMap`
        '''
        self._customWidgetMap = map

    def getCustomWidgetMap(self):
        '''
        Returns the default map used to create custom widgets by the TaurusForms
        belonging to this GUI
        
        :return: (dict<str,Qt.QWidget>) a dictionary whose keys are device
                 type strings (i.e. see :class:`PyTango.DeviceInfo`) and whose
                 values are widgets to be used
        
        .. seealso:: :meth:`setCustomWidgetMap`
        '''
        return self._customWidgetMap

    def createConfig(self, *args, **kwargs):
        '''reimplemented from TaurusMainWindow.createConfig'''
        self.updatePermanentCustomPanels(showAlways=False)
        return TaurusMainWindow.createConfig(self, *args, **kwargs)

    def removePanel(self, name=None):
        ''' remove the given panel from the GUI.
        
        .. note:: The panel; is actually removed from the current perspective.
                  If the panel is saved in other perspectives, it should be removed from
                  them as well.
        
        :param name: (str or None) the name of the panel to be removed
                     If None given, the user will be prompted
        '''
        if name is None:
            items = sorted([n for n, p in self.__panels.iteritems() if p.isCustom()])
            name, ok = Qt.QInputDialog.getItem (self, "Remove Panel",
                                               "Panel to be removed (only custom panels can be removed).\n Important: you may want to save the perspective afterwards,\n and maybe remove the panel from other perspectives as well", items, 0, False)
            if not ok:
                return
        name = unicode(name)
        if name not in self.__panels:
            self.debug('Cannot remove panel "%s" (not found)' % name)
            return
        panel = self.__panels.pop(name)
        try:
            panel.widget().setModel(None)  #in case the widget is a Taurus one and does some cleaning when setting model to None
        except:
            pass

        self.unregisterConfigurableItem(name, raiseOnError=False)
        self.removeDockWidget(panel)
        panel.setParent(None)
        panel.setAttribute(Qt.Qt.WA_DeleteOnClose)
        panel.close()
        self.debug('Panel "%s" removed' % name)

    def createPanel(self, widget, name, floating=False, registerconfig=True, custom=False,
                    permanent=False, icon=None, instrumentkey=None):
        '''
        Creates a panel containing the given widget.
        
        :param wiget: (QWidget) the widget to be contained in the panel
        :param name: (str) the name of the panel. It will be used in tabs as well as for configuration
        :param floating: (bool) whether the panel should be docked or floating. (see note below)
        :param registerconfig: (bool) if True, the panel will be registered as a delegate for configuration
        :param custom: (bool) if True the panel is to be considered a "custom panel"
        :param permanent: (bool) set this to True for panels that need to be recreated when restoring the app 
        :param icon: (QIcon) icon for the panel  
        :param instrumentkey: (str) name of an instrument to which this panel is to be associated
        
        :return: (DockWidgetPanel) the created panel
        
        .. note:: On a previous version, there was a mandatory parameter called
                  `area` (which accepted a Qt.DockWidgetArea or None as values)
                  this parameter has now been substituted by the keyword
                  argument `floating`. In order to provide backwards
                  compatibility, the "floating" keyword argument stays at the
                  same position as the old `area` argument and if a Qt.DockWidgetArea
                  value is given, it will be interpreted as floating=True (while if
                  `None` is passed, it will be interpreted as floating=False.
        '''

        #backwards compatibility:
        if not isinstance(floating, bool):
            self.info('Deprecation warning: please note that the "area" argument is deprecated. See TaurusGui.createPanel doc')
            floating = not(floating)

        name = unicode(name)
        if name in self.__panels:
            self.info('Panel with name "%s" already exists. Reusing.' % name)
            return self.__panels[name]

        # create a panel
        panel = DockWidgetPanel(None, widget, name, self)
        self.addDockWidget(Qt.Qt.TopDockWidgetArea, panel)  #we will only place panels in this area
        if len(self.__panels) != 0:
            self.tabifyDockWidget(self.__panels.values()[-1], panel)

        panel.setFloating(floating)

        #associate this panel with an instrument
        if instrumentkey is not None:
            if instrumentkey == self.IMPLICIT_ASSOCIATION:
                #see if there is an item whose name is the same as that of the panel
                for syn in self.__synoptics:
                    if name in syn.get_item_list():
                        self.setInstrumentAssociation(name, name)
                        break
            else:
                self.setInstrumentAssociation(instrumentkey, name)

        if icon is not None:
            panel.toggleViewAction().setIcon(icon)

        #set flags
        panel.setCustom(custom)
        panel.setPermanent(permanent)

        #register the panel for configuration
        if registerconfig:
            self.registerConfigDelegate(panel, name=name)
        self.__panels[name] = panel

        #connect the panel visibility changes
        self.connect(panel, Qt.SIGNAL('visibilityChanged(bool)'), self._onPanelVisibilityChanged)

        return panel

    def getPanel(self, name):
        '''get a panel object by name
        
        :return: (DockWidgetPanel)
        '''
        return self.__panels[unicode(name)]

    def getPanelNames(self):
        '''returns the names of existing panels
        
        :return: (list<str>)
        '''
        return copy.deepcopy(self.__panels.keys())

    def _setPermanentCustomPanels(self, permCustomPanels):
        '''creates empty panels for restoring custom panels.
        
        :param permCustomPanels: (list<str>) list of names of custom panels
        '''
        #first create the panels if they don't actually exist
        for name in permCustomPanels:
            if name not in self.__panels:
                self.createPanel(None, name, custom=True, permanent=True)

    def _getPermanentCustomPanels(self):
        ''' 
        returns a list of panel names for which the custom and permanent flags
        are True (i.e., those custom panels that should be stored in
        configuration and/or perspectives)
        
        :return: (list<str>) 
        '''
        return [n for n, p in self.__panels.iteritems() if (p.isCustom() and  p.isPermanent())]

    def updatePermanentCustomPanels(self, showAlways=True):
        '''
        Shows a dialog for selecting which custom panels should be permanently
        stored in the configuration. 
        
        :param showAlways: (bool) forces showing the dialog even if there are no new custom Panels  
        '''
        #check if there are some newly created panels that may be made permanent
        perm = self._getPermanentCustomPanels()
        temp = [n for n, p in self.__panels.iteritems() if (p.isCustom() and not p.isPermanent())]
        if len(temp) > 0 or showAlways:
            dlg = QDoubleListDlg(winTitle='Stored panels',
                     mainLabel='Select which of the panels should be stored',
                     label1='Temporary (to be discarded)', label2='Permanent (to be stored)',
                     list1=temp, list2=perm)
            result = dlg.exec_()
            if result == Qt.QDialog.Accepted:
                #update the permanent Custom Panels
                registered = self.getConfigurableItemNames()
                for name in dlg.getAll2():
                    if name not in registered:
                        self.__panels[name].setPermanent(True)
                        self.registerConfigDelegate(self.__panels[name], name)
                #unregister any panel that is temporary
                for name in dlg.getAll1():
                    self.__panels[name].setPermanent(False)
                    self.unregisterConfigurableItem(name, raiseOnError=False)

    def createCustomPanel(self, paneldesc=None):
        '''
        Creates a panel from a Panel Description and sets it as "custom panel".
        
        :param paneldesc: (PanelDescription) description of the panel to be created
                     
        .. seealso:: :meth:`createPanel`
        '''

        if paneldesc is None:
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui import PanelDescriptionWizard
            paneldesc, ok = PanelDescriptionWizard.getDialog(self, extraWidgets=self._extraCatalogWidgets)
            if not ok:
                return
        w = paneldesc.getWidget(sdm=Qt.qApp.SDM, setModel=False)
        if hasattr(w, 'setCustomWidgetMap'):
            w.setCustomWidgetMap(self.getCustomWidgetMap())
        if paneldesc.model is not None:
            w.setModel(paneldesc.model)
        if isinstance(w, TaurusBaseComponent):
            w.setModifiableByUser(True)
            w.setModelInConfig(True)

        self.createPanel(w, paneldesc.name, floating=paneldesc.floating, custom=True,
                         registerconfig=False, instrumentkey=paneldesc.instrumentkey,
                         permanent=False)
        msg = 'Panel %s created. Drag items to it or use the context menu to customize it' % w.name
        self.emit(Qt.SIGNAL('newShortMessage'), msg)

    def createMainSynoptic(self, synopticname):
        '''
        Creates a synoptic panel and registers it as "SelectedInstrument" 
        reader and writer (allowing  selecting instruments from synoptic
        '''
        try:
            jdwFileName = os.path.join(self._confDirectory, synopticname)
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.graphic import TaurusJDrawSynopticsView
            synoptic = TaurusJDrawSynopticsView()
            synoptic.setModel(jdwFileName)
            self.__synoptics.append(synoptic)
        except Exception, e:
            #print repr(e)
            msg = 'Error loading synoptic file "%s".\nSynoptic won\'t be available' % jdwFileName
            self.error(msg)
            self.traceback(level=taurus.Info)
            result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\n\n%s' % (msg, repr(e)) , Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
            if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                sys.exit()

        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("SelectedInstrument", synoptic, "graphicItemSelected(QString)")
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectReader("SelectedInstrument", synoptic.selectGraphicItem)

        #find an unique (and short) name
        name = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(synopticname))[0]
        if len(name) > 10:
            name = 'Syn'
        i = 2
        prefix = name
        while name in self.__panels:
            name = '%s_%i' % (prefix, i)
            i += 1

        synopticpanel = self.createPanel(synoptic, name, permanent=True,
                                         icon=getThemeIcon('image-x-generic'))
        toggleSynopticAction = synopticpanel.toggleViewAction()
        self.quickAccessToolBar.addAction(toggleSynopticAction)

    def createConsole(self, kernels):
        try:
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.console import TaurusConsole
        except ImportError:
            self.warning('Cannot import taurus.qt.qtgui.console. The Console Panel will not be available')
            return
        console = TaurusConsole(kernels=kernels)
        consolePanel = self.createPanel(console, "Console", permanent=True,
            icon=getThemeIcon('utilities-terminal'))
        toggleConsoleAction = consolePanel.toggleViewAction()
        self.quickAccessToolBar.addAction(toggleConsoleAction)

    def createInstrumentsFromPool(self, macroservername):
        '''
        Creates a list of instrument panel descriptions by gathering the info
        from the Pool. Each panel is a TaurusForm grouping together all those
        elements that belong to the same instrument according to the Pool info
        
        :return: (list<PanelDescription>)                 
        '''
        instrument_dict = {}
        try:
            ms = taurus.Device(macroservername)
            instruments = ms.getElementsOfType('Instrument')
            if instruments is None: raise
        except Exception, e:
            msg = 'Could not fetch Instrument list from "%s"' % macroservername
            self.error(msg)
            result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\n\n%s' % (msg, repr(e)), Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
            if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                sys.exit()
            return []
        for i in instruments.values():
            i_name = i.full_name
            #i_name, i_unknown, i_type, i_pools = i.split()
            i_view = PanelDescription(i_name, classname='TaurusForm', floating=False, model=[])
            instrument_dict[i_name] = i_view

        from operator import attrgetter
        pool_elements = sorted(ms.getElementsWithInterface('Moveable').values(), key=attrgetter('name'))
        pool_elements += sorted(ms.getElementsWithInterface('ExpChannel').values(), key=attrgetter('name'))
        pool_elements += sorted(ms.getElementsWithInterface('IORegister').values(), key=attrgetter('name'))
        for elem in pool_elements:
            instrument = elem.instrument
            if instrument:
                i_name = instrument
                e_name = elem.full_name
                instrument_dict[i_name].model.append(e_name)
        #filter out empty panels
        ret = [instrument for instrument in instrument_dict.values() if len(instrument.model) > 0]
        return ret

    def __getVarFromXML(self, root, nodename, default=None):
        name = root.find(nodename)
        if name is None or name.text is None:
            return default
        else:
            return name.text
        
    def _importConfiguration(self, confname):
        '''returns the module corresponding to `confname` or to 
        `tgconf_<confname>`. Note: the `conf` subdirectory of the directory in 
        which taurusgui.py file is installed is temporally prepended to sys.path
        '''
        confsubdir = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__)), 'conf')  #the path to a conf subdirectory of the place where taurusgui.py is
        oldpath = sys.path
        try:
            sys.path = [confsubdir] + sys.path  #add the conf subdirectory dir to the pythonpath
            conf = __import__(confname)
        except ImportError:
            altconfname = "tgconf_%s" % confname
            try:
                conf = __import__(altconfname)
            except ImportError:
                msg = 'cannot import %s or %s' % (confname, altconfname)
                self.error(msg)
                Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', msg, Qt.QMessageBox.Abort)
                sys.exit()
        finally:
            sys.path = oldpath  #restore the previous sys.path
        return conf
        

    def loadConfiguration(self, confname):
        '''Reads a configuration file
        
        :param confname: (str or None) the  name of module located in the 
                         PYTHONPATH or in the conf subdirectory of the directory
                         in which taurusgui.py file is installed.
                         This method will try to import <confname>.  
                         If that fails, it will try to import 
                         `tgconf_<confname>`.
                         Alternatively, `confname` can be the path to the 
                         configuration module (not necessarily in the 
                         PYTHONPATH).
                         `confname` can also be None, in which case a dummy
                         empty module will be used.
        '''

        #import the python config file
        try:
            if confname is None:
                import types
                conf = types.ModuleType('__dummy_conf_module__') #dummy module
                confname = str(Qt.qApp.applicationName())
                self._confDirectory = ''
            elif os.path.exists(confname):  #if confname is a dir or file name
                import imp
                path, name = os.path.split(confname)
                name, _ = os.path.splitext(name)
                try:
                    f, filename, data = imp.find_module(name, [path])
                    conf = imp.load_module(name, f, filename, data)
                    confname = name
                except ImportError:
                    conf =  self._importConfiguration(confname)
                self._confDirectory = os.path.dirname(conf.__file__)
            else:  #if confname is not a dir name, we assume it is a module name in the python path
                conf =  self._importConfiguration(confname)
                self._confDirectory = os.path.dirname(conf.__file__)   
        except Exception, e:
            import traceback
            msg = 'Error loading configuration: %s' % traceback.format_exc()  #repr(e)
            self.error(msg)
            Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', msg, Qt.QMessageBox.Abort)
            sys.exit()

        #Get the xml root node from the xml configuration file
        XML_CONFIG = getattr(conf, 'XML_CONFIG', None)
        if XML_CONFIG is None:
            self._xmlConfigFileName = None
        else:
            self._xmlConfigFileName = os.path.join(self._confDirectory, XML_CONFIG)
        xmlroot = etree.fromstring('<root></root>')  #default fallback (in case of I/O or parse errors)
        if XML_CONFIG is not None:
            try:
                xmlfname = os.path.join(self._confDirectory, XML_CONFIG)  # If a relative name was given, the conf directory will be used as base path
                xmlFile = open(xmlfname, 'r')
                xmlstring = xmlFile.read()
                xmlFile.close()
                xmlroot = etree.fromstring(xmlstring)
            except Exception, e:
                msg = 'Error reading the XML file: "%s"' % xmlfname
                self.error(msg)
                self.traceback(level=taurus.Info)
                result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\nReason:"%s"' % (msg, repr(e)), Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
                if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                    sys.exit()

        #General Qt application settings and jorgs bar logos
        APPNAME = getattr(conf, 'GUI_NAME', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "GUI_NAME", confname))
        ORGNAME = getattr(conf, 'ORGANIZATION', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "ORGANIZATION", str(Qt.qApp.organizationName()) or 'Taurus'))
        CUSTOMLOGO = getattr(conf, 'CUSTOM_LOGO', getattr(conf, 'LOGO', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "CUSTOM_LOGO", ':/taurus.png')))
        if CUSTOMLOGO.startswith(':'):
            customIcon = getIcon(CUSTOMLOGO)
        else:
            customIcon = Qt.QIcon(os.path.join(self._confDirectory, CUSTOMLOGO))
        Qt.qApp.setApplicationName(APPNAME)
        Qt.qApp.setOrganizationName(ORGNAME)
        Qt.QApplication.instance().basicConfig()

        ORGANIZATIONLOGO = getattr(conf, 'ORGANIZATION_LOGO', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "ORGANIZATION_LOGO", ':/logo.png'))
        ##
        if ORGANIZATIONLOGO.startswith(':'):
            organizationIcon = getIcon(ORGANIZATIONLOGO)
        else:
            organizationIcon = Qt.QIcon(os.path.join(self._confDirectory, ORGANIZATIONLOGO))

        #if required, enforce that only one instance of this GUI can be run
        SINGLEINSTANCE = getattr(conf, 'SINGLE_INSTANCE', (self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "SINGLE_INSTANCE", 'True').lower() == 'true'))
        if SINGLEINSTANCE:
            if not self.checkSingleInstance():
                msg = 'Only one istance of %s is allowed to run the same time' % (APPNAME)
                self.error(msg)
                Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Multiple copies', msg, Qt.QMessageBox.Abort)
                sys.exit(1)

        #some initialization
        self.resetQSettings()
        self.setWindowTitle(APPNAME)
        self.setWindowIcon(customIcon)
        self.jorgsBar.addAction(organizationIcon, ORGNAME)
        self.jorgsBar.addAction(customIcon, APPNAME)

        #get custom widget catalog entries
        EXTRA_CATALOG_WIDGETS = getattr(conf, 'EXTRA_CATALOG_WIDGETS', [])  #@todo: support also loading from xml
        self._extraCatalogWidgets = []
        for classname, pixmapname in EXTRA_CATALOG_WIDGETS:
            if pixmapname and not pixmapname.startswith(":"):  # If a relative file name is given, the conf directory will be used as base path
                pixmapname = os.path.join(self._confDirectory, pixmapname)
            self._extraCatalogWidgets.append((classname, pixmapname))


        #manual panel
        MANUAL_URI = getattr(conf, 'MANUAL_URI', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "MANUAL_URI", None))
        if MANUAL_URI is not None:
            self.setHelpManualURI(MANUAL_URI)
            self.createPanel(self.helpManualBrowser, 'Manual', permanent=True,
                             icon=getThemeIcon('help-browser'))

        #configure the macro infrastructure
        MACROSERVER_NAME = getattr(conf, 'MACROSERVER_NAME', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "MACROSERVER_NAME", None))
        MACRO_PANELS = getattr(conf, 'MACRO_PANELS', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "MACRO_PANELS", True))
        if MACRO_PANELS and MACROSERVER_NAME is not None:  # macro infrastructure will only be created if MACROSERVER_NAME is set
            from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui import MacroBroker
            self.__macroBroker = MacroBroker(self)
        if MACROSERVER_NAME:
            self.emit(Qt.SIGNAL("macroserverNameChanged"), MACROSERVER_NAME)

        DOOR_NAME = getattr(conf, 'DOOR_NAME', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "DOOR_NAME", ''))
        if DOOR_NAME:
            self.emit(Qt.SIGNAL("doorNameChanged"), DOOR_NAME)

        MACROEDITORS_PATH = getattr(conf, 'MACROEDITORS_PATH', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "MACROEDITORS_PATH", ''))
        if MACROEDITORS_PATH:
            from sardana.taurus.qt.qtgui.extra_macroexecutor.macroparameterseditor.macroparameterseditor import ParamEditorManager
            ParamEditorManager().parsePaths(MACROEDITORS_PATH)
            ParamEditorManager().browsePaths()

        #Synoptics
        SYNOPTIC = getattr(conf, 'SYNOPTIC', None)
        if isinstance(SYNOPTIC, basestring):  #old config file style
            self.warning('Deprecated usage of SYNOPTIC keyword (now it expects a list of paths). Please update your configuration file to: "SYNOPTIC=[\'%s\']".' % SYNOPTIC)
            SYNOPTIC = [SYNOPTIC]
        if SYNOPTIC is None:  #we look in the xml config file if not present in the python config
            SYNOPTIC = []
            node = xmlroot.find("SYNOPTIC")
            if (node is not None) and (node.text is not None):
                for child in node:
                    s = child.get("str")
                    if s is not None and len(s):  #we do not append empty strings
                        SYNOPTIC.append(s)
        for s in SYNOPTIC:
            self.createMainSynoptic(s)

        #Get panel descriptions from pool if required
        INSTRUMENTS_FROM_POOL = getattr(conf, 'INSTRUMENTS_FROM_POOL', (self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "INSTRUMENTS_FROM_POOL", 'False').lower() == 'true'))
        if INSTRUMENTS_FROM_POOL:
            try: self.splashScreen().showMessage("Gathering Instrument info from Pool")
            except AttributeError: pass
            POOLINSTRUMENTS = self.createInstrumentsFromPool(MACROSERVER_NAME)  #auto create instruments from pool
        else:
            POOLINSTRUMENTS = []

        CONSOLE = getattr(conf, 'CONSOLE', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "CONSOLE", ['ipython']))
        if CONSOLE:
            self.createConsole(CONSOLE)

        #get custom panel descriptions from the python config file
        CUSTOM_PANELS = [obj for name, obj in inspect.getmembers(conf) if isinstance(obj, PanelDescription)]

        #add custom panel descriptions from xml config
        panelDescriptions = xmlroot.find("PanelDescriptions")
        if (panelDescriptions is not None):
            for child in panelDescriptions:
                if (child.tag == "PanelDescription"):
                    pd = PanelDescription.fromXml(etree.tostring(child))
                    if pd is not None:
                        CUSTOM_PANELS.append(pd)

        #create panels based on the panel descriptions gathered before
        for p in CUSTOM_PANELS + POOLINSTRUMENTS:
            try:
                try: self.splashScreen().showMessage("Creating panel %s" % p.name)
                except AttributeError: pass
                w = p.getWidget(sdm=Qt.qApp.SDM, setModel=False)
                if hasattr(w, 'setCustomWidgetMap'):
                    w.setCustomWidgetMap(self.getCustomWidgetMap())
                if p.model is not None:
                    w.setModel(p.model)
                if p.instrumentkey is None:
                    instrumentkey = self.IMPLICIT_ASSOCIATION
                registerconfig = p not in POOLINSTRUMENTS  #the pool instruments may change when the pool config changes, so we do not store their config
                #create a panel
                self.createPanel(w, p.name, floating=p.floating, registerconfig=registerconfig, instrumentkey=instrumentkey, permanent=True)
            except Exception, e:
                msg = 'Cannot create panel %s' % getattr(p, 'name', '__Unknown__')
                self.error(msg)
                self.traceback(level=taurus.Info)
                result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\n\n%s' % (msg, repr(e)), Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
                if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                    sys.exit()

        #get custom toolbars descriptions from the python config file
        CUSTOM_TOOLBARS = [obj for name, obj in inspect.getmembers(conf) if isinstance(obj, ToolBarDescription)]

        #add custom toolbar descriptions from xml config
        toolBarDescriptions = xmlroot.find("ToolBarDescriptions")
        if (toolBarDescriptions is not None):
            for child in toolBarDescriptions:
                if (child.tag == "ToolBarDescription"):
                    d = ToolBarDescription.fromXml(etree.tostring(child))
                    if d is not None:
                        CUSTOM_TOOLBARS.append(d)

        #create toolbars based on the descriptions gathered before
        for d in CUSTOM_TOOLBARS:
            try:
                try: self.splashScreen().showMessage("Creating Toolbar %s" % d.name)
                except AttributeError: pass
                w = d.getWidget(sdm=Qt.qApp.SDM, setModel=False)
                if d.model is not None:
                    w.setModel(d.model)
                w.setWindowTitle(d.name)
                #add the toolbar to the window
                self.addToolBar(w)
                #add the toggleview action to the view menu
                self.viewToolBarsMenu.addAction(w.toggleViewAction())
                #register the toolbar as delegate if it supports it
                if isinstance(w, BaseConfigurableClass):
                    self.registerConfigDelegate(w, d.name)

            except Exception, e:
                msg = 'Cannot add toolbar %s' % getattr(d, 'name', '__Unknown__')
                self.error(msg)
                self.traceback(level=taurus.Info)
                result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\n\n%s' % (msg, repr(e)), Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
                if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                    sys.exit()

        CUSTOM_APPLETS = []
        #for backwards compatibility
        MONITOR = getattr(conf, 'MONITOR', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "MONITOR", []))
        if MONITOR:
            CUSTOM_APPLETS.append(AppletDescription('monitor', classname='TaurusMonitorTiny', model=MONITOR))

        #get custom applet descriptions from the python config file
        CUSTOM_APPLETS += [obj for name, obj in inspect.getmembers(conf) if isinstance(obj, AppletDescription)]

        #add applet descriptions from xml config
        appletDescriptions = xmlroot.find("AppletDescriptions")
        if (appletDescriptions is not None):
            for child in appletDescriptions:
                if (child.tag == "AppletDescription"):
                    d = AppletDescription.fromXml(etree.tostring(child))
                    if d is not None:
                        CUSTOM_APPLETS.append(d)

        #create applet based on the descriptions gathered before
        for d in CUSTOM_APPLETS:
            try:
                try: self.splashScreen().showMessage("Creating applet %s" % d.name)
                except AttributeError: pass
                w = d.getWidget(sdm=Qt.qApp.SDM, setModel=False)
                if d.model is not None:
                    w.setModel(d.model)
                #add the widget to the applets toolbar
                self.jorgsBar.addWidget(w)
                #register the toolbar as delegate if it supports it
                if isinstance(w, BaseConfigurableClass):
                    self.registerConfigDelegate(w, d.name)
            except Exception, e:
                msg = 'Cannot add applet %s' % getattr(d, 'name', '__Unknown__')
                self.error(msg)
                self.traceback(level=taurus.Info)
                result = Qt.QMessageBox.critical(self, 'Initialization error', '%s\n\n%s' % (msg, repr(e)), Qt.QMessageBox.Abort | Qt.QMessageBox.Ignore)
                if result == Qt.QMessageBox.Abort:
                    sys.exit()

        #add external applications from both the python and the xml config files
        EXTERNAL_APPS = [obj for name, obj in inspect.getmembers(conf) if isinstance(obj, ExternalApp)]

        externalAppsNode = xmlroot.find("ExternalApps")
        if (externalAppsNode is not None):
            for child in externalAppsNode:
                if (child.tag == "ExternalApp"):
                    ea = ExternalApp.fromXml(etree.tostring(child))
                    if ea is not None:
                        EXTERNAL_APPS.append(ea)

        for a in EXTERNAL_APPS:
            self.addExternalAppLauncher(a.getAction())



        #get the "factory settings" filename. By default, it is called "default.ini" and resides in the configuration dir
        INIFILE = getattr(conf, 'INIFILE', self.__getVarFromXML(xmlroot, "INIFILE", "default.ini"))
        iniFileName = os.path.join(self._confDirectory, INIFILE)  #if a relative name is given, the conf dir is used as the root path

        #read the settings (or the factory settings if the regular file is not found)
        msg = "Loading previous state"
        if self.defaultConfigRecursionDepth >= 0:
            msg += " in Fail Proof mode"
        try: self.splashScreen().showMessage(msg)
        except AttributeError: pass
        self.loadSettings(factorySettingsFileName=iniFileName)

    def setLockView(self, locked):
        self.setModifiableByUser(not locked)

    def setModifiableByUser(self, modifiable):
        if modifiable:
            dwfeat = Qt.QDockWidget.AllDockWidgetFeatures
        else:
            dwfeat = Qt.QDockWidget.NoDockWidgetFeatures
        for panel in self.__panels.values():
            panel.toggleViewAction().setEnabled(modifiable)
            panel.setFeatures(dwfeat)
        for action in (self.newPanelAction, self.showAllPanelsAction, self.hideAllPanelsAction):
            action.setEnabled(modifiable)

        self._lockviewAction.setChecked(not modifiable)
        TaurusMainWindow.setModifiableByUser(self, modifiable)

    def onShortMessage(self, msg):
        ''' Slot to be called when there is a new short message. Currently, the only action 
        taken when there is a new message is to display it in the main window status bar.
        
        :param msg: (str) the short descriptive message to be handled 
        '''
        self.statusBar().showMessage(msg)

    def hideAllPanels(self):
        '''hides all current panels'''
        for panel in self.__panels.itervalues():
            panel.hide()

    def showAllPanels(self):
        '''shows all current panels'''
        for panel in self.__panels.itervalues():
            panel.show()

    def onShowAssociationDialog(self):
        '''launches the instrument-panel association dialog (modal)'''
        dlg = AssociationDialog(self)
        Qt.qApp.SDM.connectWriter("SelectedInstrument", dlg.ui.instrumentCB, "activated(QString)")
        dlg.exec_()
        Qt.qApp.SDM.disconnectWriter("SelectedInstrument", dlg.ui.instrumentCB, "activated(QString)")

    def getInstrumentAssociation(self, instrumentname):
        '''
        Returns the panel name associated to an instrument name 
        
        :param instrumentname: (str or None) The name of the instrument whose associated panel is wanted
                
        :return: (str or None) the associated panel name (or None).
        '''
        return self.__instrumentToPanelMap.get(instrumentname, None)

    def setInstrumentAssociation(self, instrumentname, panelname):
        '''
        Sets the panel name associated to an instrument 
        
        :param instrumentname: (str) The name of the instrument 
        :param panelname: (str or None) The name of the associated 
                          panel or None to remove the association 
                          for this instrument.
        '''
        instrumentname = unicode(instrumentname)
        #remove a previous association if it exists
        oldpanelname = self.__instrumentToPanelMap.get(instrumentname, None)
        self.__panelToInstrumentMap.pop(oldpanelname, None)

        #create the new association
        self.__instrumentToPanelMap[instrumentname] = panelname
        if panelname is not None:
            self.__panelToInstrumentMap[panelname] = instrumentname

    def getAllInstrumentAssociations(self):
        '''
        Returns the dictionary of instrument-panel associations
                
        :return: (dict<str,str>) a dict whose keys are the instruments known to the gui 
                 and whose values are the corresponding associated panels (or None).
        '''
        return copy.deepcopy(self.__instrumentToPanelMap)

    def setAllInstrumentAssociations(self, associationsdict, clearExisting=False):
        '''
        Sets the dictionary of instrument-panel associations. 
        By default, it keeps any existing association not present in the associationsdict.
        
        :param associationsdict: (dict<str,str>) a dict whose keys are the instruments names
                                 and whose values are the corresponding associated panels (or None)
        :param clearExisting: (bool) if True, the the existing asociations are cleared. 
                              If False (default) existing associations are 
                              updated with those in associationsdict
        '''
        if clearExisting:
            self.__instrumentToPanelMap = copy.deepcopy(associationsdict)
        else:
            self.__instrumentToPanelMap.update(copy.deepcopy(associationsdict))
        self.__panelToInstrumentMap = {}
        for k, v in self.__instrumentToPanelMap.iteritems():
            self.__panelToInstrumentMap[v] = k

    def _onPanelVisibilityChanged(self, visible):
        if visible:
            panelname = unicode(self.sender().objectName())
            instrumentname = self.__panelToInstrumentMap.get(panelname)
            if instrumentname is not None:
                self.emit(Qt.SIGNAL('SelectedInstrument'), instrumentname)

    def onSelectedInstrument(self, instrumentname):
        ''' Slot to be called when the selected instrument has changed (e.g. by user
        clicking in the synoptic)
        
        :param instrumentname: (str) The name that identifies the instrument.
        '''
        instrumentname = unicode(instrumentname)
        panelname = self.getInstrumentAssociation(instrumentname)
        self.setFocusToPanel(panelname)

    def setFocusToPanel(self, panelname):
        ''' Method that sets a focus for panel passed via an argument
        
        :param panelname: (str) The name that identifies the panel.
                               This name must be unique within the panels in the GUI.
        '''
        panelname = unicode(panelname)
        try:
            panel = self.__panels[panelname]
            panel.show()
            panel.setFocus()
            panel.raise_()
        except KeyError:
            pass

    def tabifyArea(self, area):
        ''' tabifies all panels in a given area.
        
        :param area: (Qt.DockWidgetArea)
        
        .. warning:: This method is deprecated
        '''
        raise DeprecationWarning('tabifyArea is no longer supported (now all panels reside in the same DockWidget Area)')
        panels = self.findPanelsInArea(area)
        if len(panels) < 2: return
        p0 = panels[0]
        for p in panels[1:]:
            self.tabifyDockWidget(p0, p)

    def findPanelsInArea(self, area):
        ''' returns all panels in the given area
        
        :param area: (QMdiArea, Qt.DockWidgetArea, 'FLOATING' or None). If
                     area=='FLOATING', the dockwidgets that are floating will be
                     returned.
        :param area:  (Qt.DockWidgetArea or str )
        
        .. warning:: This method is deprecated
        '''
        raise DeprecationWarning('findPanelsInArea is no longer supported (now all panels reside in the same DockWidget Area)')
        if area == 'FLOATING':
            return [p for p in self.__panels.values() if p.isFloating()]
        else:
            return [p for p in self.__panels.values() if self.dockWidgetArea(p) == area]

    @classmethod
    def getQtDesignerPluginInfo(cls):
        '''TaurusGui is not to be in designer '''
        return None

    def onShowManual(self, anchor=None):
        '''reimplemented from :class:`TaurusMainWindow` to show the manual in a panel (not just a dockwidget)'''
        self.setFocusToPanel('Manual')

    def onExportCurrentPanelConfiguration(self, fname=None):

        if fname is None:
            fname = self._xmlConfigFileName

        if self._xmlConfigFileName is None:
            xmlroot = etree.Element("taurusgui_config")
        else:
            try:
                f = open(self._xmlConfigFileName, 'r')
                xmlroot = etree.fromstring(f.read())
                f.close()
            except Exception, e:
                self.error('Cannot parse file "%s": %s', self._xmlConfigFileName, str(e))
                return

        #retrieve/create the PanelDescriptions node
        panelDescriptionsNode = xmlroot.find("PanelDescriptions")
        if panelDescriptionsNode is None:
            panelDescriptionsNode = etree.SubElement(xmlroot, "PanelDescriptions")

        #Get all custom panels
        dlg = QDoubleListDlg(winTitle='Export Panels to XML',
                             mainLabel='Select which of the custom panels you want to export as xml configuration',
                             label1='Not Exported', label2='Exported',
                             list1=[n for n, p in self.__panels.iteritems() if p.isCustom()], list2=[])
        result = dlg.exec_()
        if result != Qt.QDialog.Accepted:
            return
        exportlist = dlg.getAll2()

        #create xml for those to be exported
        registered = self.getConfigurableItemNames()
        for name in exportlist:
            panel = self.__panels[name]
            if name not in registered:
                panel.setPermanent(True)
                self.registerConfigDelegate(panel, name)
            panelxml = PanelDescription.fromPanel(panel).toXml()
            panelDescriptionsNode.append(etree.fromstring(panelxml))
        xml = etree.tostring(xmlroot, pretty_print=True)

        #write to file
        while True:
            if fname is None:
                fname = Qt.QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(self, "Open File", fname or self._confDirectory, self.tr("XML files (*.xml)"))
                if not fname:
                    return
            fname = str(fname)
            #backup the file
            if os.path.exists(fname):
                import shutil
                try:
                    bckname = "%s.orig" % fname
                    shutil.copy(fname, bckname)
                except:
                    self.warning("%s will be overwritten but I could not create a backup in %s", fname, bckname)
            #write the data
            try:
                f = open(fname, 'w')
                f.write(xml)
                f.close()
                break
            except Exception, e:
                msg = 'Cannot write to %s: %s' % (fname, str(e))
                self.error(msg)
                Qt.QMessageBox.warning(self, "I/O problem", msg + '\nChoose a different location.', Qt.QMessageBox.Ok, Qt.QMessageBox.NoButton)
                fname = None


        hint = "XML_CONFIG = '%s'" % os.path.relpath(fname, self._confDirectory)
        msg = 'Configuration written in %s' % fname
        self.info(msg)
        Qt.QMessageBox.information(self, "Configuration updated",
                                   msg + '\nMake sure that the .py configuration file in %s contains\n%s' % (self._confDirectory, hint),
                                   Qt.QMessageBox.Ok, Qt.QMessageBox.NoButton)

        return

    def showSDMInfo(self):
        '''pops up a dialog showing the current information from the Shared Data Manager'''
        #w = Qt.QMessageBox( self)
        text = 'Currently managing %i shared data objects:\n%s' % (len(Qt.qApp.SDM.activeDataUIDs()), ', '.join(Qt.qApp.SDM.activeDataUIDs()))
        nfo = Qt.qApp.SDM.info()
        w = Qt.QMessageBox (Qt.QMessageBox.Information, 'Shared Data Manager Information', text,
                             buttons=Qt.QMessageBox.Close, parent=self)
        w.setDetailedText(nfo)
        w.show()
        self.info(nfo)


#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
def main():
    import sys
    import taurus
    from taurus.core.util import argparse
    from taurus.qt.qtgui.application import TaurusApplication

    taurus.info('Starting execution of TaurusGui')

    parser = argparse.get_taurus_parser()
    parser.set_usage("%prog [options] confname")
    parser.set_description("The taurus GUI application")
    parser.add_option("", "--config-dir", dest="config_dir", default=None,
                  help="use the given configuration directory for initialization")
    parser.add_option("", "--new-gui", action="store_true", dest="new_gui", default=None,
                  help="launch a wizard for creating a new TaurusGUI application")
    parser.add_option("", "--fail-proof", action="store_true", dest="fail_proof", default=None,
                  help="launch in fail proof mode (it prevents potentially problematic configs from being loaded)")

    app = TaurusApplication(cmd_line_parser=parser, app_name="taurusgui",
                            app_version=taurus.Release.version)
    args = app.get_command_line_args()
    options = app.get_command_line_options()

    if options.new_gui:  #launch app settings wizard instead of taurusgui
        from taurus.qt.qtgui.taurusgui import AppSettingsWizard
        wizard = AppSettingsWizard()
        wizard.show()
        sys.exit(app.exec_())

    confname = options.config_dir
    if confname is None:
        if len(args) == 1:  #for backwards compat, we allow to specify the confname without the "--config-dir" parameter
            confname = args[0]
        else:
            parser.print_help(sys.stderr)
            sys.exit(1)

    if options.fail_proof:
        configRecursionDepth = 0
    else:
        configRecursionDepth = None

    gui = TaurusGui(None, confname=confname, configRecursionDepth=configRecursionDepth)

    gui.show()
    ret = app.exec_()

    taurus.info('Finished execution of TaurusGui')
    sys.exit(ret)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()
    #xmlTest()