Short version:  How do I use an iterator to refer to an object's  
attribute?  E.g., "z" is a list of attributes of  "b":
for x, y in z:
     for a in b.x.y

Also, any suggestions for my overall structure below?
----------
Long version:
I need to make a program to send commands to an instrument.  I've been  
working on it for a while, and my employer is starting to get itchy.   
Here's a simplified description:

â?¢ The instrument has three modules (motherboard, controller, and end  
user).
â?¢ Each module has an arbitrary number of components (motherboard has  
internal camera; controller has major and minor controllers; and end  
user has x-, y-, and z-motors).
â?¢ Each component has an arbitrary number of commands.
â?¢ Each command has a fixed number of attributes.

I will ultimately create a GUI with a 4-pane browser:
â?¢ Pane 1 will display the modules.  When the user clicks on a module,  
its components will appear in pane 2.
â?¢ When the user clicks on a component, its commands will appear in pane  
3.
â?¢ When the user clicks on a command, its parameters will appear in pane  
4.
â?¢ The user will then click a Send button, which will send the command  
and its parameters to the instrument.

I haven't coded the GUI yet, because I'm stuck on the underlying  
structure.

Here's how I'm tackling it:
â?¢ I have a bunch of lists that have everything defined in them  
(module_list; cpt_??_lists for components; and cmd_??_lists for  
commands).

â?¢ I'm creating a database object, "db", which will hold everything.
â?¢ I iterate across the module list.  The idea here is to create within  
the database one module object for each real object in the instrument,  
in this case three.  I should end up with:  db.mb, db.ct, and db.eu.
â?¢ There is a short name (for use by the program), a long name (which  
will be displayed to the user), and the name of that module's component  
list.
â?¢ I also create an empty list object, which will ultimately be  
populated with the contents of that module's component list.

â?¢ Then (theoretically) for each module, I iterate across that module's  
component list to create several component objects inside the module (I  
will then continue this process, creating command objects within the  
components.).
----------
My immediate problem is that Python doesn't let me use the iterator as  
the name of an object's attribute.  E.g.:
I have object "db.mb".  I have iterator "shortmod" with a value of  
"mb".  Why can't I call "db.shortmod"?

Also, if you have any better ideas on how to put this thing together,  
I'm all ears.  The reason for doing it this way is that I wanted my  
database to be the logical equivalent of the instrument.

Here's the error message I get:
----------
Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "/Developer/Python/CZM Scripts/CmdList.py", line 111, in  
-toplevel-
     main()
   File "/Developer/Python/CZM Scripts/CmdList.py", line 108, in main
     fillout_DB(db)
   File "/Developer/Python/CZM Scripts/CmdList.py", line 62, in  
fillout_DB
     for shortcpt, longcpt, cmdlist in filldb.shortmod.cptlist:
AttributeError: Database instance has no attribute 'shortmod'
----------
My code follows.  If you jump down to the section marked  
"#---Logic---", you should be able to see the immediate culprit.

I greatly appreciate any help that anybody on this list can provide!

Thanks!
Ron
************************************************************************ 
**

#--- 
Definitions-----------------------------------------------------------
#   shortname, longname, component list name
#---Modules
module_list = [
     ['mb', 'Motherboard', 'cpt_mb_list'],
     ['ct', 'Controller', 'cpt_ct_list'],
     ['eu', 'End User', 'cpt_eu_list']]

#---Components
#   shortname, longname, command list name
# Motherboard
cpt_mb_list = [
     ['icam', 'Internal Camera', 'cmd_icam_list']]

# Controller
cpt_ct_list = [
     ['maj', 'Major Controller', 'cmd_maj_list'],
     ['min', 'Minor Controller', 'cmd_min_list']]

# End User
cpt_eu_list = [
     ['xmtr', 'X Motor', 'cmd_xmtr_list'],
     ['ymtr', 'Y Motor', 'cmd_ymtr_list'],
     ['zmtr', 'Z Motor', 'cmd_zmtr_list']]

#---Commands
# Abbreviation, string, command, param1, param2
# Motherboard Commands
cmd_icam_list = [
     ['ss', 'Shutter Speed', 'shutSpeed', 0, 0],
     ['ap', 'Aperture', 'aperture', 0, 0],
     ['exp', 'Exposure', 'exposure', 0, 0]]

# Controller Commands
cmd_maj_list = [
     ['on', 'Turn it on', 'turnON', 0, 0],
     ['off', 'Turn it off', 'turnOFF', 0, 0]]
cmd_min_list = [
     ['low', 'Set Power Low', 'setLow', 0, 0],
     ['hi', 'Set Power High', 'setHigh', 0, 0]]

# End User Commands
cmd_xmtr_list = [
     ['xpos', 'Go to X-Position', 'xPosition', 0, 0]]
cmd_ymtr_list = [
     ['ypos', 'Go to Y-Position', 'yPosition', 0, 0]]
cmd_zmtr_list = [
     ['zpos', 'Go to Z-Position', 'zPosition', 0, 0]]

#--- 
Logic-----------------------------------------------------------------
#****************My immediate problem occurs in this  
object***************
def fillout_DB(filldb):
     '''Build the database of modules, components, and commands.
     Feed it an empty database, and it will fill it out.'''
     # Add modules
     for shortmod, longmod, cptlist in module_list:
         filldb.addMod([shortmod, longmod, cptlist])
         print filldb.modlist
         print 'Just loaded %r, %r, and %r' % (shortmod, longmod,  
cptlist)
         # Add components
         #********************The following line  
chokes********************
         for shortcpt, longcpt, cmdlist in filldb.shortmod.cptlist:
             # It doesn't get to next line.  Suspect it won't work  
either.
             filldb.shortmod.addCpt([shortcpt, longcpt, cmdlist])
             print 'Just loaded %r, %r, and %r' % (shortcpt, longcpt,  
cmdlist)
     print 'Finished buildModules()!!!!'
     return filldb

class Database:
     '''This is the root class.  The database contains all of the module
     objects.  Each module contains all of its component objects, etc.'''
     def __init__(self):
         self.modlist = []

     def addMod(self, mod):
         self.modlist.append(mod)

class Module:
     def __init__(self, shortname, longname, cptlistname):
         self.name = shortname
         self.longname = longname
         self.cptlistname = cptlistname
         self.cptlist = []

     def addCpt(self, cpt):
         self.cptlist.append(cpt)

class Component:
     def __init__(self, shortname, longname, cmdlistname):
         self.name = shortname
         self.longname = longname
         self.cmdlistname = cmdlistname
         self.cmdlist = []

     def addCmd(self, cmd):
         self.cmdlist.append(cmd)

class Command:
     def __init__(self, shortname, longname, actualcommand, param1,  
param2):
         self.name = shortname
         self.longname = longname
         self.actcmd = actualcommand
         self.paramlist = [param1, param2]

def main():
     print "It's working so far!"
     db = Database()
     fillout_DB(db)

if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()

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