A device may be a motor, shutter, ion chamber, scripted device, scripted operation, or any other entity that is under the control DCSS. The restrictions placed on a device is defined on a per device basis.
Each device will have two independent sets of permissions: one for 'staff' accounts, and another for 'scientist' accounts.
Through a device's configure window in Blu-Ice, 'staff' Blu-Ice users can enable the following permissions on each device:
Because the permissions are listed in the order of increasing ease of access to a device, the software may be implemented such that selection of a less restrictive permission will automatically select all of the more restrictive permissions as well. For example, selecting the 'Outside Open Hutch Remote' permission will also automatically add 'Outside Open Hutch Local', 'Inside Open Hutch' and 'Outside Closed Hutch.' permissions to the device as well.
In addition, the software may automatically provide at least the same permissions to 'staff' as permitted for 'scientists'.
The permissions will be discussed in order of increasing of access.
Not selecting any permissions for a device prevents use of the device. It is possible to not give any permissions to 'scientists' while enabling permissions for staff.
If it is safe for a device to be accessed while the hutch door is closed, the device can be given the 'Outside Closed Hutch' permission. If this is the most permissive setting for this device, then the hutch door must be closed to access the device.
A Blu-Ice user may use a device with the 'Inside Open Hutch' permissions from the 'In-Hutch' console.
Setting the 'Inside Open Hutch' permission for a device would be useful for devices that are recognized as completely safe to operate while being observed directly by the person interacting with the device. The operator in this case can easily evaluate the complete state of the hutch and verify that no-one is standing in the way of a motor's path.
A Blu-Ice user at a 'local' console may use a device with the 'Outside Open Hutch Local' permissions while the hutch door is open. Setting this as the highest level of permission for a device is useful for devices recognized as safe to operate while the state of the hutch is known by a local user interacting with the device (e.g. no-one is inside). This category can be used on beam lines where the local consoles are positioned such that it is easy to observe the state of the beam line.
Without the 'Outside Open Hutch Local' permission, a Blu-Ice user interacting with the device from a 'local' console will be unable to use the device while the hutch door is open.
An operator may use the 'Outside Open Hutch Local' device with the hutch door open from a 'remote' console if the Blu-Ice user has 'roaming' permissions.
Setting this permission for a device is useful for devices recognized as safe to operate regardless of the current state of the beam line.
This permissions should be reserved for motors that are limited in strength, restricted to limited paths of motion, or are isolated from human contact.
If this permission is not enabled, the hutch door must be closed to interact with the device from a 'remote' console.
The software usually forces the Blu-Ice user to first become the 'Active Client' before interacting with the device. However, for devices with the 'Passively Accessible' permission, a Blu-Ice client will be able to interact with the device, regardless of whether or not the client is 'active' or 'passive'. This also implies that users without 'roaming' permissions will still be able to interact with this device from a 'remote' console because they do not first need to become the 'Active Client'.
Simultaneous requests to move a motor without this permission would be handled on a first come, first served basis. An attempt to move a motor that is already moving will fail, and the command will need to be issued again after the current move is complete.