ExperimentConfigPage

ExperimentConfigPage is the abstract base class for every page in the experiment-setup dialog. It inherits both QWidget (for the visual representation) and SettingsStorage (for persistent per-page configuration keyed by d_key). Each subclass represents one conceptual step in the setup sequence and holds a non-owning pointer to the in-flight Experiment it is helping to configure.

The wizard routes user-facing diagnostic messages through the warning(QString) and error(QString) signals so that individual pages remain decoupled from the surrounding dialog layout.

Validate / apply lifecycle

The wizard drives each page through a three-slot lifecycle:

  1. initialize() — called by the wizard after all pages are constructed and before the page is first shown. Use this slot for any value that depends on choices made on a preceding page. Values that can be determined purely from a previous experiment or from SettingsStorage should be set in the constructor instead, so they are available before the wizard opens.

  2. validate() — called when the user attempts to advance past the page. Return true if the page’s settings are consistent; return false and emit error() or warning() to block the advance and display a diagnostic.

  3. apply() — called after validate() returns true. Write the page’s settings into p_exp here.

Concrete subclasses

Representative implementations include:

  • ExperimentFtmwConfigPage — configures the FTMW acquisition parameters (averaging mode, shot count, segment settings).

  • ExperimentLifConfigPage — configures the LIF delay grid and laser settings when the LIF module is active.

  • ExperimentTypePage — selects the top-level experiment type (FTMW, LIF, etc.) and controls which subsequent pages the wizard shows.

Additional subclasses handle pulse-generator, flow-controller, IO-board, pressure- controller, temperature-controller, and validator configuration. The experiment-setup workflow is described in Experiment Setup.

API Reference

class ExperimentConfigPage : public QWidget, public SettingsStorage

Abstract base class for pages in the experiment-setup dialog.

Each concrete subclass represents one page of the experiment-setup wizard. A page is identified by a persistent d_key (used to scope its SettingsStorage) and a human-readable d_title. It holds a non-owning pointer to the in-flight Experiment that is being configured.

The wizard drives pages through the lifecycle: initialize() → validate() → apply(). Subclasses emit warning() or error() to surface diagnostic messages in the wizard’s status area without coupling the page to the surrounding dialog.

Subclassed by ExperimentFlowConfigPage, ExperimentFtmwConfigPage, ExperimentIOBoardConfigPage, ExperimentLifConfigPage, ExperimentPressureControllerConfigPage, ExperimentPulseGenConfigPage, ExperimentSummaryPage, ExperimentTemperatureControllerConfigPage, ExperimentTypePage, ExperimentValidatorConfigPage

Public Functions

explicit ExperimentConfigPage(const QString key, const QString title, Experiment *exp, QWidget *parent = nullptr)

Construct the page.

Subclasses should populate their widgets from the previous experiment or from SettingsStorage here. Only values that depend on choices made on other pages should be deferred to initialize().

Parameters:

  • key – SettingsStorage scope key for this page.

  • title – Human-readable page title shown in the wizard.

  • exp – Non-owning pointer to the Experiment being configured.

  • parent – Parent widget.

Public Members

const QString d_key

SettingsStorage scope key for this page.

const QString d_title

Human-readable title shown in the wizard header.

Public Slots

virtual void initialize() = 0

Populate or refresh values that depend on choices made on other pages.

The wizard calls this slot after all pages have been constructed and before the page is first shown. Values that can be determined from the previous experiment or from SettingsStorage should be set in the constructor instead.

virtual bool validate() = 0

Return true if the page’s settings are internally consistent.

The wizard calls this before advancing to the next page. Return false and emit error() or warning() to block the advance and display a diagnostic message.

virtual void apply() = 0

Commit the page’s settings into the Experiment.

The wizard calls this after validate() returns true. Subclasses write their configuration into p_exp here.

Signals

void warning(QString)

Emit a non-fatal warning message for the wizard to display.

void error(QString)

Emit a fatal error message for the wizard to display.

Protected Attributes

Experiment *p_exp

Non-owning pointer to the in-flight Experiment.