Development Specs
Message standardization
How should Errors/Warnings/Messages be formatted
- Only user derived variables should be bracketed, not GRASS derived variables. for example:
Yes: Creating raster map <%s>. Pass 1 of 7 ... No: Creating <raster> map <%s>. Pass [1] of [7] ...
- strings < >
- e.g. Raster map <%s> not found
- numbers [ ]
- e.g. Line [%d] deleted
- ? The [bracketed] parenthetical disrupts the flow of the phrase and doesn't help enhance clarity of meaning. IMHO, this reads better without [] brackets: "Line %d deleted." [] Brackets should be used when value is outside of the phrase: "Unknown line [%d]". --HB
Discussion:
Statistics [2007-04-11]:
symbol | number of code lines |
---|---|
<%s> | 637 |
[%s] | 690 |
'%s' | 354 |
<%d> | 12 |
[%d] | 207 |
'%d' | 3 |
Statistics [2008-02-14]: (6.3svn)
symbol | number of code lines |
---|---|
<%s> | 1406 |
[%s] | 427 |
'%s' | 370 |
<%d> | 7 |
[%d] | 173 |
'%d' | 1 |
Macros to be defined for C library
- MSG_RASTER_NOT_FOUND_IN_MAPSET - "Raster map <%s> not found in <%s>"
- MSG_CANNOT_OPEN_RASTER - "Failed opening raster map <%s>"
- MSG_CANNOT_OPEN_FILE - Cannot open file <%s>
Note: Problem with xgettext package. How to use macros to work with xgettext?
Standard messages sandbox
- First letter should be capitalized
- Use the present tense
- (cannot instead of could not; better: unable to; even better: avoid the issue altogether by rewording like "File not found.")
- Avoid contractions (cannot instead of can't)
- Good sentence construction
- ("Cannot find input map <%s>" instead of "It could not be find input map <%s>"; possibly better: "Input map <%s> not found.")
- Be consistent with periods. Either end all phrases with a period or none. Without periods the translators save also some time
- Complete sentences or all parts of a message with multiple sentences should end with periods. Short phrases should not. Punctuated events, such as errors, deserve a period. e.g. "Operation complete." Phrases which imply ongoing action look odd if missing an ellipse or any other form of punctuation. Phrase != Sentence. --HB
- Either all module descriptions should end with periods or not. As some are multi-sentence, and thus should end in a period for consistency within the message, so probably they all should end in one. Currently by my count 237 end with '.', 139 do not. In the multi-sentence case it may be posible to put the simple description in the module->label field and additional explanitory text into the ->description field.
- option and flag descriptions generally should not end in a period (more likely to be phrases than sentences). But they can suffer the same multi-sentence period problem as module descriptions. In this case splitting out additional text into a ->label, ->description split may help.
- Suspension points used to indicate some process is being done should be placed next to last word, without space. e.g. "Reading map..." instead of "Reading map ..."
- --HB: FWIW & my 2c, 1) to me keeping the space before the ellipse looks better, is this a purely cosmetic choice or is there some style logic? [wikipedia article on the ellipse was cited on grass-dev, I would argue that refers to printed typeset text not monospace terminal text, strangely suggests punctuation+3 dots (....), is just one other guy's opinion, and I'm still not swayed] 2) these messages may be good candidates for G_verbose_message().
- -- HB 2c more: (i.landsat.rgb example)
Processing <$i>... Processing <$i> ...
- The version with the space just looks better. The version without just looks wrong.
- But when the line ends with a word, no-space doesn't look that bad: (v.in.ascii)
Importing points... Importing points ...
- Module descriptions should use all the same verbal tense. Currently some of them can be found in infinitive and others in present.
DB messages
- db_open_database(), db_start_driver_open_database()
- Unable to open database <%s> by driver <%s>
- db_execute_immediate()
- Unable to insert new record: %s
- Unable to create table: %s
- db_grant_on_table()
- Unable to grant privileges on table <%s>
- db_start_driver()
- Unable to start driver <%s>
- db_describe_table()
- Unable to describe table <%s>
- db_select_value()
- Unable to select record from table <%s> (key %s, column %s)
- No records selected from table <%s>
- db_fetch()
- Unable to fetch data from table <%s>
- db_create_index(), db_create_index2()
- Unable to create index for table <%s>, key <%s>
- db_copy_table(), db_copy_table_by_ints()
- Unable to copy table <%s>
- db_delete_table()
- Unable to delete table <%s>
- db_table_exists()
- Unable to find table <%s> linked to vector map <%s>
- db_get_column()
- Column <%s> not found in table <%s>
- db_list_tables()
- Unable to get list tables in database <%s>
General messages
- G_legal_filename()
- <%s> is an illegal file name
- G_set_window()
- Invalid graphics coordinates
- Unable to set region
- D_do_conversions()
- Error calculating graphics-region conversions
- G_tempfile()
- Unable to open temporary file <%s>
- G_get_projinfo()
- Unable to get projection info of raster map
- G_get_projunits()
- Unable to get projection units of raster map
Raster messages
- G_find_cell2()
- Raster map <%s> not found
- Raster map <%s> not found in the current mapset
- Raster map <%s> not found in mapset <%s>
- G_open_cell_old()
- Unable to open raster map <%s>
- G_open_cell_new()
- Unable to create raster map <%s>
- G_close_cell()
- Unable to close raster map <%s>
- G_get_cellhd()
- Unable to read header of raster map <%s>
- G_get_raster_row()
- Unable to read raster map <%s> row %d
- G_put_raster_row()
- Failed writing raster map <%s> row %d
- G_write_cats()
- Unable to write category file for raster map <%s>
- G_read_colors()
- Unable to read color file of raster map <%s>
- G_read_cats()
- Unable to read category file of raster map <%s>
- G_read_fp_range()
- Unable to read fp range of raster map <%s>
- G_read_range()
- Unable to read range of raster map <%s>
3D raster messages
- G_find_grid3()
- 3D Raster map <%s> not found
- 3D Raster map <%s> not found in the current mapset
- 3D Raster map <%s> not found in mapset <%s>
- G3d_openCellOld()
- Unable to open 3D raster map <%s>
- G3d_range_load()
- Unable to read range of 3D raster map <%s>
- G3d_closeCell()
- Unable to close raster map <%s>
Vector messages
- G_find_vector2()
- Vector map <%s> not found
- Vector map <%s> not found in the current mapset
- Vector map <%s> not found in mapset <%s>
- Vect_open_old()
- Unable to open vector map <%s>
- Unable to open vector map <%s> at topology level %d
- Vect_open_new()
- Unable to create vector map <%s>
- Vect_get_field(), Vect_get_dblink()
- Database connection not defined for layer %d
- Vect_get_area_centroid()
- Area %d without centroid or Skipping area %d without centroid
- Vect_open_old_head()
- Unable to open header file of vector map <%s>
- Vect_map_add_dblink()
- Unable to add database link for vector map <%s>
- Vect_read_next_line
- Unable to read vector map <%s> feature id %d
Messages Discussion
- "Map <roads> in <user1>" or "Map <roads@user1>"
- "Map <roads@user1>" preferred - ML
- If the element was given on the command line, the user knows which mapset it came from, and the @mapset part is just extra noise. If the element is taken from the data (how? i.group?) where the user hasn't explicitly defined the map, then @mapset it appropriate. Also output maps are always created in the current mapset* so @mapset is redundant and should not be used for new maps. [* i.rectify, r.in.gdal, v.in.ogr are exceptions that can create maps in other mapsets or new locations] --HB
Proposed standard responses in bold.
- G_get_raster_row
- "Unable to read raster map <%s> row %d"
Cannot get raster raster of input map Cannot raster raster of input map Cannot read raster row [%d] can't read row in input elevation map Could not read from <%s> Could not read from <%s>, row=%d Error getting input null cells error reading hue data Error reading 'hue' map Error reading input error reading intensity data Error reading 'intensity' map Error reading map %s Error reading row of data error reading saturation data Error reading 'saturation' map G_get_raster_row failed reading map Reading map Reading row %d read_row: error reading data %s: Unable to read raster map [%s] Unable to get row %d from raster map Unable to get row %d from <%s> Unable to read map raster row %d Unable to read raster row. Unable to read raster row %d Unable to read row %i\n
- G_put_raster_row
- "Failed writing raster map <%s> row %d"
Cannot write row to raster map Cannot write to <%s> Error while writing new cell map. Error writing cell map during transform. error writing data Error writing output map G_put_raster_row failed (file system full?) %s - ERROR writing %s Unable to properly write output raster map unable to write map row %d
- G_open_cell_new
- "Unable to create raster map <%s>"
Cannot open output raster map <%s> can't open %s Error in opening output file <%s> Unable to create output <%s> Unable to create raster map <%s> Unable to create raster map [%s] Unable to open cell map <%s> for output.\n Unable to open output file. Unable to open the cell map MASK.
- G_open_cell_old
- "Unable to open raster map <%s>"
Cannot find map %s Cannot find mapset for %s Cannot open File %s Cannot open input raster map <%s> Cannot open map %s Cannot open raster map Cannot open raster map <%s> Cannot open raster map [%s] Cannot open raster map [%s]! Cannot open %s Cannot open seed map <%s@%s>! Cannot open terrain raster map <%s@%s>! Can't open input map can't open raster map [%s] can't open raster map <%s> in mapset %s can't open %s Could not open raster <%s> Could not open raster '%s' Error in opening input file <%s> Not able to open cellfile for [%s] Problem opening input file [%s] Raster file <%s> not found Raster map [%s] not found <%s> cellfile not found %s: Couldn't open raster <%s@%s> %s: o_open_file: could not open raster map %s in %s Unable to open band files. Unable to open cellfile for [%s] Unable to open map <%s> Unable to open MASK Unable to open raster map [%s] Unable to open raster <%s> unable to open [%s] in [%s] Unable to proceed
- G_find_cell
- "Raster map <%s> not found"
albedo raster map <%s> not found aspin raster map <%s> not found Cannot find map %s Cannot find mapset for %s Cannot find raster map Cannot find %s cell file [%s] not found coefbh raster map <%s> not found elevin raster map <%s> not found Input map [%s] in location [%s] in mapset [%s] not found. latin raster map <%s> not found linkein raster map <%s> not found No clump map specified and MASK not set. Raster file [%s] not found. Exiting. Raster map [%s] already exists.\nPlease try another. Raster map <%s> not found Raster map [%s] not found Raster <%s> already exist. Raster <%s> not found Raster '%s' not found Requested raster map <%s> not found [%s] cannot be found! %s - exits in Mapset <%s>, select another name slopein raster map <%s> not found %s: more than %d files not allowed %s - not found %s: o_open_file: raster map %s not found %s: <%s> raster map not found %s: %s - raster map not found %s: %s - Unable to find the imaginary-image. %s: %s - Unable to find the real-image map. stringliteral Training map [%s] not found. Unable to find base map <%s> Unable to find cell map <%s> Unable to find cover map <%s> Unable to find file [%s]. Unable to find input cell map <%s>
- G_find_cell2
- "Raster map <%s> not found"
Raster map <%s> not found in current mapset Raster map <%s> not found Raster file [%s] not found. Exiting.
- G_find_vector
- "Vector map <%s> not found"
Cannot find vector map Could not find input map <%s> Could not find input map <%s>. Could not find input map '%s'. Could not find input map <%s> in current mapset. Could not find input map <%s>\n Could not find input %s Could not find input %s\n Could not find input vector map <%s> Could not find input vector map %s Could not find network input map '%s'. Could not find vector map <%s> in current mapset
- G_tempfile
- "Unable to open temporary file <%s>"
Unable to write the temporary file (/display/d.text.freetype/main.c:422) Unable to open temp file. (/imagery/i.find/main.c:83) Unable to open tempfile (/raster/r.coin/make_coin.c:83) Unable to open temporary file <%s> (/vector/v.in.ascii/in.c:237 /display/d.text/main.c:191 /display/d.text.new/main.c:398 /display/d.title/main.c:117 /raster/r.statistics/o_average.c:42 /raster/r.statistics/o_distrib.c:41 /raster/r.statistics/o_sum.c:43) (/raster/r.in.ascii/main.c:130) (/raster/r.in.ascii/main.c:160)
Systematic Approach
- Collect all possible error states from functions
- assign error codes for macros?
- G_option() parameters (like output->description = ("Path to resulting ASCII file");)
Note: Would be possible to conctretize your ideas? (MartinL)
Parameters and flags
Fix the parameters and flags. Make it a concept. See proposal(s)
Verbosity levels
Current abstract concept
type | GRASS_VERBOSE | libgis | command line | result | libgis fn |
verbose | 3 | MAX_LEVEL | --verbose | print progress and all messages messages | G_verbose_message() |
standard | 2 | STD_LEVEL | print progress and selected messages | G_message() | |
brief | 1 | print only progress information (% done) | G_percent(), G_clicker(), G_important_message() | ||
quiet | 0 | MIN_LEVEL | --quiet | print nothing (only ERRORs and WARNINGs) | G_warning(), G_fatal_error() |
debug | 0-5 | print debug message at DEBUG level set with g.gisenv | G_debug(#, "") | ||
mute | - | 2>&1 > /dev/null | only for use in rare occasions |
- Proposal
- module output (should be "parsable") is not controlled by GRASS_VERBOSE [use fprintf (stdout, ...)]
- quiet
- only warnings and fatal errors are printed
- brief
- all G_percent() and G_important_message() (especially connected to progress information??)
- standard
- all G_percent() and selected G_message()
- verbose
- all G_percent() + G_message() + G_verbose_message()
- Modification
- remove verbose level → standard == all G_percent () + G_messages()
- why?? --HB
- remove "--verbose" from help pages, manually mention where it does work.
- it only does something in a few modules
- move some messages to G_debug()
- move some messages to G_verbose_message()
- move some messages to G_important_message()
- change level numbers to 1, 3, 5
- Add new G_msg(int level, "%format", ...); lib function. Existing G_message() could stay and would be the same as G_msg(LEVEL_STD,...).
- Discussion
- HB: I'm quite happy to leave the current system as it is, but use GRASS_MESSAGE_FORMAT=silent to switch off G_percent(),G_clicker() output.
- Mixing a sliding verbosity scale plus a binary switch or >= rule for when G_percent() happens in the same variable is very messy IMO.
Alternative Abstract concept
(Binary method, 3=1+2)
How to deal with --verbose messages? add levels 4 (vmsg+msg) and 5(vmsg+msg+progress) ?
standard | 3 | PERMSG_MODE | print progress and messages |
standard | 2 | MESSAGE_MODE | print only messages |
brief | 1 | PERCENT_MODE | print only progress information |
silent but not mute | 0 | QUIET_MODE | print nothing (but ERR and WAR) |
mute | 2>&1 > /dev/null |