Python

Configuring cisst for Python

To use the cisst/SAW Python wrappers, you will need both SWIG and Python installed. If you plan to use the cisstVector data types as well you will need numpy.

Once you've installed all the prerequisites, set the following options during the cisst/SAW CMake configuration

• CISST_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS: ON
• CISST_HAS_SWIG_PYTHON: ON

When you're done configuring cisst/SAW you should have the following variables set properly:

• SWIG_DIR
• SWIG_EXECUTABLE
• PYTHON_EXECUTABLE
• PYTHON_INCLUDE_DIR
• PYTHON_LIBRARY
• PYTHON_NUMPY_INCLUDE_DIR

Using the cisst Python wrappers

Most cisst libraries come with some Python wrappers generated using SWIG. To see if a library has been wrapped, check if the interface file cisstXyz/cisstXyz.i exists (e.g. cisstVector/cisstVector.i).

Before you can load any cisst Python wrappers, you should make sure your paths are set properly. Do to so, see compiling and running cisst/SAW.

Once your paths are set, you should be able to start your Python interpreter (e.g. ipython):

ipython

In Python:

import cisstCommonPython
dir(cisstCommonPython)
print cisstCommonPython.cmnClassRegister_ToString()

cisstVector typemaps