Make the acceptance tests pass without the NI-DAQmx driver

src/pymodaq_plugins_daqmx/__init__.py

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 from pathlib import Path
-from pymodaq.utils.logger import set_logger  # to be imported by other modules.
+from pymodaq_utils.logger import set_logger  # to be imported by other modules.
+from pymodaq_utils.utils import get_version, PackageNotFoundError
+
+try:
+    __version__ = get_version(__package__)
+except PackageNotFoundError:
+    __version__ = '0.0.0dev'
 
 from .utils import Config
 config = Config()

src/pymodaq_plugins_daqmx/hardware/national_instruments/NIDAQmx_Move.py

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class DAQ_NIDAQmx_Actuator(DAQ_Move_base, DAQ_NIDAQmx_base):
         *params*          dictionnary
         =============== ==============
     """
-    _controller_units = 'Volts'
+    _controller_units = 'V'
     is_multiaxes = False  # set to True if this plugin is controlled for a multiaxis controller (with a unique communication link)
     stage_names = []  # "list of strings of the multiaxes
 
@@ -163,6 +163,12 @@ def move_Home(self):
         ## TODO: Reimplement in your daq_move with NIDAQmx library
         raise NotImplementedError
 
+    def close(self):
+        """Terminate the communication protocol: close the current task of the controller"""
+        controller = getattr(self, 'controller', None)
+        if controller is not None:
+            controller.close()
+
     def stop_motion(self):
         """
           Call the specific move_done function (depending on the hardware).

src/pymodaq_plugins_daqmx/hardware/national_instruments/NIDAQmx_Viewer.py

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class DAQ_NIDAQmx_Viewer(DAQ_Viewer_base, DAQ_NIDAQmx_base):
     param_devices = NIDAQmx.get_NIDAQ_devices().device_names
     params = viewer_params + [
         {'title': 'Devices :', 'name': 'devices', 'type': 'list', 'limits': param_devices,
-         'value': param_devices[0]
+         'value': param_devices[0] if param_devices else ''
          },
         ] + DAQ_NIDAQmx_base.params
 

src/pymodaq_plugins_daqmx/hardware/national_instruments/daqmxni.py

@@ -8,13 +8,31 @@
 from nidaqmx.system import System as niSystem
 from nidaqmx.system.device import Device as niDevice
 from nidaqmx import Task as niTask
-from nidaqmx.errors import DaqError, DAQmxErrors
+from nidaqmx.errors import DaqError, DAQmxErrors, DaqNotFoundError
 from pymodaq_plugins_daqmx import config
 
 
 logger = set_logger(get_module_name(__file__))
 
 
+class _NoDevices:
+    """Stands for the collection of devices when the NI-DAQmx driver is not installed: no device at all.
+
+    The modules of the plugin build their settings when they are imported, which then must not fail on a computer
+    without the driver (for instance a continuous integration runner).
+    """
+    device_names = []
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return iter(())
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        return 0
+
+    def __contains__(self, item):
+        return False
+
+
 class ClockSettingsBase:
     def __init__(self, Nsamples=1000, repetition=False):
 
@@ -202,6 +220,9 @@ def get_NIDAQ_devices(cls):
             if devices == ['']:
                 devices = []
             return devices
+        except DaqNotFoundError:  # the NI-DAQmx driver is not installed
+            logger.warning('The NI-DAQmx driver is not installed: no NI device can be listed')
+            return _NoDevices()
         except DaqError as e:
             return e.error_code