Access external records.

[gustavosr8]

As documented, the Record class allows access to record intances.

pyDevSup/documentation/devsup.rst

Lines 21 to 63 in 7f9c592

	:class:`Record` Class
	^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
	.. class:: Record
	Allows access to a single record instance.
	*Record* instances can be created for any record in
	the process database. However, some features will only
	function when the record has Python device support.
	*Record* objects allow access to fields through the
	:meth:`field` method and direct access to field
	values through attributes.
	Attribute access is currently limited to scalar fields.
	>>> R = getRecord("my:record:name")
	>>> F = R.field('VAL')
	>>> F.getval()
	42
	>>> R.VAL
	42
	>>> R.VAL = 43
	.. automethod:: name
	.. automethod:: rtype
	.. automethod:: field
	.. automethod:: setSevr
	.. automethod:: setTime
	.. automethod:: scan
	.. automethod:: asyncStart
	.. automethod:: asyncFinish
	.. automethod:: info
	.. automethod:: infos

But, as far as I understand and tested, the record must be defined in the own IOC, and accessing an external record ins't possible. Is there a way to do this other than making a copy of the desired record in the IOC? If not, what part of the module's code should be worked to support this (considering that this feature is desired)?

[tynanford]

Yes that is correct, the Record class is for records internal to the IOC. There are ways to embed pyepics into your pydevsup code and access external records that way. IIRC there are a few things you have to add to get it to work which I can try to dig up. Here is a tech talk with some information - https://epics.anl.gov/tech-talk/2019/msg00778.php

[mdavidsaver]

If not, what part of the module's code should be worked to support this (considering that this feature is desired)?

The usual answer in the process database is to create a local record which uses a CA or PVA link to a remote record.