Get a list of all loaded waves

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Hi all!

I have been searching for a way to get a list of all loaded waves in an igor experiment for a few weeks now. I have tried WaveList("*",";","") but that gets all the waves in the folder even if they aren't already loaded. I have also looked at the waveselectorwidget example but I am still not able to get it.

Thanks for the help.
Ryleigh
[quote]that gets all the waves in the folder even if they aren't already loaded[/quote]
When you open an Igor experiment file, all waves in the experiment are loaded into memory. So "even if they aren't already loaded" does not make sense.

WaveList("*",";","") gives you a list of all waves in the current data folder. Note that a "data folder" is not the same as a folder on disk.

To learn about data folders, execute:
DisplayHelpTopic "Data Folders"

May 20, 2015 at 02:14 pm - Permalink
I have made some utilities to make lists of Igor data, from a single data folder or from the data folder plus all subfolders. I need to make an official release of the utilities package. In the meantime....

// Static constants used for options variable for functions
STATIC CONSTANT kRECURSE =1
STATIC CONSTANT kGETPATH = 2
STATIC CONSTANT kADDCOLON = 4
STATIC CONSTANT kNOPACKAGES = 8
//Procedures for making lists of Igor objects from folders and graphs, with specializations for making the kinds of lists used in popup menus
//******************************************************************************************************
//  GUIPListObjs returns a semicolon-separated list of all the objects of the slelected type (objectType)
// in the given folder (sourceFoldrStr)whose names match the given string (matchStr)
// Last Modified 2014/12/04 by Jamie Boyd
Function/s GUIPListObjs (sourceFolderStr, objectType, matchStr, options, erstring, [sepStr])
    string sourceFolderStr  // can be either ":" or "" to specify the current data folder. You can also use a full or partial data folder path.
    variable objectType     // 1 = waves, 2= numeric variables, 3= string variables, 4 = data folders
    string matchstr         // limit list of objects with this wildcard-enhanced string. use "*"  to get all objects    
    variable options            // bit 0=1: set to do a recursive call through all subfolders of the source folder
                            // bit 1 =2:  set to get full or relative filepaths depending on sourceFolderStr. unset to get just the objects with no path.
                            // bit 2 =4: If listing folders, set to suffix folder names with a colon, good for building filepaths, unset for no colon
                            // bit 3 = 8: do not list packages folder or items from packages folder
    string erstring         // a string to return if no objects are found
    string sepStr           // optional separator string for returned list. Default is ";"
    
    if (ParamIsDefault(sepStr))
        sepStr = ";"
    endif
    // return error message if folder does not exist
    // why the "\\M1(" ? It is a formatting code for disabling choices in pop-up menus
    if (!(datafolderexists (sourceFolderStr)))
        return "\\M1(" + sourceFolderStr + " does not exist." 
    endif
    // make sure sourceFolderStr ends with a colon
    sourceFolderStr = RemoveEnding (sourceFolderStr, ":") + ":"
    // if giving path, or when doing recursive calls, prepend each object name with sourceFolder
    string endStr = sepStr, prependStr = SelectString ((options & (kGETPATH + kRECURSE)), "", sourceFolderStr)
    DFREF sourceDFR = $sourceFolderStr
    // if listing folders, end each folder name with a colon if requested, and always add a list separator
    if (objectType ==4)
        endStr = SelectString ((options & kADDCOLON), sepStr, ":" + sepStr)
    endif
    // start return list with matching objects in sourceFolder
    variable iObj
    string objName, returnList = ""
    // if not listing packages folder, check for it when we are looking through root folder
    if (((options & kNOPACKAGES) && (cmpStr (sourceFolderStr, "root:") ==0)) && (objectType ==4))
        for (iObj = 0 ; ; iObj += 1)
            objName = GetIndexedObjNameDFR(sourceDFR, objectType, iObj)
            if (strlen (objName) > 0)
                if ((stringmatch(objname, matchStr )) && (stringMatch (objname, "!packages")))
                    returnList += prependStr  + possiblyquoteName (objname) + endStr
                endif
            else
                break
            endif
        endfor
    else
        for (iObj = 0 ; ; iObj += 1)
            objName = GetIndexedObjNameDFR(sourceDFR, objectType, iObj)
            if (strlen (objName) > 0)
                if (stringmatch(objname, matchStr ))
                    returnList += prependStr  + possiblyquoteName (objname) + endStr
                endif
            else
                break
            endif
        endfor
    endif
    // If recursive, iterate though all folders in sourceFolder
    // in recursive calls, set erString to "", so user's erStr is not added to the return list for every empty subfolder, only if all folders are empty
    if (options & kRECURSE)
        variable iFolder
        string aFolder
        if ((options & kNOPACKAGES) && (cmpStr (sourceFolderStr, "root:") ==0)) 
            for (iFolder =0; ; iFolder +=1)
                aFolder =  GetIndexedObjNameDFR(sourceDFR, 4,  iFolder)
                if (strlen (aFolder) > 0)
                    if (StringMatch (aFolder, "!packages")) // if not listing packages folder, check for it when we are looking through root folder
                        returnList += GUIPListObjs (sourceFolderStr + possiblyquotename (aFolder), objectType, matchStr, options , "", sepStr = sepStr)
                    endif
                else
                    break
                endif
            endfor
        else
            for (iFolder =0; ; iFolder +=1)
                aFolder = GetIndexedObjNameDFR(sourceDFR, 4,  iFolder)
                if (strlen (aFolder) > 0)
                    returnList += GUIPListObjs (sourceFolderStr + possiblyquotename (aFolder), objectType, matchStr, options , "", sepStr = sepStr)
                else
                    break
                endif
            endfor
        endif
    endif
    //  if no list was made, and this is the starting call, return user's error message
    if (strlen (returnList) < 2)
        return erstring
    else
        return returnList
    endif
end


To see a list of all the waves in the experiment:
print GUIPListObjs ("root:", 1, "*", 1, "")

If you are looking for a list of files in a directory on disk, well I have a function to do that as well, from the same package. It has many options, and you have to make an Igor path. 
//******************************************************************************************************
//Returns a list of files of a particular type, whose names match the match string, and are located in the disk directory pointed to by the given path 
// Last modified: 2014/12/04 by Jamie Boyd
// Added option to follow items that are shortcuts
// Mod 2014/10/22 by Jamie Boyd: Includes option to also list creation date and modification date
Function/S GUIPListFiles (ImportpathStr,  fileTypeOrExtStr, matchStr, options, erstring, [sepStr])
    String ImportPathStr    // Name of an Igor Path
    String fileTypeOrExtStr // macintosh file type (4 characters) or Windows extension, e.g.,  ".txt", or "dirs" to list directories
    String MatchStr         // string to match file names for listing. Wildcard enabled. Pass "*" to list all files
    variable options            // bit 0=1: set to do a recursive call through all directories of the source directory
                            // bit 1 =2: set to get full file paths. unset to get just the object names with no path.
                            // bit 2 =4: set to strip three character file name extensions from returned file names
                            // bit 3 = 8: set to allow user to set ImportPath if it does not already exist.
                            // bit 4 = 16: set to list file creation dates after each file name
                            // bit 5 = 32: set to list file modification dates after each file name, or after each creation date
                            // bit 6 = 64: set to list alias/shortcuts that point to files, and to list contents of aliases to folders-must be listing full paths
    string erstring         // a string to return if no objects are found
    string sepStr           // optional separator string for returned list. Default is ";"
    
    if (ParamIsDefault(sepStr))
        sepStr = ";"
    endif
    // we  have to look for shorcuts/aliases differently on Mac vs PC 
    string fileAliasExt = ".lnk", fldrAliasExt = ".lnk"
    if (cmpStr ( IgorInfo (2), "Macintosh") ==0)
        fileAliasExt = "alis"
        fldrAliasExt ="fdrp"
    endif
    // if the Igor path does not exist, let the user set it, if that option is chosen
    string sourceDirStr
    PathInfo  $ImportPathStr
    if (!(V_Flag))
        if (options & 8)
            NewPath /O/M= "Set Path to FIles of type " + fileTypeOrExtStr $ImportPathStr
            if (V_flag)
                return "\\M1(Invalid Path"
            else
                PathInfo  $ImportPathStr
                sourceDirStr = S_path
            endif
        else
            return "\\M1(Invalid Path"
        endif
    else
        sourceDirStr = S_path
    endif
    // if giving path, prepend each object name with sourceFolder
    string prependStr = SelectString ((options & kGETPATH), "", sourceDirStr)
    // string prependStr = SelectString (((options & kGETPATH) ||  (options & 64)), "", sourceDirStr)
    // iterate through files in this directory
    string afileName, allFiles, returnList = "" // lists of files that we will return
    variable iFile, nFiles, nameLen, aliasPathDepth
    if (cmpStr (fileTypeOrExtStr, "dirs") ==0) // looking for directories
        AllFiles = IndexedDir($ImportpathStr, -1, (options & 4))
        nFiles = itemsinlist (AllFiles, ";")
        Make/N=(nFiles)/T/FREE tempFiles = StringFromList(p, AllFiles)
        for (iFile =0; iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
            afileName =tempFiles [iFile]
            if (stringmatch(afileName, matchStr))
                returnList += prependStr + aFileName + sepStr
                if (options & 48)
                    GetFileFolderInfo /P=$ImportpathStr/Q afileName
                    if (options & 16)
                        returnList += secs2Date (V_creationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) + sepStr
                    endif
                    if (options & 32)
                        returnList += secs2Date (V_modificationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) +  sepStr
                    endif
                endif
            endif
        endfor
        if (options & 64)
            // now look for aliases to folders, probably fewer of these, so not bothering making a temp wave
            AllFiles =  IndexedFile ($ImportPathStr, -1, fldrAliasExt)
            for (iFile =0, nFiles = itemsinlist (AllFiles, ";"); iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
                afileName = StringFromList (iFile, allFiles, ";")
                GetFileFolderInfo /P=$ImportpathStr /Q aFilename
                if ((V_isAliasShortcut) && (cmpStr (S_aliasPath [Strlen (s_aliasPath) -1], ":") ==0))
                    aliasPathDepth = itemsinlist (s_aliasPath, ":") -1
                    afileName = StringFromList(aliasPathDepth, S_aliasPath, ":" )
                    if (stringmatch(afileName, matchStr))
                        returnList +=S_aliasPath + sepStr
                        if (options & 48)
                            GetFileFolderInfo S_aliasPath
                            if (options & 16)
                                returnList += secs2Date (V_creationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) + sepStr
                            endif
                            if (options & 32)
                                returnList += secs2Date (V_modificationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) +  sepStr
                            endif
                        endif
                    endif
                endif
            endfor
        endif
    else  //looking for files
        AllFIles = IndexedFile ($ImportPathStr, -1, fileTypeOrExtStr)
        nFiles = itemsinlist (AllFiles, ";")
        Make/O/N=(nFiles)/T/FREE tempFiles = StringFromList(p, AllFiles)
        for (iFile =0; iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
            afileName =tempFiles [iFile]
            if (stringmatch(afileName, matchStr))
                if (options & 4)
                    NameLen = strlen (afileName)
                    if ((cmpstr (afileName [NameLen - 4], ".")) == 0)
                        returnList += prependStr + aFileName [0, NameLen - 5] +  sepStr
                    else
                        returnList += prependStr  + aFileName + sepStr
                    endif
                else
                    returnList += prependStr  + aFileName + sepStr
                endif
                if (options & 48)
                    GetFileFolderInfo /P=$ImportpathStr/Q afileName
                    if (options & 16)
                        returnList += secs2Date (V_creationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) +  sepStr
                    endif
                    if (options & 32)
                        returnList += secs2Date (V_modificationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) +  sepStr
                    endif
                endif
            endif
        endfor
        if (options & 64)
            // now look for aliases to files, probably fewer of these, so not bothering making a temp wave
            AllFiles =  IndexedFile ($ImportPathStr, -1, fileAliasExt)
            for (iFile =0, nFiles = itemsinlist (AllFiles, ";"); iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
                afileName = StringFromList (iFile, allFiles, ";")
                GetFileFolderInfo /P=$ImportpathStr /Q aFilename
                if ((V_isAliasShortcut) && (cmpStr (S_aliasPath [Strlen (s_aliasPath) -1], ":") !=0))
                    aliasPathDepth = itemsinlist (s_aliasPath, ":") -1
                    afileName = StringFromList(aliasPathDepth, S_aliasPath, ":" )
                    if (stringmatch(afileName, matchStr))
                        returnList +=S_aliasPath + sepStr
                        if (options & 48)
                            GetFileFolderInfo S_aliasPath
                            if (options & 16)
                                returnList += secs2Date (V_creationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) + sepStr
                            endif
                            if (options & 32)
                                returnList += secs2Date (V_modificationDate, -2, "/") + "/" + Secs2Time(V_creationDate, 2) +  sepStr
                            endif
                        endif
                    endif
                endif
            endfor
        endif
    endif
    // If recursive, iterate though all folders in sourceFolder
    // in recursive calls, set erString to "", so user's erStr is not added to the return list for every empty subfolder, only if all folders are empty
    if (options & kRECURSE)
        string subFolders
        variable iFolder, nFolders
        if ((options & kGETPATH) ||  (options & 64)) // if getting full path, just list the files
            subFolders = IndexedDir($ImportpathStr, -1, 1)
            nFolders = itemsinList (subFolders, ";")
            for (iFolder =0; iFolder < nFolders; iFolder +=1)
                NewPath /O/Q GuipListRecPath, stringFromList (iFolder, subFolders, ";")
                returnList += GUIPListFiles ("GuipListRecPath",  fileTypeOrExtStr, matchStr, options, "", sepStr = sepStr)
            endfor
            if (options & 64)
                AllFiles =  IndexedFile ($ImportPathStr, -1, fldrAliasExt)
                for (iFile =0, nFiles = itemsinlist (AllFiles, ";"); iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
                    afileName = StringFromList (iFile, allFiles, ";")
                    GetFileFolderInfo /P=$ImportpathStr /Q aFilename
                    if ((V_isAliasShortcut) && (cmpStr (S_aliasPath [Strlen (s_aliasPath) -1], ":") ==0))
                        NewPath /O/Q GuipListRecPath, S_aliasPath
                        returnList += GUIPListFiles ("GuipListRecPath",  fileTypeOrExtStr, matchStr, options, "", sepStr = sepStr)
                    endif
                endfor
            endif
        else     // if not getting full path, need to make relative path from starting folder
            string dirStr = stringFromList (itemsinList (sourceDirStr, ":")-1, sourceDirStr, ":") + ":"
            string subList
            string subDirStr
            subFolders = IndexedDir($ImportpathStr, -1, 0)
            nFolders = itemsinList (subFolders, ";")
            for (iFolder =0; iFolder < nFolders; iFolder +=1)
                subDirStr = stringFromList (iFolder, subFolders, ";")
                NewPath /O/Q GuipListRecPath, sourceDirStr + subDirStr
                subList = GUIPListFiles ("GuipListRecPath",  fileTypeOrExtStr, matchStr, options, "", sepStr = sepStr)
                for (iFile=0, nFiles = itemsinList (subList, sepStr); iFile < nFiles; iFile +=1)
                    returnList += subDirStr + ":" + stringFromList (iFile, subList, sepStr) + sepStr
                    if ((options & 16) || (options & 32))
                        iFIle +=1
                        returnList += stringFromList (iFile, subList, sepStr) + sepStr
                    endif
                    if ((options & 16) && (options & 32))
                        iFIle +=1
                        returnList += stringFromList (iFile, subList, sepStr) + sepStr
                    endif
                endfor
 
            endfor
        endif
    endif
    //  if no list was made, and this is the starting call, return user's error message
    if (strlen (returnList) < 2)
        return erString
    else
        return returnList
    endif
end


For example, the following command:
print GUIPListFiles ("MyPath", "????", "*", 8, "")
will make a new Igor Path named MyPath and the user will have an opportunity to choose the folder the path points to. It will return a list of files of all file types.

cheers,

Dr. Jamie Boyd, Ph.D.

May 20, 2015 at 10:51 pm - Permalink