Correctly set alarms during blocking processing

CHANGELOG.rst

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Unreleased_
 
 Fixed:
 
+- `Correctly set alarms during blocking processing <../../pull/209>`_
 - `Fix infinite loop when setting record's own value from on_update callback <../../pull/202>`_
 
 4.7.0_ - 2026-01-14

softioc/device.py

@@ -291,6 +291,13 @@ def set(self, value, process=True,
             # However if we do not process, we must do this here to keep the
             # Python and EPICS values in line
             if not process:
+                # Normally a call to dbProcess would handle setting/re-setting
+                # alarm levels for us, however if we are not processing we
+                # obviously can't rely on that. Hence we have to do it
+                # ourselves. We don't use `process_severity` as we want to
+                # unconditionally set these, regardless of previous severity.
+                _record.NSEV = severity
+                _record.NSTA = alarm
                 self._value = (value, severity, alarm)
 
             db_put_field_process(_record.NAME, dbf_code, data, length, process)

softioc/device_core.py

@@ -177,6 +177,9 @@ def _get_ioinit_info(self, cmd, record, ppvt):
 
     def process_severity(self, record, severity, alarm):
         '''Support routine to implement alarm processing.'''
+        # This matches the logic in the EPICS function recGblSetSevr, which
+        # always maximises severity. This is called as part of EPICS record
+        # processing
         if severity > record.NSEV:
             record.NSEV = severity
             record.NSTA = alarm

tests/test_records.py

@@ -683,8 +683,8 @@ def test_on_update_true_false(self, out_records):
         always_update is True and the put'ed value is always different"""
         self.on_update_runner(out_records, True, False)
 
-    def on_update_recursive_set_test_func(
-        self, device_name, conn
+    def on_update_recursive_set_value_test_func(
+        self, device_name, conn,
     ):
         log("CHILD: Child started")
 
@@ -718,8 +718,8 @@ async def on_update_func(new_val):
 
         log("CHILD: Received exit command, child exiting")
 
-    async def test_on_update_recursive_set(self):
-        """Test that on_update functions correctly when the on_update
+    async def test_on_update_recursive_set_value(self):
+        """Test that on_update sets values correctly when the on_update
         callback sets the value of the record again (with process=False).
         See issue #201"""
 
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ async def test_on_update_recursive_set(self):
         device_name = create_random_prefix()
 
         process = ctx.Process(
-            target=self.on_update_recursive_set_test_func,
+            target=self.on_update_recursive_set_value_test_func,
             args=(device_name, child_conn),
         )
 
@@ -773,6 +773,127 @@ async def test_on_update_recursive_set(self):
                 pytest.fail("Process did not terminate")
 
 
+    def on_update_recursive_set_alarm_test_func(
+        self, device_name, conn, severity, alrm
+    ):
+        log("CHILD: Child started")
+
+        builder.SetDeviceName(device_name)
+
+        async def on_update_func(new_val):
+            log(f"CHILD: on_update_func started value {new_val}")
+            if new_val == 2:
+                record.set(
+                    new_val,
+                    process=False,
+                    severity=severity,
+                    alarm=alrm
+                )
+            elif new_val == 3:
+                record.set(
+                    new_val,
+                    process=False,
+                    severity=alarm.NO_ALARM,
+                    alarm=alarm.NO_ALARM
+                )
+            conn.send("C")  # "Callback"
+            log("CHILD: on_update_func ended")
+
+        record = builder.longOut(
+            "ACTION",
+            on_update=on_update_func,
+            blocking=True,
+            initial_value=1  # A non-zero value, to check it changes
+        )
+
+        dispatcher = asyncio_dispatcher.AsyncioDispatcher()
+        builder.LoadDatabase()
+        softioc.iocInit(dispatcher)
+
+        conn.send("R")  # "Ready"
+
+        log("CHILD: Sent R over Connection to Parent")
+
+        # Keep process alive while main thread runs CAGET
+        if conn.poll(TIMEOUT):
+            val = conn.recv()
+            assert val == "D", "Did not receive expected Done character"
+
+        log("CHILD: Received exit command, child exiting")
+
+    async def test_on_update_recursive_set_alarm(self):
+        """Test that on_update sets alarms correctly when the on_update
+        callback sets the value of the record again (with process=False).
+        See PR #209"""
+
+        ctx = get_multiprocessing_context()
+        parent_conn, child_conn = ctx.Pipe()
+
+        device_name = create_random_prefix()
+
+        expected_sevr = alarm.MAJOR_ALARM
+        expected_alarm = alarm.HIGH_ALARM  # arbitrary choice
+
+        process = ctx.Process(
+            target=self.on_update_recursive_set_alarm_test_func,
+            args=(device_name, child_conn, expected_sevr, expected_alarm),
+        )
+
+        process.start()
+
+        log("PARENT: Child started, waiting for R command")
+
+        from aioca import caget, caput
+
+        try:
+            # Wait for message that IOC has started
+            select_and_recv(parent_conn, "R")
+
+            log("PARENT: received R command")
+
+            record = f"{device_name}:ACTION"
+
+            val = await caget(record)
+
+            assert val == 1, "ACTION record did not start with value 1"
+
+            # Trigger callback to set alarm states
+            await caput(record, 2, wait=True)
+
+            sevr = await caget(record + ".SEVR")
+            assert sevr == expected_sevr
+
+            sevr = await caget(record + ".STAT")
+            assert sevr == expected_alarm
+
+            # Expect one "C"
+            select_and_recv(parent_conn, "C")
+
+            # Trigger another callback to clear alarm states
+            await caput(record, 3, wait=True)
+
+            sevr = await caget(record + ".SEVR")
+            assert sevr == alarm.NO_ALARM
+
+            sevr = await caget(record + ".STAT")
+            assert sevr == alarm.NO_ALARM
+
+            # Expect second "C"
+            select_and_recv(parent_conn, "C")
+
+            # ...But if we receive another we know there's a problem
+            if parent_conn.poll(5):  # Shorter timeout to make this quicker
+                pytest.fail("Received unexpected second message")
+
+        finally:
+            log("PARENT:Sending Done command to child")
+            parent_conn.send("D")  # "Done"
+            process.join(timeout=TIMEOUT)
+            log(f"PARENT: Join completed with exitcode {process.exitcode}")
+            if process.exitcode is None:
+                pytest.fail("Process did not terminate")
+
+
 
 class TestBlocking:
     """Tests related to the Blocking functionality"""