added spec.getScanNumbersChronological(), spec.getFirstScanNumber(), and

spec.getLastScanNumber()

CHANGES.rst

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Change History
 Production
 **********
 
+:2016.0201.0: added spec.getScanNumbersChronological(), spec.getFirstScanNumber(), and spec.getLastScanNumber()
 :2016.0131.0: support new NeXus method for default/signal/axes/_indices, 
               `issue #43 <https://github.com/prjemian/spec2nexus/issues/43>`_
 :2016.0130.0: fixed `issue #44 <https://github.com/prjemian/spec2nexus/issues/44>`_

src/spec2nexus/spec.py

@@ -86,9 +86,9 @@
     >>> spec_data = spec.SpecDataFile('path/to/my/spec_data.dat')
     >>> print spec_data.fileName
     path/to/my/spec_data.dat
-    >>> print 'first scan: ', spec_data.getMinScanNumber()
+    >>> print 'first scan: ', spec_data.getFirstScanNumber()
     1
-    >>> print 'last scan: ', spec_data.getMaxScanNumber()
+    >>> print 'last scan: ', spec_data.getLastScanNumber()
     22
 
 Get plottable data from scan number 10:
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@
 import re       #@UnusedImport
 import os       #@UnusedImport
 import sys      #@UnusedImport
+import time
 from spec2nexus.utils import get_all_plugins
 
 
@@ -284,11 +285,18 @@ def getScan(self, scan_number=0):
         return None
 
     def getScanNumbers(self):
-        '''return a sorted list of all scan numbers'''
+        '''return a list of all scan numbers sorted by scan number'''
         def my_cmp(x, y):
             return cmp(float(x), float(y))
         return sorted(self.scans.keys(), my_cmp)
 
+    def getScanNumbersChronological(self):
+        '''return a list of all scan numbers sorted by date'''
+        def my_cmp(x, y):
+            return cmp(time.strptime(x.date), time.strptime(y.date))
+        scans = sorted(self.scans.values(), my_cmp)
+        return [_.scanNum for _ in scans]
+
     def getMinScanNumber(self):
         '''return the lowest numbered scan'''
         return self.getScanNumbers()[0]
@@ -297,6 +305,14 @@ def getMaxScanNumber(self):
         '''return the highest numbered scan'''
         return self.getScanNumbers()[-1]
 
+    def getFirstScanNumber(self):
+        '''return the first scan'''
+        return self.getScanNumbersChronological()[0]
+
+    def getLastScanNumber(self):
+        '''return the last scan'''
+        return self.getScanNumbersChronological()[-1]
+
     def getScanCommands(self, scan_list=None):
         '''return all the scan commands as a list, with scan number'''
         if scan_list is None: