# Repeats
When writing a Protocol, certain parts might be repeated several times. So instead of repeating the instructions several times, defining repeats can help to reduce complexity and make it easier to write the Protocol. A good example for using repeats would be a fluorescence induction kinetic, where a number of saturation pulses is given. With the help of repeats, the protocol for the saturation pulse is defined once and then can be repeated.
Tip
Repeats can be a very powerful tool when used in combination with protocol-sets reducing the size of a Protocol to a minimum.
# Using Repeats
The following example shows how to use two types of repeats, the set_repeats and protocol_repeats. Both are optional and can be used alone, depending on your Protocol requirements.
[
{
"set_repeats": 2,
"_protocol_set_": [
{
"label": "Protocol 1",
"protocol_repeats": 2,
...
},
{
"label": "Protocol 2",
...
}
...
],
}
]
set_repeats have to be used together with the command _protocol_set_. When used, the protocols within the protocol-set will be repeated as defined by the number of repeats.
protocol_repeats will repeat a single protocol within a _protocol_set_. Each protocol can have a different number of repeats.
# Protocol Sequence
# Repeats and variables
When using variable arrays (v_arrays) the number of repeats can be based on the number of values within one of the arrays in the v_arrays. The array can be referenced using the indicator #l with the position (index) of the array #l<index>. Find help on how to use variable arrays here.
[
{
"v_arrays": [ [ 1, 2 ], [ 1, 2 ] ],
"set_repeats": "#l0",
"_protocol_set_": [
{
"label": "Protocol 1",
"protocol_repeats": "#l1",
...
},
{
"label": "Protocol 2",
...
}
...
],
}
]
# Protocol Sequence (variable arrays)
# Skip Repeats
When creating a Protocol using _protocol_set_ in combination with set_repeats, a protocol within a set might only needed to run once. This can be accomplished by using the do_once command. The following example shows a Protocol where the second protocol within the set is only run the first time. By setting the value to 1, the do_once command will be executed, by setting it to 0, it will be ignored.
[
{
"set_repeats": 2,
"_protocol_set_": [
{
"label": "Protocol 1",
"protocol_repeats": 2,
...
},
{
"label": "Protocol 2",
"do_once": 1,
...
}
...
],
}
]
# Protocol Sequence (skip)
