py-canoe 26.3.2

Python 🐍 Package for accessing Vector CANoe 🛶 Tool via COM Interface

py-canoe

about package

Python 🐍 Package for accessing Vector CANoe 🛶 Tool via COM Interface

Note: Looking for volunteers to maintain and contribute to this project. If interested, please reach out to me on LinkedIn.

🔗 useful links

• documentation
• pypi package
• github releases
• create issue/request feature here
• fork repo and create pull request to contribute back to this project. or message me your GitHub username in LinkedIn to add you as collaborator.
• vector canoe documentation

prerequisites

• python(>=3.10)
• vector canoe software(>=v11)
• visual studio code
• Windows PC(recommended windows 11 OS along with 16GB RAM)

installation

standard way

# install py-canoe package
pip install py-canoe

# upgrade py-canoe package
pip install py-canoe --upgrade

# install py-canoe package with all optional dependencies
pip install py-canoe[all]

using astral uv

# install py-canoe package
uv pip install py-canoe

# upgrade py-canoe package
uv pip install py-canoe --upgrade

# install py-canoe package with all optional dependencies
uv pip install py-canoe[all]

# add py-canoe as dependency to your pyproject.toml
uv add py-canoe

# add py-canoe package with all optional dependencies in your pyproject.toml
uv add py-canoe[all]

# upgrade py-canoe package in your pyproject.toml
uv update py-canoe

---

example use cases

import CANoe module and create CANoe class object

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()

open CANoe, start measurement, get version info, stop measurement and close canoe configuration

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_version_info = canoe_inst.get_canoe_version_info()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()
canoe_inst.quit()

restart/reset running measurement

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.reset_measurement()
canoe_inst.stop_ex_measurement()

open CANoe offline config and start/break/step/reset/stop measurement in offline mode

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_offline.cfg')

canoe_inst.add_offline_source_log_file(r'tests\demo_cfg\Logs\demo_log.blf')
canoe_inst.start_measurement_in_animation_mode(animation_delay=200)
canoe_inst.break_measurement_in_offline_mode()
canoe_inst.step_measurement_event_in_single_step()
canoe_inst.reset_measurement_in_offline_mode()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

get/set CANoe measurement index

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

meas_index_value = canoe_inst.get_measurement_index()
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()
meas_index_value = canoe_inst.get_measurement_index()
canoe_inst.set_measurement_index(meas_index_value + 1)
meas_index_new = canoe_inst.get_measurement_index()
canoe_inst.reset_measurement()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

save CANoe config to a different version with different name

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.save_configuration_as(path=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_v10.cfg', major=10, minor=0, create_dir=True)

get CAN bus statistics of CAN channel 1

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.get_can_bus_statistics(channel=1)
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

get/set bus signal value, check signal state and get signal full name

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
sig_full_name = canoe_inst.get_signal_full_name(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight')
sig_value = canoe_inst.get_signal_value(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight', raw_value=False)
canoe_inst.set_signal_value(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight', value=1, raw_value=False)
sig_online_state = canoe_inst.check_signal_online(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight')
sig_state = canoe_inst.check_signal_state(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight')
sig_val = canoe_inst.get_signal_value(bus='CAN', channel=1, message='LightState', signal='FlashLight', raw_value=True)
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

clear write window / read text from write window / control write window output file

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.enable_write_window_output_file(r'tests\demo_cfg\Logs\write_win.txt')
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.clear_write_window_content()
canoe_inst.write_text_in_write_window("hello from py_canoe!")
text = canoe_inst.read_text_from_write_window()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()
canoe_inst.disable_write_window_output_file()

switch between CANoe desktops

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')
canoe_inst.ui_activate_desktop('Configuration')

get/set system variable or define system variable

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.set_system_variable_value('demo::level_two_1::sys_var2', 20)
canoe_inst.set_system_variable_value('demo::string_var', 'hey hello this is string variable')
canoe_inst.set_system_variable_value('demo::data_var', 'hey hello this is data variable')
canoe_inst.set_system_variable_array_values('demo::int_array_var', (00, 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99))
sys_var_val = canoe_inst.get_system_variable_value('demo::level_two_1::sys_var2')
sys_var_val = canoe_inst.get_system_variable_value('demo::data_var')
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()
canoe_inst.define_system_variable('sys_demo::demo', 1)
canoe_inst.save_configuration()
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
sys_var_val = canoe_inst.get_system_variable_value('sys_demo::demo')
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

list system variable namespaces and variables

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

namespace_names = canoe_inst.application.system.get_all_namespace_names()
variables = canoe_inst.application.system.get_all_variables_in_namespace('demo')

send diagnostic request, control tester present

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_diag.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
resp = canoe_inst.send_diag_request('Door', 'DefaultSession_Start', False)
canoe_inst.control_tester_present('Door', False)
wait(2)
canoe_inst.control_tester_present('Door', True)
wait(5)
resp = canoe_inst.send_diag_request('Door', '10 02')
canoe_inst.control_tester_present('Door', False)
wait(2)
resp = canoe_inst.send_diag_request('Door', '10 03', return_sender_name=True)
wait(2)
resp = canoe_inst.send_diag_request('Door', 'Variant_Coding_Write', False, CountryType="Europe")
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

set replay block source file / control replay block start stop

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.set_replay_block_file(block_name='DemoReplayBlock', recording_file_path=r'tests\demo_cfg\Logs\demo_log.blf')
canoe_inst.control_replay_block(block_name='DemoReplayBlock', start_stop=True)
wait(2)
canoe_inst.control_replay_block(block_name='DemoReplayBlock', start_stop=False)
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

compile CAPL nodes with success check

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

# Simple bool check
if canoe_inst.application.configuration.run_compilation():
    print("Compilation OK")

# Get detailed error information
result = canoe_inst.application.configuration.get_compilation_result()
if not result["success"]:
    print(f"Compilation failed: {result['error']}")

compile CAPL nodes and call capl function

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.compile_all_capl_nodes()
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.call_capl_function('addition_function', 100, 200)
canoe_inst.call_capl_function('hello_world')
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

execute test configuration test units

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait
canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'CAN\Diagnostics\UDSSystem\UDSSystem.cfg')
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.execute_all_test_configurations(wait_for_completion=True)
canoe_inst.execute_test_configuration('DiagTestConfiguration', wait_for_completion=False)
wait(5)
canoe_inst.stop_test_configuration()
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

execute test setup test module / test environment

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.execute_all_test_modules_in_test_env(demo_test_environment)
canoe_inst.execute_test_module('demo_test_node_002')
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

get/set environment variable value

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
canoe_inst.set_environment_variable_value('int_var', 123.12)
canoe_inst.set_environment_variable_value('float_var', 111.123)
canoe_inst.set_environment_variable_value('string_var', 'this is string variable')
canoe_inst.set_environment_variable_value('data_var', (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7))
var_value = canoe_inst.get_environment_variable_value('int_var')
var_value = canoe_inst.get_environment_variable_value('float_var')
var_value = canoe_inst.get_environment_variable_value('string_var')
var_value = canoe_inst.get_environment_variable_value('data_var')
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()

add/remove database

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r"tests\demo_cfg\demo_conf_gen_db_setup.cfg")

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
# add database
canoe_inst.add_database(fr"{file_path}\demo_cfg\DBs\sample_databases\XCP.dbc", 'CAN1', 1)
# remove database
canoe_inst.remove_database(fr"{file_path}\demo_cfg\DBs\sample_databases\XCP.dbc", 1)

get configured network names

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

network_names = canoe_inst.application.networks.get_all_network_names()

get configured simulation buses and database paths

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r'tests\demo_cfg\demo_dev.cfg')

bus_names = canoe_inst.application.bus.get_simulation_bus_names()
db_paths = canoe_inst.application.bus.get_simulation_database_paths()

start/stop online logging block

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
canoe_inst.open(canoe_cfg=r"tests\demo_cfg\demo_online_setup.cfg")

canoe_inst.start_measurement()
# stop logging block
canoe_inst.start_stop_online_logging_block(fr'{demo_cfg_dir}\Logs\demo_online_setup_log.blf', start_stop=False)
wait(2)
# start logging block
canoe_inst.start_stop_online_logging_block(fr'{demo_cfg_dir}\Logs\demo_online_setup_log.blf', start_stop=True)

working with logging blocks

from py_canoe import CANoe, wait

canoe_inst = CANoe()
# remove current logging blocks
for i in range(canoe_inst.logging_collection.count):
    canoe_inst.remove_logging_block(1)  # iteration start from 1 and shifts after each delete
# add a new block
# define dest path with file format as asc, blf or other
# may include field functions like {IncMeasurement}
full_path = "C:/sample_log_{IncMeasurement}.blf"
canoe_inst.add_logging_block(full_path)
canoe_inst.start_measurement()
# ...
canoe_inst.stop_measurement()
# log should be fully generated at this point for you to analyze
canoe_inst.set_configuration_modified(False)  # to avoid popup asking to save changes
canoe_inst.quit()

server/headless mode (no GUI interaction)

By default, py-canoe uses COM event sinks (WithEvents) to receive notifications from CANoe (e.g., measurement started, measurement stopped). This works well for interactive desktop applications, but can cause issues in server environments:

The Problem:

• CANoe may reject COM calls with RPC_E_CALL_REJECTED when it's busy (e.g., during report generation)
• Long-running server processes need robust error handling for these transient states
• In some scenarios, Windows may show a "program is busy" dialog (reduced in recent versions)

The Solution: Use the low-level Application class with enable_events=False to disable COM event sinks. py-canoe will use polling instead, which is more reliable for server/headless operation:

from py_canoe.core.application import Application

# Create instance without COM event sinks (uses polling instead)
app = Application(enable_events=False)
app.open(r'tests\demo_cfg\demo.cfg', visible=True, auto_save=True, prompt_user=False)

app.measurement.start()
# ... run your test ...
app.measurement.stop()
app.quit()

Parameters explained:

• enable_events=False: Disables COM event sinks, uses polling to detect state changes
• timeout: Available on start() and stop() methods (default: 30s) - maximum time to wait

Benefits:

• Reduced "program is busy" dialogs (internal COM proxy sharing)
• Automatic retry when CANoe is temporarily busy (e.g., during report generation)
• Safe for long-running server processes (REST APIs, MCP servers, scheduled tasks)
• Configurable timeouts for all operations

Switching configurations without restarting CANoe:

Server applications often need to run tests with different CANoe configurations. Use open_config() to switch configurations while keeping CANoe running:

# CANoe is already running with a configuration
canoe_inst.open_config(r'tests\demo_cfg\another_config.cfg', timeout=60)
# Now running with the new configuration

Custom COM message pumping:

For advanced use cases where you need to pump COM messages in your own wait loops:

import time

# Custom wait loop with COM message pumping
while not my_condition():
    canoe_inst.pump_messages()  # Process pending COM messages
    time.sleep(0.1)

Regenerating Generated Robot Library

The project includes a small generator that creates the Robot Framework Python library wrapper at src/py_canoe/canoe_robot_lib.py. Do not edit that file manually — it is auto-generated. To regenerate it run:

python -m py_canoe.helpers.gen_canoe_robot_lib

The generated file includes a timestamp and generator metadata in its header.