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1. Begin a terminal session on mec-laser, mec-monitor, or mec-daq (either by sitting down at one of those machines or by tunneling to them via ssh mec-las for example)
2. Begin a hutch Python session by typing mecpython and waiting for everything to load
3. Import the MEC laser Python package by entering import meclas
   1. You can also import using IPython magic functions to load all the meclas functions straight into the session's namespace (thus allowing you to avoid typing meclas. over and over again) by entering %run /reg/g/pcds/pyps/apps/hutch-python/mec/mec/macros/meclas.py
4. Turn on the MEC LPL by typing meclas.LPL.On() and wait for the sequence to finish
   1. It's best to wait for the heads to warm up, which may take 15-30min
   2. You can check the shape of the YFE waveform using meclas.YFE.Trace()
   3. You can check the energy of the YFE by using meclas.EMeters.EGall()
5. Load or view a new pulse recipe using meclas.LPL.psmenu()
6. Set the new parameters desired for the new recipe:

   1. set the target output shape with LPL._Psns_set() and LPL._SSs_set()


      EXAMPLE: if

      Info
      title Example
      If you want to set a final output goal of a 10ns flat-top pulse, you would set your final output pulse segment length and final output start and stop heights for the targeted new recipe using:      LPL._Psns_set([10.25])      LPL._SSs_set([[98,100]])

   2. set the target YFE shape with LPL._YSSs_set()This -- this is the tricky part!! At the moment, you can guess at these with context (e.g. previous recipe hints, visible by viewing the waveform using LPL.psmenu() or that kind of thing); in the future, the hope is to calculate a guess using SCALLOPSEXAMPLE: based
      
      

      Info
      title Example
      Based on some nice guesswork or trial and error or inference from previous nice shots

      or whatever

      for your 10ns flat-top pulse above, you might set the start and stop heights for the YFE target using:      LPL._YSSs_set([[0.02, 0.114]])

      
      More information about the terminology of the Psns, SSs, and YSSs parameters may be found in the Info section below the final step of this procedure.
      
      
7. Converge the YFE output to the prescribed goal using LPL.psefc10Hz() (or LPL.psrefrwvfm()). You might want to increase the step-size to AQQ = 0.1 or higher for faster convergence.
8. Once satisfied, use op.single_shot. This takes a shot without running the DAQ and is a good way to test the laser. Alternatively, prepare for taking a full-energy shot using LPL.pspreshot(). Charge and fire the laser. Acquire the latest shot data using LPL.pspostshot(save_flag=False, display=True). (Alternatively, use op.single_shot (if you're an instrument scientist). This takes a shot without running the DAQ and is a good way to test the laser.)
9. Choose what to do next based on the quality of your shot:
   1. if the shot was satisfactory , save the shot using and you're ready to save your new recipe, use LPL.pssavewvfm()
   2. if the shot was not satisfactory, make adjustments to the target YFE shape with LPL._YSSs_set(), re-converge to the shape with LPL.psefc10Hz(), etc. and then repeat until you get something satisfactory or you try more troubleshooting

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