editing input_spec, adding a short output_spec section

Author: djarecka

docs/input_spec.rst

@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ Let's start from the previous example:
 
 
 In order to create an input specification, a new `SpecInfo` object has to be created.
-The field `name` specifiest the typo of the spec and it should be always "Input" for
+The field `name` specifies the type of the spec and it should be always "Input" for
 the input specification.
 The field `bases` specifies the "base specification" you want to use (can think about it as a
 `parent class`) and it will usually contains `ShellSpec` only, unless you want to build on top of
 your other specification (this will not be cover in this section).
 The part that should be always customised is the `fields` part.
 Each element of the `fields` is a separate input field that is added to the specification.
-In this example, a three-elements tuples - with name, type and dictionary with additional
+In this example, three-elements tuples - with name, type and dictionary with additional
 information - are used.
 But this is only one of the supported syntax, more options will be described below.
 
@@ -86,9 +86,25 @@ However, we allow for shorter syntax, that does not include `attr.ib`:
 
 Each of the shorter versions will be converted to the `(name, attr.ib(...)`.
 
+
+Types
+-----
+
 Type can be provided as a simple python type (e.g. `str`, `int`, `float`, etc.)
 or can be more complex by using `typing.List`, `typing.Dict` and `typing.Union`.
 
+There are also special types provided by Pydra:
+
+- `File` and `Directory` - should be used in `input_spec` if the field is an existing file
+  or directory.
+  Pydra checks if the file or directory exists, and returns an error if it doesn't exist.
+
+
+- `MultiInputObj` - a special type that takes a any value and if the value is not a list it
+  converts value to a 1-element list (it could be used together with `MultiOutputObj`
+  in the `output_spec` to reverse the conversion of the output values).
+
+
 
 Metadata
 --------
@@ -126,9 +142,6 @@ In the example we used multiple keys in the metadata dictionary including `help_
 `xor` (`list`):
    List of field names that are mutually exclusive with the field.
 
-`keep_extension` (`bool`, default: `True`):
-   A flag that specifies if the file extension should be removed from the field value.
-
 `copyfile` (`bool`, default: `False`):
    If `True`, a hard link is created for the input file in the output directory.
    If hard link not possible, the file is copied to the output directory.
@@ -139,9 +152,16 @@ In the example we used multiple keys in the metadata dictionary including `help_
 `output_file_template` (`str`):
    If provided, the field is treated also as an output field and it is added to the output spec.
    The template can use other fields, e.g. `{file1}`.
+   Used in order to create an output specification.
 
 `output_field_name` (`str`, used together with `output_file_template`)
    If provided the field is added to the output spec with changed name.
+   Used in order to create an output specification.
+
+`keep_extension` (`bool`, default: `True`):
+   A flag that specifies if the file extension should be removed from the field value.
+   Used in order to create an output specification.
+
 
 `readonly` (`bool`, default: `False`):
    If `True` the input field can't be provided by the user but it aggregates other input fields

docs/output_spec.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+.. _Output Specification section:
+
+Output Specification
+====================
+
+As it was mentioned in :ref:`shell_command_task`, the user can customize the input and output
+for the `ShellCommandTask`.
+In this section, the output specification will be covered.
+
+
+Instead of using field with `output_file_template` in the customized `input_spec` to specify an output field,
+a customized `output_spec` can be used, e.g.:
+
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    output_spec = SpecInfo(
+        name="Output",
+        fields=[
+            (
+                "out1",
+                attr.ib(
+                    type=File,
+                    metadata={
+                        "output_file_template": "{inp1}",
+                        "help_string": "output file",
+                        "requires": ["inp1", "inp2"]
+                    },
+                ),
+            )
+        ],
+        bases=(ShellOutSpec,),
+    )
+
+    ShellCommandTask(executable=executable,
+                     output_spec=output_spec)
+
+
+
+Similarly as for `input_spec`, in order to create an output specification,
+a new `SpecInfo` object has to be created.
+The field `name` specifies the type of the spec and it should be always "Output" for
+the output specification.
+The field `bases` specifies the "base specification" you want to use (can think about it as a
+`parent class`) and it will usually contains `ShellOutSpec` only, unless you want to build on top of
+your other specification (this will not be cover in this section).
+The part that should be always customised is the `fields` part.
+Each element of the `fields` is a separate output field that is added to the specification.
+In this example, a three-elements tuple - with name, type and dictionary with additional
+information - is used.
+See :ref:`Input Specification section` for other recognized syntax for specification's fields
+and possible types.
+
+
+
+Metadata
+--------
+
+The metadata dictionary for `output_spec` can include:
+
+`help_string` (`str`, mandatory):
+   A short description of the input field. The same as in `input_spec`.
+
+`output_file_template` (`str`):
+   If provided, the field is treated also as an output field and it is added to the output spec.
+   The template can use other fields, e.g. `{file1}`. The same as in `input_spec`.
+
+`output_field_name` (`str`, used together with `output_file_template`)
+   If provided the field is added to the output spec with changed name.
+   The same as in `input_spec`.
+
+`keep_extension` (`bool`, default: `True`):
+   A flag that specifies if the file extension should be removed from the field value.
+   The same as in `input_spec`.
+
+
+`requires` (`list`):
+   List of field names that are required to create a specific output.
+   The fields do not have to be a part of the `output_file_template` and
+   if any field from the list is not provided in the input, a `NOTHING` is returned for the specific output.
+   This has a different meaning than the `requires` form the `input_spec`.

docs/user_guide.rst

@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ User Guide
    state
    combiner
    input_spec
+   output_spec