__init__.py

try:
    import numpy
    import SofaPython.SofaNumpy

    def mat_as_numpy(img):
        '''maps image content as a numpy array with shared memory'''

        ptrs, shape, typename = img.getPtr() ## << Cause of the python error message: getPtr() cannot be called on a python string...


        ## what does that ctypeFromName function do? where is it defined, and what exactly does the POINTER(type) method do?
        type = SofaPython.SofaNumpy.ctypeFromName.get(typename,None)
        if not type: raise Exception("can't map image of type " + typename)


        array = SofaPython.SofaNumpy.ctypes.cast( SofaPython.SofaNumpy.ctypes.c_void_p(ptrs[0]), SofaPython.SofaNumpy.ctypes.POINTER(type))
        return numpy.ctypeslib.as_array( array, shape )

    pass
except ImportError: # numpy is not mandatory
    pass