Allows matching from general to specific data

services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/catalog_api_handlers.py

@@ -276,7 +276,9 @@ async def get_compatible_outputs_given_target_input_handler(request: Request):
 #
 
 
-def can_connect(from_output: ServiceOutput, to_input: ServiceInput) -> bool:
+def can_connect(
+    from_output: ServiceOutput, to_input: ServiceInput, *, strict: bool = False
+) -> bool:
     # FIXME: can_connect is a very very draft version
 
     # compatible units
@@ -303,9 +305,18 @@ def can_connect(from_output: ServiceOutput, to_input: ServiceInput) -> bool:
         ok = from_output.property_type == to_input.property_type
         if not ok:
             ok = (
+                # data:  -> data:*/*
                 to_input.property_type == "data:*/*"
                 and from_output.property_type.startswith("data:")
             )
+
+            if not strict:
+                # NOTE: by default, this is allowed in the UI but not in a more strict plausibility check
+                # data:*/*  -> data:
+                ok |= (
+                    from_output.property_type == "data:*/*"
+                    and to_input.property_type.startswith("data:")
+                )
     return ok
 
 

services/web/server/tests/unit/isolated/test_catalog_api_handlers.py

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+from models_library.services import ServiceInput, ServiceOutput
+from simcore_service_webserver.catalog_api_handlers import can_connect
+
+
+def test_can_connect():
+    # Reproduces https://github.com/ITISFoundation/osparc-issues/issues/442
+    file_picker_outfile = {
+        "displayOrder": 2,
+        "label": "File Picker",
+        "description": "Picker",
+        "type": "data:*/*",
+    }
+
+    input_sleeper_input_1 = {
+        "displayOrder": 1,
+        "label": "Sleeper",
+        "description": "sleeper input file",
+        "type": "data:text/plain",
+    }
+
+    # data:*/* -> data:text/plain
+    assert can_connect(
+        from_output=ServiceOutput.parse_obj(file_picker_outfile),
+        to_input=ServiceInput.parse_obj(input_sleeper_input_1),
+    )
+    assert not can_connect(
+        from_output=ServiceOutput.parse_obj(file_picker_outfile),
+        to_input=ServiceInput.parse_obj(input_sleeper_input_1),
+        strict=True,
+    )
+
+    # data:text/plain  -> data:*/*
+    assert can_connect(
+        from_output=ServiceOutput.parse_obj(input_sleeper_input_1),
+        to_input=ServiceInput.parse_obj(file_picker_outfile),
+    )
+    assert can_connect(
+        from_output=ServiceOutput.parse_obj(input_sleeper_input_1),
+        to_input=ServiceInput.parse_obj(file_picker_outfile),
+        strict=True,
+    )