def diagnostics(self):
        """Dictionary access to all diagnostic variables

        :type:      dict

        """
        diag_dict = {}
        for key in self._diag_vars:
            try:
                #diag_dict[key] = getattr(self,key)
                #  using self.__dict__ doesn't count diagnostics defined as properties
                diag_dict[key] = self.__dict__[key]
            except:
                pass
        return diag_dict
Dictionary access to all diagnostic variables

        :type:      dict