def setSingleStep(self, singleStep):
        """setter to _singleStep. converts negativ values to positiv ones.

        Args:
            singleStep (int): new _singleStep value. converts negativ values to positiv ones.

        Raises:
            TypeError: If the given argument is not an integer.

        Returns:
            int or long: the absolute value of the given argument.
        """
        if not isinstance(singleStep, int):
            raise TypeError("Argument is not of type int")
        # don't use negative values
        self._singleStep = abs(singleStep)
        return self._singleStep