def get_next_id(self):
        try:
            query = {'_id': 'last_id'}
            update = {'$inc': {'id': 1}}
            fn = self.db.internal.find_and_modify
            row = fn(query, update, upsert=True, new=True)
        except Exception as e:
            raise DatabaseException(e)
        return row['id']
def force(title, pos, force, xlabel='', ax=0):
    """plot force vs position"""
    unit = 'N'
    scale = 1
    if min(force) < -9.9e3 or max(force) > 9.9e3:
        scale = 1e-3
        unit = 'kN'
    if ax == 0:
        ax = plt.gca()
    ax.set_title('{} / {}'.format(title, unit))
    ax.grid(True)
    ax.plot(pos, [scale*f for f in force])
    if xlabel:
        ax.set_xlabel(xlabel)
    if min(force) > 0:
        ax.set_ylim(bottom=0)