code: def gen_uid(i):
      
  
      import uuid
      import random
  
      uid=str(uuid.uuid4().hex)
  
      if len(uid)!=32:
         return {'return':1, 'error':'problem generating UID : len='+str(len(uid))+' !=32'} # pragma: no cover 
  
      random.seed
  
      x=random.randrange(0,16)
      return {'return':0, 'data_uid':uid[x:x+16]}
docs: Input:  {}
  
      Output: {
                return       - return code =  0, if successful
                                           >  0, if error
                (error)      - error text if return > 0
  
                data_uid     - UID in string format (16 characters 0..9,a..f)
              }