diff --git a/SAS/ResourceAssignment/ResourceAssigner/lib/assignment.py b/SAS/ResourceAssignment/ResourceAssigner/lib/assignment.py
index 1ff0fc38c141b5bb640e0edf4529ea92fa9c4173..33be1e1f40d4c1c29c104ae3c90939a9c263affa 100755
--- a/SAS/ResourceAssignment/ResourceAssigner/lib/assignment.py
+++ b/SAS/ResourceAssignment/ResourceAssigner/lib/assignment.py
@@ -297,8 +297,7 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
             self._sendStateChange(task, errStatus)
             return
 
-        self.applyMaxFillRatios(db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp, db_resource_types,
-                                db_resource_max_fill_ratios)
+        self.applyMaxFillRatios(db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp, db_resource_types, db_resource_max_fill_ratios)
 
         # Assume estimates are (close enough to) accurate to determine resource claims for this task.
         # Try to get a set of non-conflicting claims from availability info in the RA DB.
@@ -306,8 +305,8 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
         # Also, inserted claims are still automatically validated, there can be a race.
         # If not enough resources are available after all, claims are put to conflict status.
         # If any claim is in conflict state, then the task is put to conflict status as well.
-        claims = self.getClaimsForTask(task, estimates, db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp,
-                                       db_resource_types, db_resource_prop_types)
+        claims = self.getClaimsForTask(task, estimates, db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp, db_resource_types,
+                                       db_resource_prop_types)
         if claims is None:
             self._sendStateChange(task, 'error')
             return
@@ -474,8 +473,17 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
 
     def getClaimsForTask(self, task, needed_resources_list, db_resource_list,
                          db_rgp2rgp, db_resource_types, db_resource_prop_types):
-        """ Return claims that satisfy needed_resources_list within db_resource_list, or an empty
-            claim list if no non-conflicting claims could be found, or None on error.
+        """ Return claims that satisfy needed_resources_list within db_resource_list, or an empty claim list if no 
+            non-conflicting claims could be found, or None on error.
+            
+            :param task: an instance of an RADB task object
+            :param needed_resources_list: a list of resources to be claimed
+            :param db_resource_list: all resources in RADB with availability information
+            :param db_rgp2rgp: all group->group relations from RADB
+            :param db_resource_types: all virtual instrument resource types (and their units) from RADB   
+            :param db_resource_prop_types: all resource claim property types from RADB
+            
+            :returns claims
         """
         # This function selects resources for a task (i.e. obs or pipeline). Keep it side-effect free!
         # Criteria:
@@ -525,9 +533,6 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
 
             input_files  = needed_resources.get('input_files')
             output_files = needed_resources.get('output_files')
-            if output_files is None:
-                logger.error('getClaimsForTask: cannot generate claims & properties for no output_files')
-                return None
             properties =      self.getProperties(db_resource_prop_types, input_files,  'input')
             properties.extend(self.getProperties(db_resource_prop_types, output_files, 'output'))
 
@@ -586,8 +591,7 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
 
         return None
 
-    def getSubtreeResourcesList(self, root_gid, needed_resources_by_type_id,
-                                db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp):
+    def getSubtreeResourcesList(self, root_gid, needed_resources_by_type_id, db_resource_list, db_rgp2rgp):
         """ Returns list of available resources of type id in needed_resources_by_type_id.keys()
             starting at group id root_gid in the format [{type_id: {<resource_dict>}, ...}, ...].
         """
@@ -604,7 +608,7 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
             for rid in res_group['resource_ids']:
                 type_id = db_resource_list[rid]['type_id']
                 if type_id in needed_resources_by_type_id and db_resource_list[rid]['active'] and \
-                                                              db_resource_list[rid]['available_capacity'] > 0:
+                                                              db_resource_list[rid]['available_capacity'] > 0:          # <-- capacity not available for e.g. rcus
                     resources[type_id] = db_resource_list[rid]
                     type_ids_seen.add(type_id)
 
@@ -670,8 +674,7 @@ class ResourceAssigner():
                                                 sap_dict['sap_nr'], io_type)
                     properties.extend(props)
             else:
-                props = self.makeProperties(db_resource_prop_types, needed_prop_group,
-                                            None, io_type)
+                props = self.makeProperties(db_resource_prop_types, needed_prop_group, None, io_type)
                 properties.extend(props)
 
         return properties