Test management software integrates essential technologies for automated test

Test & Measurement

22 September 2004 Test & Measurement

National Instruments' new TestStand 3.1 test management software version delivers increased software re-use and test development productivity for design and test integration. TestStand 3.1 includes LabVIEW Express technology and LabVIEW Real-Time integration, as well as introduces new features for advanced test execution flow control and auto schedule parallel testing.

With the ability to call any LabVIEW Express VI in NI TestStand 3.1, NI says validation and test engineers can easily and interactively configure their tests with little programming and minimal training. LabVIEW Express VI integration in NI TestStand 3.1 gives engineers access to more than 40 LabVIEW Express VIs, including Express VIs for interactive configuration and control of NI modular instruments, directly within the NI TestStand environment.

The software also features integration with LabVIEW Real-Time for developing automated test applications requiring deterministic control. New NI TestStand 3.1 step types and LabVIEW module adapter enhancements give engineers the communication links between the automated test system managed by NI TestStand and the deterministic process control running simultaneously in LabVIEW Real-Time. For example, engineers can use LabVIEW Real-Time to control an environmental chamber while NI TestStand manages the execution of tests on the device in the chamber.

The new auto schedule and flow control steps introduced offer advanced test execution flow capabilities. The auto schedule steps incorporate advanced algorithms for automatically scheduling the order in which parallel tests execute to minimise test time and maximise resource utilisation. Flow control step types help engineers visualise and more easily control the order of tests in applications involving step looping and conditional decision making, such as device characterisation.

Other features include enhancements to the property loader and TestStand Deployment Utility, integration of an FTP files step type, the ability to import function and parameter information from LabWindows/CVI DLLs without the need for a type library, an example step type for calling legacy PAWS ATLAS test program sets and an Automated Test Markup Language (ATML) result-logging example.

For more information contact NI South Africa, 0800 203 199, [email protected]

Share this article:

Categories

Test & Measurement

Test management software integrates essential technologies for automated test

Further reading:

Publications by Technews