Calling TestStand from Actor System

[wrkcrw00]

I'm trying to interface an actor based system to TestStand, but starting from the actor side. 

The "standard" way to do this is using a by-reference non-actor "interface" class that holds the actors enqueuer and can send it messages, then uses a proxy actor to receive data back from the actor. This is all well and good, when the non-actor class called from TestStand is the one launching the actors. 

In my system, the actor system is for a test cell and it runs 24/7 monitoring the test cell even when no testing is going on. I don't want to stop that system just so it can be launched from TestStand when I'm ready to run test sequences. 

I need to somehow get the root actors enqueuer to the interface class after the actor has been running for a time. Suggestions?

[justACS]

I would suggest writing a custom Operator Interface.  The test cell monitor can be either the top level actor or one of the nesteds.  Create an instance of the TestStand Engine, and use that to invoke your sequence.  There are methods that let you set sequence parameters before invocation; pass in an interface class for the monitor, and you are off to the races.

This forum post shows how:  Executing Sequences Using the TestStand API