Newbie question, how to define an in/out parameter for a step type using the labview adapter?

[ccds]

I want to create a steptype from a vi, the vi should get a string (SourceCode) as input parameter containing all settings for the controls on the frontpanel.

The vi parses this string and puts all controls into a state conform the settings of the string.

After editing the controls on the frontpanel in edit mode, the vi creates the string (SourceCode) again and this string has to be returned to TestStand.

SourceCode should be an in/out parameter for the step type.

Does anyone know how to do this, or have some ideas where to start?

Best regards

[SercoSteveB]

This is more of a TestStand post, you might want to think about posting it there instead.

You can create step types from the Types view (select the View Menu -> Types or press CTRL+T).  From the Types view right click to create a new step type.

Once you have a new step type, right click on it (in the Types View) and select Properties...  From the Step Properties dialog select the Substeps tab.  From this tab you can select to Add..  Pre Step, Post Step, Edit and Custom operations for that step type.

I would suggest for your parsing of the SourceCode add a Pre Step, once added select Specify Module and browse to your parsing VI.  Your parsing VI will need a control that contains a reference to the VI so that you can updates its Front Panel. 

I would suggest you also need a Post Step for building your SourceCode back up for returning to TestStand. You may want to get the Post step to return the SourceCode to a property of the new step which you can then get TestStand to access when required.

Hope this helps

Message Edited by SercoSteveB on 04-07-2010 09:40 AM

[ccds]

Basically I want to wire in Labview the same variable to an input of the vi connector and also to an output of the connector.

This because when I arrive in the vi I have the SourceCode and after editing the same SourceCode (updated of course) should be given back to TestStand.

Such a variable type is an input/output parameter for TestStand, or I want to give a variable by reference from TestStand to LabView and vice versa.

Best regards

[SercoSteveB]

To enable TestStand to see your String In and String Out terminals you need to add them the Front Panel of your VI and then link them to the Connector Pane of the VI. The connector panel is like a function definition in a textual language it defines the inputs and outputs are there data types.

To show the connector pane right click in the upper right hand corner of the VI Front Panel (just to the right of the question mark) and select connector pane from the menu.  To link your controls to the connector pane left click in an area of the pane then left click on the Front Panel control you want that connector to be linked to.  If you are successful the connector pane terminal will turn the data type colour of the control you have linked it to.  You will need to do this operation for each control on your Front Panel.

Once complete save your VI.

Open TestStand, right click on a sequence file and add a step.  Select Specify Module from the right click menu of the step and browse to your VI.  As TestStand loads your VI the terminals you added to the connector pane will be shown and you should be able to pass data to and receive data from the VI.

Regards