Home Community Idea Exchange TestStand Ideas : Hot Ideas

NI TestStand Idea Exchange

Community Browser
Top Authors
View All
cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Post an idea
0 Kudos
JesseG

Add link in TestStand Deployment Utility Help For Clarity

Status: New Submitted by Member on 01-20-2022 12:52 PM Comment

Background

Under the Installer Options tab, there is a button called Advanced Options.... (help linked)and then a section for TestStand Specific Settings. This section allows a user to specify where the configuration files will be located when running the TestStand runtime engine on a deployment machine. See screenshot of help discription and then of the utility below:

Help

TestStand specific settings.PNG

 

 

Screenshot of Deployment Utility Section

Deployment Utility Advanced Options.png

 

Recommended Change to Documentation

When looking at the help documentation, it does not detail what each of the possible destination directories are pointing to. However, if we move to the Distribution Files tab section of the help, there is a detailed list. See this example link here https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/teststand-api-reference/page/tsref/installation-destination-options-distributed.html

 

I recommend making a quick link to this same page to clarify the directories that can be specified for Cfg files.

View All (3)
0 Kudos
zou

Add a Filter in the Sequence Editor

Status: New Submitted by Trusted Enthusiast on 10-28-2021 11:21 AM Comment

For a mile long sequence, it would be nice to have a filter.

For example, I want to see only "Message Pop" steps, so I can eliminate/skip them to automate the sequence; or I want to skip all the subsequence calls for the first run after I made a lot of changes.

 

I know there is a distinct icon for each step type.  But for a long sequence, it's hard to catch all the steps I want to change.

Labels:
0 Kudos
Intermodal

TestStand Sequences for Machine Learning Pipelines

Status: New Submitted by Member on 07-15-2021 05:27 PM Comment

The concept of TestStand, a sequence. Sequences of groups. Sequences of Sequences. 

 

Pre Sequence, Post Sequence, Pre Test, Post Test.  Run as a process, iterates on product instance. Single Up, Multi Up.  Is incredibly flexible. 

 

The paradigm is for test.  No reason to constrain it to test processes. The paradigm cannot be adapted for an process that runs sequences, and iterates. 

 

Test Stand can be used as a vehicle to build and manage pipelines for Machine Learning Processing.  For both training and inference. 

 

For example - I want to do some ML training with hyperparameter tuning.  Queue up the variants and run the sequences, compiling the results. 

 

Better Yet, Andrew NG is pushing data centric AI. Use test stand to queue up data variants, train and eval a model. Auto generate the results. 

 

The BIG Tech platforms all support data pipelines.  

 

TestStand has it built in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Labels:
0 Kudos
Mario_Diaz5551

Modificacion de variables en un vi.exe

Status: New Submitted by Member on 05-28-2021 04:18 AM Comment

Hola

 

Estoy haciendo un proyecto, que basicamente son rutas o accesos directos a URLs en linea

 

el detalle es que, me gustaria que en mi programa pudiera modificar los URL cuando yo quiera, aun estando ejecutandose el programa

 

esto, porque si llegase a cambiar el link al que me quiero dirigir, lo pueda cambiar desde el el mismo exe sin necesidad de volver a hacer el programa

 

NOTA: los URL los tengo ya registrados en el bloque de diagramas

 

Saludos.

Labels:
0 Kudos
Mr._Jim

Ability to exclude sequence file attributes from search results

Status: New Submitted by Active Participant on 03-10-2021 02:40 PM Comment

Hi there,

 

When using the Find/Replace dialog in TestStand, it would be nice to have a checkbox under "Elements to Search" that allows the user to choose whether or not to include sequence file attributes in the the results. I guess I could put together a regex to accomplish what I need to, but a checkbox would be nice.

 

FindOption.png

 

Why am I asking for this?

I'm used to quickly working my way through find results by using the CTRL+G / CTRL+Shift+G shortcuts. When I hit one of these attributes there's about a 4 second delay before the sequence file attributes dialog opens. This is super annoying in the workflow of the find results, and the vast majority of the time I'm not interested in searching the ignored Sequence Analyzer messages.

 

Thanks,

 

Mr. Jim

 

IgnoredMessages.png

 

 

 

View All (7)
0 Kudos
kent.wedeking

TestStand Deployment Pre/Post Build Actions

Status: New Submitted by Member on 02-12-2021 01:49 PM 1 Comment

All the major IDEs I use (LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Visual Studio, etc.) support specifying post build actions as a part of the deployment.

 

TestStand does not.

 

Since the TestStand Deployment Utility (at least as of TestStand 2019) does not implement any kind of signing implementation, I'm resorting to manually signing my installers with my official signing certificate after the fact.

Labels:
0 Kudos
testergi

[Sequence Analyzer] 'Export Items to File Dialog' Should Have Common Toolbar Commands

Status: New Submitted by Member on 01-14-2021 10:10 AM 1 Comment

We have dozens of custom analyzers.  Every time we want to update a tsarules file, we are force to manually check each box to include in the export.  It would be nice to add common toolbar items to perform such task.  This includes commands like Select All, Unselect All, etc..

 

Thanks

 

0 Kudos
vrv

Enumeration of string/expression type

Status: New Submitted by Member on 11-17-2020 05:23 AM Comment

It would be nice to have the option of making an Enumeration of Expression type and be able to use the Enumeration directly in an Evaluate() expression.

vrv_0-1605611723913.png

 

The expression might look like this investigating if "operator" have technician rights Evaluate(Enums.MyConstants.Techincian)

0 Kudos
T999

message popup customization (font/enable-disable...)

Status: New Submitted by Member on 07-21-2020 03:25 PM Comment

- Disabling the editing of text in the response text box of a message popup step.

- Ability to include various fonts in the message popup rather than one overall font for everything...

Labels:
0 Kudos
nclark

Override a Type Def to Cluster Pass - LabVIEW Action Steps

Status: New Submitted by Member on 10-01-2019 03:28 PM 2 Comment

I'm working extensively with LabVIEW VIs and Test Stand, and one of the most helpful features existing is the ability to configure a TestStand type to pass its data to and from a LabVIEW Cluster.

 

I think a great way to expand upon this would be to allow the developer to override specific variables within the LabVIEW cluster.

 

For instance, say I have defined a TestStand type with 5 total variables, all of which may pass to a LabVIEW cluster. If my LabVIEW cluster has at least the same number and type of variables, then this cluster passing has no issue.

 

However, if my LabVIEW cluster has 6 variables, then the TestStand type can only account for its defined five variables, and I am effectively locked out from the sixth variable. I cannot edit the sixth variable, nor can I assign it a default value (see Ex1_broken.PNG)

 

This wouldn't cause an issue if I could override specific variables within the cluster passing. That is to say, if I were given access to that sixth variable from the example, then I could assign it to a local variable. The other five variables would still be satisfied by the TestStand type, and no errors should be generated by the step. (see Ex1_fixed.PNG for what I envision this to look like)

Download All
View All (6)
0 Kudos
Beutlich

Save As Previous Version for Deployment Utility

Status: New Submitted by Member on 03-14-2019 10:03 AM Comment

If you create a *.tsd file, there is no way of reverting back to older formats of the deployment utility. We should have a Save As feature for converting these build definitions to older versions of TestStand, just like the Save As feature for normal sequence files.

0 Kudos
DrOnline82

Multiline watch view

Status: New Submitted by Member on 02-11-2019 02:20 AM Comment

Hi,

 

I'm using TS2016. I'd like to suggest adding multiline watch view. I put some serial communication data in a variable, and watch it, but I can only see the top line. Of course, I can mouse over it, and see the entire thing, but it would be nice if I could see it automatically.

Labels:
View All (1)
0 Kudos
Kiwi007

Auto include libraries/DLLs in TestStand Workspace after drag and drop for deployment

Status: New Submitted by on 03-28-2018 05:15 AM Comment

I am a AE here in the UK. Just had a customer with TestStand.

 

He was given a project to do in TestStand that was estimated 5 days to develop, but his managers told him to add another 5 days on just for deployment of the system, mainly because they have issues deploying the system.

 

The problem was including a DLL in the Workspace. Of course this is very easy to do, but they were expecting that it would automatically add the DLL to the workspace when in the sequence they were calling it, given how powerful TestStand is. 

 

Would it be wise to add this small feature into TestStand to smoothen out the process of deployment for newer customers?

 

It looks like it's a widerspread issue due to the fact that the manager would recommend 5 days for deployment due to experiences with previous projects. I understand to those who have used TestStand before may think it is not much to just add the DLL into the workspace, however adding an auto include feature would be nice and could even save newer engineers time.

 

In addition, he suggested including .NET and C++ installers because most of the Engineers he knows use these instead of LabVIEW.

 

Let me know what you think of this Idea.

 

Daniel

 

 

Labels:
0 Kudos
Mr._Jim

Session Manager: Add VISA Logical Names at Run-Time Without INI File Entries

Status: New Submitted by Active Participant on 01-19-2018 04:45 PM Comment

Hi all,

 

Based on a lot of experimentation, there is no way at run-time to map a logical name to a VISA descriptor in the Session Manager API.

...at least not without adding an entry to NISessionMgr.ini.

 

[VISA Logical Names]
LittleOldComPort = "ASRL1::INSTR"

  

If I don't do this I can't open an instrument session. I'd still like to use the session manager, but use an external method to map my logical names. (e.g. a database, XML, or something a little less obscure than an .ini file buried in program files)

 

If the Session Manager is still a supported product, is it possible to add a method to add a logical names for VISA descriptors without using the INI file?

 

 

If there's already a way to do this, please excuse my ignorance.

 

Thanks as always,

 

Mr. Jim

0 Kudos
metroid

Preloading Modules - Get information about unloaded module(s)

Status: New Submitted by Member on 12-14-2017 03:00 AM Comment

Here are some suggestions to improve the preloading task and reduce debugging expense:

- abort the process at the first unloadable module with keeping the loading window open to get the related module information

- return a list of unloadable modules

- return an error when preloading is not successful

0 Kudos
MikeH1064

Locking focus in the TestStand Execution window.

Status: New Submitted by Member on 09-08-2017 12:02 PM Comment

In the first TestStand tutorial,  one suggestion for tracking local variable values is to apply a breakpoint to the code, then step through the execution and observe the variable values on the Variables tab in the Execution window.  One problem I see with this is that with each Step Over in the execution, the focus switches back to the Steps tab.  I have to keep switching back to the Variables tab to see the values.  And this method is taught in the NI tutorial.

 

Perhaps NI can provide a way to lock focus on one of the tabs, in this case Variables, as we step through the execution (such as when debugging code).  Maybe allow the user to jump to another view manually, but then set the focus such as when the next Step is requested, the view automatically jumps back to the view that was set in focus lock.  This would make such a method truly helpful when debugging a TestStand sequence.

0 Kudos
dshao

Test TamTam plugin to support TortoiseSVN integration with TestStand

Status: New Submitted by Member on 02-21-2017 09:09 AM Comment

TortoiseSVN is an easy to use Source Code Control tool. However, it needs a MSSCC API plugin in order to be integrated with TestStand. On NI web page, PushOK is listed as a tested plugin with TortoiseSVN by NI tech team. PushOK is made by a Russian company. Another AgentSVN plugin is made by an Australia company. From an end user perspective, the time zone difference will cause some difficulty to access tech support in case it is needed. I used TamTamSVN 1.4.9 plugin for TortoiseSVN integration with TestStand and it worked fine. TamTamSVN plugin is made by an US company located near NYC area. I will suggest NI Tech team to test TamTamSVN plugin for TortoiseSVN integration with TestStand to ensure its features and functionality are acceptable to NI applications. If it pass the test, please add it into tested list. 

Labels:
0 Kudos
JoachimWrusch

Coloured Lines or Hidden Content for Nested Loops

Status: New Submitted by Member on 09-05-2016 05:44 AM Comment

For an easier debugging it would be good to have coloured lines for (nested) loops or the the possibility to hide the content on demand.

Labels:
0 Kudos
MKsarith

Add an Operator /Function to convert values(Numeric,string etc) to dotnet object and viceversa

Status: New Submitted by Member on 08-10-2016 07:22 AM Comment

It will be good to have a converter to convert numeric/string value as dotnet object or get the numeric/string value from dotnet object, just like the fuctions present in LabVIEW. While using the dll in teststand , it will be helpful

0 Kudos
David_Grucza

Add Teststand type libraries to give namespace to types.

Status: New Submitted by Member on 08-01-2016 10:56 AM Comment

This idea must already be on here somewhere, but a search did not find it.

Currently, it is necessary to give all types a unique name. So if I have multiple products, all with similar data types, I need to add a prefix to like types. This is the same as LabVIEW used to be. Why not allow for type libraries? This likely means a rewrite of code that loads and manages types, so I can understand why NI would be hesitant.

Labels:
View All (2)