Can a property loader step be used to load limits for Multiple Numeric Limit steps?

[Byron]

I would like to use a property loader to load the limits for multiple numeric limit tests from text files. Is this possible? How is it done?

[Elaine_R.]

hello Byron -

The strategy for loading limits to Multiple Numeric Limit steps is much like using the Property Loader step for other scenarios. For every limit value defined for your step, you can use the Import/Export tool to write it to a text or excel file by selecting "Limits" button on the 'Edit' pop-up. You can then edit this file to change any or all of the limits for the step and use the Property Loader step to import the properties back into TestStand.

-Regards

Elaine R.
National Instruments
http://www.ni.com/ask

[Byron]

I'm sorry, I didn't provide enough detail about what I want to do. With other step types, I can have a limit loader in the setup of a sequence that will not need to change as I add steps because it is loading Limits.Low and Limits.High, etc. for all steps. Is there a way to make a general limit loader that will handle multiple numerics.

[Carlos L]

Byron,

As Elaine said, the property loader is used in the same way for every step type. Specifically for the multiple numeric limit test there is one scenario where the property loader will throw an error. If you set the property loader to load limits for 2 measurements in a multiple numeric limit step (e.g.

Step.Result.Measurement[0].High AND
Step.Result.Measurement[1].High),

then all your Multiple Numeric Limit Steps (that are listed in your file from where you'll import the properties) in your sequence should be configured to have at least 2 Measurements. Otherwise (if one of them is set to have just 1 Measurement for example), the property loader will throw an error saying that it failed to import or export properties.

I assume th
at this is what you mean when saying that the property loader doesn't handle multipe numeric limit steps. There's no problem with the simple Numeric Limit Tests since these type of steps will always have one property called Limits.Low and one Limits.High, whereas the multiple numeric limit test can have multiple Limits.High and Limits.Low.

In order to make the property loader work without throwing an error is by simply setting it to "Ignore Run-time errors" (double-click on the property loader step to open its properties window. Switch to the Run Options Tab and uncheck the "Ignore Run-time errors" checkbox at the bottom of the screen).
This way, if a multiple numeric limit step just has 1 measurement (along with the properties Step.Result.Measurement[0].High/Low/Comp) and the property loader is configured to also load properties for a second measurement (Step.Result.Measurement[1].High/Low/Comp), you will get an error but it will be ignored and the properties for the first measure
ment will still be loaded.

I hope this will solve your problem. Let me know if the above is not clear, if you need further information or if this is not the scenario where you were having problems.

Regards,

Carlos Leon