How do you cause an audible alarm in TestStand?

[RGeorge]

I'm using TESTStand with LabVIEW VI's to run some custome equipment.  I'd like to get an audible alarm if the TestStand sequence fails to execute properly (a step fails, etc.)  How do I cause an alarm or buzzer or something to go off so an operator is alerted?

[GovBob]

Probably need more information to help you. What operating system? Which versions of LabView and TestStand? Does your computer have a sound card?

If you have Windows with a sound card just look up sound in the example finder of LabView. There will probably be some example VI's there to use. Then just add which one will work for you as a step in TestStand and only run it when you specify a correct precondition.

[RGeorge]

Thanks for the reply!  I'm using a Dell 1950 server that I've loaded WinXP service pack 2 on, instead of the usual Server 2003 OS.  This has TestStand 4.0 Development software on it, as well as LabView runtime engine 8.0. 

I found that the 1950 does not have a sound card, so I'm adding that in and trying your suggestion.  I would have thought that TestStand would have alarms in it for out of bounds test conditions and so on.  You have to go to LabView to make sounds?

[James M]

Hi RGeorge,

TestStand itself was not meant to be a programming language. Instead, you must make a call to a code module to access resources like your sound card. There is an example under <TestStand>\Examples\RuntimeErrors that shows how to make a beep using a DLL. You could also play your desired sound file using ActiveX calls to Windows Media Player.

Regards,