How to unify or merge the variables from several TestStand platforms to one TestStand platform?

[Yuri_IL]

Hi,

   We work with TestStand 3.5 and LabVIEW 8.0 versions.

   We work in a parallel mode with several developers and each from developers:

     1. Wrote his sequences at his TestStand station

     2. Defined his local variables/sequence File Global variables/station Global Variables at his TestStand

I need to create the one file sequence at dedicated for it TestStand platform (target station) that will include all of sequences from these developers.

So, the questions are:

1. How i do that? What the existing tools/methods/solutions?
2. How i can distribute all the variables that relate to different sequences and from different TestStand platforms?

In other words, how i collect all related collections of variables(whatever?) from every developer of my team and unify/merge/distribute all of that

to dedicated TestStand station that will include of all developed sequences without forgetting/losing something???

I attached the visual presentation of my question (unify.JPG), please see the schema.

If you have the question regards something, please let me know.

Message Edited by Yuri_IL on 06-11-2006 10:01 AM

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

You do know that you can call a sequence from another sequencefile using the SequenceCall step type. Therefore you can have a top level sequence file that calls the sequences from the individual sequence files from each of your developers. 

Regards

Ray Farmer

[Yuri_IL]

Yes, I understand what you wrote, but how i deliver all the individual sequences with their environment (variables) to that top level sequence file from each developer TestStand station?

p.s. I do not want to call every of sequence remotly i want that all of it will be locally at dedicated workstation.

Message Edited by Yuri_IL on 06-12-2006 01:00 AM

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

It not usual that the top level sequence / sequence file needs to know or even care what variables are used by other sequence / sequence files. If you need to pass information, use the Parameters of the Sequence, or set all sequence file to use the same FileGlobals or use the StationGlobals.

Depending on the size and what other components are required with your sequence file(s). You can you the deployment tool provided with TestStand to deploy all the sequencefiles to the target system.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[Yuri_IL]

 Perhaps, i did not expressed well my question...

1. I do need that top level sequence / sequence file needs to know or even care what variables are used by other sequence / sequence files

2. I know how to deploy SINGLE TestStand sequence file/project to a target station.

3. I want to know how to deploy MULTIPLE TestStand sequences from MULTIPLE TestStand stations and unify it to the SINGLE set of these multiple sequences that i deployed at my target station...

For example:

 TestStand station #1 with sequence: init_of_xxx.seq

 TestStand station #2 with sequence: init_of_yyy.seq

 TestStand station #3 with sequence: init_of_zzz.seq

After deploying at my target: TestStand station #4 i want to get a WORKING set of sequences:

                  init_of_xxx.seq

                  init_of_yyy.seq

                  init_of_zzz.seq

The problem is that i know how to deploy every sequence sepately, but do not know how to deploy together

Message Edited by Yuri_IL on 06-12-2006 02:56 AM

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

Now you are confusing me.

There's no difference between deploying one sequence file and main sequence files. You need to make sure all the sequence files are defined in your project file.

How you get your indivdual sequence files from your systems on to a single system will depend how there are connected together. If the systems are all networked, then I would suggest using some sort of version control program such as SourceSafe to checkin all the individual sequencefile so that you can build a project which pulls in all the sequence files.

If there are not networked, then you will have to get the sequence files off by using floppy(s), CDR, CDRW or USB Key to transfer to a development system.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[Yuri_IL]

Ray, i know how to transfer all the sequences, but i do not know how to transfer all the environment (variables, whatever) that relate

to that sequences and unify every that environment (per sequence) to one environment ...

for example:

   how to transfer all locals/globals/user defined variables from 4 separate station to one???

p.s. Did you see my attached schema in the first post?

Message Edited by Yuri_IL on 06-12-2006 04:57 AM

[RayFarmer]

>>how to transfer all the environment (variables, whatever)

This is where you are starting to confuse me.

The all the variables except the StationGlobals are contained in the SequenceFile that there are created in. Therefore when to deploy the sequence file you also deploy all the variables as well.

The StationGlobals are defined in the StationGlobals.ini file found in the ...\cfg\... folder of your teststand.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[Yuri_IL]

<<The all the variables except the StationGlobals are contained in the SequenceFile that there are created in.

<<Therefore when to deploy the sequence file you also deploy all the variables as well.

So if i understand right -> I just copy all of the sequences to target station and copy all of stations StationGlobals.ini files?

That is what i must to do?

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

Correct with the SequenceFile, but there can only be one StationGlobals.ini file.

What you need is a SequenceFile that has a Sequence that will setup all your StationGlobals. You could even include this as part of each of your sequence file rather than have a separate one.

Maybe as part of the initialisation, when you run your test sequences, when you write your initial values use the TS API method SetVal() with the option set to 1 (create if it doesnt exist).

Regards

Ray Farmer