Is it possible to define limits, parameters, etc. (in TestStand) as requirements for Requirements Gateway?

[KabiMan]

Hello guys,

Actually this is more a "Requirements Gateway" question. However, as there seems to be no board for it yet, I'll try my luck here.
So, this is my situation:

I'm using Requirements Gateway mainly to manage changes and different versions of requirements.
The requirements are written down in a Word file. Certain steps in TestStand sequences cover those requirements.
What I am interested in is to be able to see when a change in my requirements has occurred but the TestStand file hasn't yet been altered to meet the new/changed requirement.
Now by "requirement" I mean things like limits, parameters (voltages, currents, etc.).
Does anybody know, how to do this?
So far I am only able to process things that are formatted with the "Requirements_ID" style in a Word file.
However, the parameters mentioned above are in the "Requirements_Text".

Ok, sorry once more if this is the wrong place to ask this.

Greetings from Wetzlar, Germany

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

I only have a limited knowledge of the 'NI Requirements Gateway' and if I understand you correctly, the NI Requirements Gateway will only track that you have a test in your Test Sequence file that traces back to your input requirement. It doesn't go down to actual property changes.

If your limits are detailed in a limits file could you not add this to the NI Requirements Gateway project.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[KabiMan]

Hello Ray and thank you.

You got it right, NIRG only tells you whether or not a requirement in one document is covered by a reference in another (in my case a test in a sequence).
And if you use Word files NIRG uses the style of a text passage to determine whether it is a requirement, the text that goes with it or whether it is a reference covering a requirement.

Now the limits are not in an extra file, they are together in one file with their corresponding description. They are supposed to stay that way.
What I have been doing so far is pretty much similar to what you suggested, though.
I have marked as a requirement the limits of a certain test. So if something changes in my specification, then I'll see it in NIRG because the name of the requirement has changed.
However this is not really satisfying. I mean the name of the requirement would be different every time something in the spec file changes. I'm looking for a more "elegant" solution.

OK, but thank you very much for taking the time to reply!!
I think I'll call the people at NI, they must know for sure whether or not it's possible

Gabriel

[RayFarmer]

Hi Gabriel,

Ok, come back if you get any further information from your call to NI.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[KabiMan]

Hi there,

I found a solution to my problem. However not with the help of the people of NI!!
As a matter of fact, I'm still waiting for some practical advice from NI.

When I phoned them on July 12th, the woman at the other end didn't even know at first that Requirements Gateway was a National Instruments product !!!
I then got outreached to a guy who wanted me to mail him my problem. I did but got no answer. So I called again and was promised to be called back. Yesterday (13th), after having left for the day some guy called back and a collegue of mine left me a note with the email address of the NI guy.
I wrote him an email this morning and I'm waiting for his reply.
I have to admit, I expected more. Now I'm rather disappointed by NI. I mean, you buy a software worth $2000 and they don't really know it's on their products list !!! Come on!!

However, HERE IS THE SOLUTION I FOUND:

First load your project (if not already loaded) into Requirements Gateway (NIRG).

In the menu bar click on "File" then on "Edit snapshots".

A dialog box called "Configuration" will appear.

You can now make a snapshot of your current project by clicking on "File" in the menu bar and then on "Make a snapshot of current project...".

NIRG will prompt you for a name for your snapshot.

Afterwards you will see your snapshot in the left column.

Whenever a change occurs to your project, NIRG notices this (it asks you whether or not to reanalyze the project), you can now go to the "Configuration" dialog box and click on the snapshot you took earlier on.

In the right column you will then see EVERY change in your project. When you click on an item that has changed, in the two gray fields below you can even see HOW things have changed.

By selecting "Display" -> "Selected snapshot view" you can even see what your project looked like when you took the snapshot.


OK, this is as far as I got.
I won't tell NI about my solution . I'm really curious to see whether they come up with the same idea or something even better.

Take care!
Gabriel

[AllenP]

Gabriel,

I apologize for the problems you have recieved when trying to get support.  I will pass on this feedback to the appropriate people so that your call will be routed correctly in the future.

To answer your question, your solution that you found is a good one and close to my recommendations.  I would also like to add that NI Requirements Gateway will automatically update any changes to the document by showing a different icon when a requirement has changed.  This may meet your needs in some cases, but the icon will go away once you have closed the project and opened it again.  If you need to track changes from specific points in time, the snapshot solution will be your best bet.

Kind Regards,

Allen P.

NI

[KabiMan]

Thanks Allen,


I was angry with the GERMAN support, I forgot to mention that.
You guys were faster and more helpful.

However, now that it works, all is forgotten.
After all: All's well that ends well!

regards
Gabriel

[KabiMan]

P.S.: In the future, I'll turn to you directly!

*g*

Gabriel

[mrbean]

Kabiman,

You said "So far I am only able to process things that are formatted with the "Requirements_ID" style in a Word file.
However, the parameters mentioned above are in the "Requirements_Text"".

I'm wondering if you have some suggestions (1) for how to create a new style in Word, (2) req naming conventions.

[AllenP]

To create a new style, go to Format >> Styles and Formatting.  You can then select a new style.  The default type in NIRG will automatically recognize any style named Requirement_ID and Requirement_Text, so you can create styles of these names with any formatting.

As for naming conventions, be sure that your requirement IDs are unique.  They can be anything from numbers to descriptive text.

Allen P.
NI