LabView / TestStand Parameter Order?

[Just Glen]

Is there a document somewhere that explains the order in which a  LabView VI's parameters will appear in TestStand?

I'm using TestStand and creating LabView VIs. The VIs have many input parameters, and when I'm trying to fill in these parameters in TestStand it would be very helpful if I could make them appear in a particular order (so that I can match the spreadsheet from the part designer).

Thanks,

..glen

[Just Glen]

...and while I'm at it (yeah, this belongs in the LabView forum but what the heck)...is there a way to make the dang connector larger in LabView? It's dang near impossible to get the mouse over the proper itty bitty square when hooking up a connector with loads-o-connections!

[GovBob]

Might need a little more information. Are you trying to use the property loader to read these parameters into TestStand as sequence local variables?

You can export default parameters and limits for your TestStand steps using the Tools>>Import/Export properties to a spreadsheet. Then you can read these back in using the Property loader step. This method will ensure that the spreadsheet is formatted correctly

[GovBob]

Try clustering your common controls togather to allow for less connectors on the connector pane. The most connections I use personally is the 16 pattern and some folks think that is to many.

[Just Glen]

No, I'm not using the property loader. Maybe I could be a bit clearer if I demonstrate:

Insert a LabView action into a TestStand sequence.
Whack the little button to create the VI.
Create a VI with <n> input parameters and <m> output parameters (doesn't matter what n and m are).
In the LabView VI, right click on the upper right (where the icon is) and select "show connector"
Right click on the connector, scroll down to patterns, and select your favorite pattern.
Wire up your inputs and outputs.

Now in TestStand, whack the Reload VI Prototype button.
Look at the order of the parameters in the left hand window.

I want to control the order of those parameters...either by knowing how to wire up the LabView connector, or preferably by just reordering them in TestStand (which doesn't seem to be possible).

[Just Glen]

With regard to clustering the inputs...yes that reduces clutter, but at the expense of making the TestStand side a bit more difficult.

For instance, I have a particular VI that has to set a bunch of values for testing a FET on a wafer. The values are things like:

Matrix Switches to close
Matrix Switch GPIB Address
HP4142 (SMU) GPIB Address

Gate Force (current or voltage)
Gate Compliance
Measure Gate? (boolean)
Gate Measurement Value
Gate SMU channel

Drain Force (current or voltage)
Drain Compliance
Measure Drain?
Drain Measurement
Drain SMU channel

Source Force (current or voltage)
Source Compliance
Measure Source?
Source Measurement
Source SMU channel


You get the idea. If I have individual inputs for all of these it's pretty straightforward to fill in the values in the sequence editor (or it would be if I could get them to come out in a meaningful order). If I cluster them then isn't it a bit harder to enter the actual values?...hmm, maybe I'll try that to see what it looks like.

[Just Glen]

Oh geez...try before you type! 🙂

I just tried a quick clustering experiment...looks like that will work very nicely indeed. Why didn't I try that before!!

Thanks!

..glen

[GovBob]

I'm using LV8.5 and TS4.0. From what I can tell TestStand lists inputs first and then outputs. I use the convention where inputs are on the left side of the pane and ouputs are on the right. If I start my inputs in the upper right corner of the pane that will be the first in the list continuing down the left side counterclockwise. The ouputs will then start on the upper right side and continue clockwise down.

hope this helps

[JoseHdz]

GovBob is correct.  For a LabVIEW step, all inputs appear first followed by all outputs.  Also, the order of the inputs and outputs will be same as they appear in the VI Context Help Image starting from the top to bottom.

Currently, the only way to change the parameter order is to change the connector pattern or wire the inputs and outputs to a different index in the connector pane.