Property Loader FileGlobals Issue

[bennnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

I have discovered an issue with the Property Loader and the loading of FileGlobal variables.  I'm not sure if this is a bug or improper implementation by me but I couldn't find an answer in the reference manual. If I create a property loader step and load the following text from a csv file specifying the start and end markers I get an error.

Com Ports Start Marker

<FileGlobals>, Variable Value

COM_Port, "COM3"

Status_Light_Lines, "sally"

Com Ports End Marker

The error is: 

-18; User-defined error code.

Sequence File: ITC_Test.seq

Property loader step failed to import or export properties.

2 property value(s) were found.

0 property value(s) were imported from 3 row(s) of data

After much thrashing I discovered that adding an empty row specifying Locals (even though I don't want to load any values), gets rid of the error and the FileGlobals values load as expected.

Com Ports Start Marker

<Locals>, Variable Value

<FileGlobals>, Variable Value

COM_Port, "COM3"

Status_Light_Lines, "sally"

Com Ports End Marker 

Do I need to outline each property category even if there aren't any to be loaded? It certainly doesn't seem so as I have loaded limits in a separate section just using the <Step Name> category without Locals, FileGlobals, or StationGlobals.

Anyway, this work-around certainly works for now. I just wanted to put this out there. I'm using TestStand 4.2.1.

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

In the Manual Appendix C C-6 Loading from Files, it details the structure of the file. It doesn't say that you can miss items and if you use the Import/Export tool you get the complete structure regardless if you actual selected anything to export.

That said, it should be a bit more tolorent. I haven't tried this but I bet if you wanted a StationGlobals you probabaly would have to specify both Locals and FileGlobals.

Extract from Manual C-6 

Start Marker

<Step Name> Limits.Low Limits.High Limits.String

Voltage at Pin A 9.0 11.0

Voltage at Pin B 8.5 9.5

Self Test Output "SYS OK"

<Locals> Variable Value

Count 100

<FileGlobals> Variable Value

Count 99

<StationGlobals> Variable Value

Power_On False

End Marker

Regards

Ray Farmer

[Teds]

I have always included all the sections in my files for use with the Property Loader since TestStand 3.5....

<StepName>

<Locals>

<FileGlobals>

<StationGlobals>

The following link indicates you must have the tags even IF you are NOT importing a property or value, but this was TestStand 2.0.1.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/2A4CA675B86CF70986256C2B00558D9A

Thanks,

PH