TS Deployment Utility

[dphan128]

I'm new to Test Stand and recently finished my first TS program in sequence editor mode. So I'm not sure if I need to have Deployment Utility (p/n#900851-01) or Base Deployment Engine(#900850-01) to deliver my program to the user. What is the proper sequence of development here ?

[tbob]

Use the deployment utility to create an installer (an exe file). Run the installer on the user machine to install your application there. You must have a TS runtime license to run the newly installed program on the user machine. All dependent files will be properly placed by the installer. Without the deployment utility, you would have to place all files used on the user machine in the correct directory format as it was developed. You still the runtime license and runtime engine. Start with a small project and go from there. It can get quite tricky when dealing with external DLLs and such.

[dphan128]

Thank you. So the Debug Deployment Environment will provide the user interface for my test sequences and help me build the installer. But if I install the program on the same PC(machine) then I don't need the Base Deployment Engine License, do I ? Only if I install on a diffrent PC (machine), correct ?

[SarahM]

Hey Dphan,

I think there is some confusion about the Deployment Utility. Part number 900851-01 is an old part number for the TESTSTAND DEBUG DEPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENT LICENSE. This is different form the TestStand deployment Utility which comes with the development environment. If you have the TestStand development environment intalled on a computer then you do not need either the debug or the deployment license. However if you are deploying a system to a computer that does not have TestStand installed you will need either the TestStand Debug Deployment Environment License OR the TestStand Base Deployment Engine License. This difference is that the Debug Deployment environment gives you more options for debugging. Please see the TestStand pages linked below for mor
e information.

TestStand Base Deployment Engine

TestStand Debug Deployment Environment

In summary you will create an installer using the deployment utility on your development computer (which has the development license). You will then install this on a target computer which will need either the debug or the deployment license.

I hope this helps!! Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[dphan128]

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for clarifying the part numbers. Anyway I can't find Deploy TestStand System under Tools menu within sequence editor as instructed in the manual book. Have I not installed Test Stand 3.1 correctly or have I installed it without Deployment Utility ? How did it happen ?
Regards,
Dan

[SarahM]

Hey Dan,

I'm not sure why Deploy TestStand isn't showing up. Please look at the attached screenshot to make sure that you're looking in the correct location.

It is possible to customize the tools menu and remove this option. If you choose Tools -> Customize you can configure what shows up in the Tools menu. I'm also attaching a screen shot of the configuration of the Deploy TestStand System menu item. Selecting this option runs the deployment utility sequence located at the following path:
C:\Program Files\National Instruments\TestStand 3.1\Components\NI\Tools\Deployment Utility\Deployment Utility.seq

I would check to make sure that this sequence is there and double check your Tools menu.

Please let me know what you find
out.

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[dphan128]

Hi Sarah,
The Deployment Utility does locate in the path that you have specified. I just had to add it in the Tools Menu. Should the Deployment Utility be there in the Tools menu as a default installation so it won't cause confusion to new user like myself. If I don't talk to you then I probably don't know it exits. I think NI should make sure that the install CD does this default set up.

Regards,
Dan

[dphan128]

Hi Sarah,
One more question. I'm not sure which scenario I should follow in the manual book chap 14 under Common Deployment Scenarios.

Regards,

Dan

[SarahM]

Hey Dan,

Which scenario you should follow depends on your situation and what you want to deploy. Most likely you'll want to follow "Distributing Tests From a Workspace" however, this is only an example and the settings you choose will depend on your situation. I would suggest looking at the help for each tab to determine what each of the options mean so you can then decide what to select. In most cases the default will work just fine.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Regards,
Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[SarahM]

Hey Dan,

This is the first time I've seen the deployment utility not show up in the Tools menu. It should be there be default when TestStand is installed. Are you the only one that uses the computer? It may be that the entry was deleted by accident.

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments