TestStand Subsequences

[mrbean]

I'm not sure how to determine if a sequence is external or not, but I'll tell you what I DO know.  I inserted three steps into my main sequence and on each one, I right-clicked and selected 'Specify Module' and pointed it to the appropriate Sequence file that already existed.  As an experiment, I added a fourth step (of type subsequence) but didn't specify module, and still none show up in the list of sequences.

[Dennis_Knutson]

When you specified the subsequence, did you click the little box at the top called "Use Current File"? If you didn't and browsed to an entirely separate sequence file on your disk, that sequence is external to the sequence you are currently working on. If as an experiment, in the main sequence you had gone to the "all sequences" view, added a sequence, and specified that, it would have shown up. Not specifying a module is invalid.

[mrbean]

I didn't have the "Use Current File" clicked.  The Help on this is a bit confusing.  It says "Use Current File—Specifies to call a sequence in the sequence file that you are currently editing. The File Pathname or File Path or Reference Expression control dims when you enable this option". 

Am I correct in that you have to 1st add all sub sequences you want to the "All Sequences" list?  Then, in the MainSequence, you insert a subsequence and SpecifyModule, using the browse to find the specific sequence file?  I'm not sure how you'd point to the actual sequence file if you select "Use Current File".

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you click "Use Current File", then clicking the arrow on the "Sequence:" list box will display all sequences in the current file.

[mrbean]

I'm not sure what "arrow" you speak of.  So, if I don't select "Use Current File", but I've added the sequence files to the All Sequences tab, and also to my Main Sequence, what ramifications will exist.

Are my other assumptions correct in my previous reply?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Here's a picture.

If you don't select "Use Current File", then you have to specify an exteranl sequence file. If you specify an external sequence file, you cannot view the contents from the OI (as far as I know, anyway). If you add the subsequences to the All Sequences of your main sequence, select "Use Current File", select one of the subsequences as shown in the picture, in the OI you can view the contents of the subsequence.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 06-19-2006 10:59 AM

[mrbean]

I guess I'm having a fundamentals issue.  I was under the impression that each sequence file was created independently.  Then, if a sequence file wanted to call another sequence, it would insert a step of type "Sequence Call", specify the location of this sequence file, etc.  If you click the "Use Current File", then you can't specify a location of where the sequence file exists.  So how do you populate the newly created Sequence Call?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Each sequence file is created independently but that doesn't mean that each sequence file can only contain one sequence. A sequence file can contain many different subsequences. When you create a new sequence file, there is by default, only the main sequence. If you go to the All sequences view, you can right click and select Insert Sequence. If you then right click on this, you can select View Contents. You will then be brought to a sequence window and just like the main sequence, this subsequence will have it's own Setup, Main, and Cleanup. In this subsequence, you can add test steps just like you would in the main sequence. You can create as many subsequences as you want, nesting them with the Sequence Call step. When you specify module with a subsequence that is part of the existing file, you click the Use Current File and select the subsequence as shown in the picture I attached. You pass variables from a main sequence to a subsequence with parameters just like you would pass variables to the main of a separate sequence file. There are many shipping examples of sequence files that contain one or more subsequences. Any one of the process models contains numerous sequences. If you go to the all sequences view, you will see them listed.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having subsequences in a single file or having separate files for each. I had one external sequence that was called by the main sequence in all of my test programs. What it did, didn't matter but if I wanted to change something, I only had to make the change to a single file. I did not have to open each test program and change a subsequence in there. The opposite is true also. It can often cause problems to use an external sequence that must work with every UUT and set of instruments. I have dozens of different testers that test test many different UUTs and if I have to make a change for one UUT. I am required to re-qualify every other program that might be affected. I really don't like to do that so I hardly ever make use of external sequences.

[mrbean]

OK. To ensure that I finally understand this topic (somewhat) I want to ask several more questions. 

1) Is it true that the only way to see a sequence in the "Sequence" drop down list is to have created it as an embedded sequence (i.e. within All Sequences :: Insert Sequence), and to have checked "Use Current File"?

2) Is it true that if I create embedded sequences as described in (1), I can then use these sequences ONLY within any of those same embedded sequences.  Are these, in effect, private sequences (to borrow from OO).

3) As a followup to question (2), I know the sequence I just created (containing all the embedded sequences) can itself be inserted into some other sequence.  However, within the parent sequence, I'll only see (in the Sequences drop down) those sequences that are embedded within the parent, correct?

4) In summary, then, if I want to allow the user to select individual steps within a sequence (i.e. for looping, or run selected tests), that sequence containing those tests either has to be the main sequence, or a sequence embedded within.

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

1) Yes

2) No

3) Yes

4) Yes

Regards

Ray Farmer