How to correctly start / shutdown TestStand engine using API?

[CristianL.]

I try to restart TestStand engine between 2 sequence file executions. Using the TS API from VB .Net.

Steps: Start the TestStand engine -> execute a sequence -> close the engine -> start the engine again -> execute a sequence ....

When I want to start the second execution I get the following error:

"

Exception thrown: 'System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException' in RestartEngineTest.exe

Additional information: Operation failed because TestStand Engine was shutdown.

"

What would be the correct engine restart procedure?

2'nd problem: If I try to force the Garbage Collector

                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()

after Engine.Shutdown(True) complete application hangs "inside" the first GC.Collect().

A sample solution is Enclosed.

I start the execution with "myTsEngine.NewExecution"

Upon API.UIMessageCodes.UIMsg_EndExecution I release the sequence file and the model.

Upon API.UIMessageCodes.UIMsg_ShutDownComplete I unload all modules and type palletes and call Shutdown(false) followed on second entry by Shutdown(True)

 Private Sub StartSequenceExecution(nameOfExistingSequenceFile As String)

        Try
            myTsEngine = New API.Engine()
            myTsEngine.LoadTypePaletteFilesEx()

            sequenceFile = myTsEngine.GetSequenceFileEx(nameOfExistingSequenceFile, 107)
            modelSequenceFile = myTsEngine.GetSequenceFileEx("SequentialModel.seq", 107)

            myExecution = myTsEngine.NewExecution(sequenceFile, "Single Pass", modelSequenceFile, False, 0)
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New Exception("TestStand Api Problem!" & vbCrLf & ex.Message)
        End Try
    End Sub

    Public Sub TS_UI_Message_Handler(ByVal aktUImessage As NationalInstruments.TestStand.Interop.API.UIMessage) Handles myTsEngine.UIMessageEvent

        Try
            Select Case aktUImessage.Event

                Case Is = API.UIMessageCodes.UIMsg_EndExecution
                    Try
                        If Not sequenceFile Is Nothing Then

                            If sequenceFile.CanUnload Then
                                myTsEngine.ReleaseSequenceFileEx(sequenceFile, 5)     ' UnloadFile, UnloadFileIfModified
                                sequenceFile = Nothing
                            End If
                        End If

                        If Not modelSequenceFile Is Nothing Then
                            If modelSequenceFile.CanUnload Then
                                myTsEngine.ReleaseSequenceFileEx(modelSequenceFile, 5)     ' UnloadFile, UnloadFileIfModified
                                modelSequenceFile = Nothing
                            End If
                        End If

                        myTsEngine.ShutDown(False)

                    Catch ex As Exception
                        ' ignore
                    End Try

                Case Is = API.UIMessageCodes.UIMsg_ShutDownComplete
                    If Not isFinalShutdown Then
                        myExecution = Nothing
                        myTsEngine.UnloadAllModules()
                        myTsEngine.UnloadTypePaletteFiles()
                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
                        myTsEngine.ShutDown(True) ' 2'nd shutdown

                        isFinalShutdown = True
                    Else
                        myTsEngine = Nothing
                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
                        'GC.Collect()
                        'GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers()
                        MsgBox("First Execution Complete, Starting the second one...", MsgBoxStyle.ApplicationModal Or MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation Or MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly)
                        StartSequenceExecution("Test.seq")
                    End If

                Case Else
                    ' Optional: Do something or not to notify the the user/programmer about unknown messages !
            End Select

            aktUImessage.Acknowledge()
            aktUImessage = Nothing

        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox("UIMessageEvent Error: " & ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.ApplicationModal Or MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation Or MsgBoxStyle.OkOnly)
        Finally
        End Try
    End Sub

[DangerDave]

Hi CristianL.,

Just in case, have you seen this Knowledge Base article?

Starting and Shutting Down TestStand from a .NET User Interface

http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370052P-01/tsfundamentals/infotopics/net_ui_start_shutdown/

[CristianL.]

Yes 🙂

[MAGL21]

Hello,

I had a similar problem and this case did help me to solve it.

That's the reason I want to Link my solved case here: 😉

Solved: Re: How to release components correctly via Api (especially Users.ini) in vb.net - NI Commun...

Best Rgds 

MAGL21