Automated testing of LabView VIs

[robbovill]

I'm looking for a tool that I can use for functional and regressing testing of automate testing of LabView VIs.  I'm not looking for unit testing tools, as I'm not the developer.  I'm the software test engineer for a team that is building applications in LabView that I need to verify.  I have tried AutoIt, but the inspector cannot read the contents of the VI, so I can't interact with it.  I'm looking into TestPlant's eggPlant Functional, but this uses image capture techniques, which I find to be less robust.  Does anyone know of any third-party tools that interact with LabView VIs for this kind of testing?

[ijustlovemath]

As far as I know, there isn't even a way to view LV block diagrams without LabVIEW itself. LabVIEW has a very robust set of logging frameworks you could use, as well any manner of ways to run some VI with varying inputs. You may have some success doing this with LabWindows/CVI, but I've not used that before.

[robbovill]

Using NI tools to validate NI tools violates core QA practices.  Whatever application we end up using to test LabView VIs must be a third-party tool.

[ijustlovemath]

You can deploy to an executable and use CLI arguments to set indicators and controls, as seen here: http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/17C3AD70493CE0208625666A00763364. This can easily be scripted to give you all manner of configurations. You can also analyze the binary in the static analyser of your choice.

[Kyle97330]

Does it have to be a "pre-made" tester or can you create your own using C++, .NET, VB, or similar?

If you can make your own, see this article:

Calling LabVIEW VIs from Other Programming Languages

[Yamaeda]

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@robbovill wrote:

Using NI tools to validate NI tools violates core QA practices.  Whatever application we end up using to test LabView VIs must be a third-party tool.

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Why? Isn't it only the inputs and outputs that's important? Why would that be more secure if a 3rd party checks? If so, use a 3rd party to check the NI tools, then you can use those. 😛

/Y

[Sam_Sharp]

Two options I can think of:

- Enable ActiveX on your application and then use the ActiveX interface (e.g. from another language) to control the application

- Image-based automation techniques (e.g. the ones you've already mentioned)