LabWindows/CVI Tip: Integrating with NI TestStand for Test Management

[Anna_K.]

Integrate a COTS Test Executive With LabWindows/CVI Test Sets

NI TestStand is a ready-to-run test management software that is designed to help you develop automated test and validation systems faster. You can use NI TestStand to develop, execute, and deploy test system software. In addition, you can develop test sequences that integrate code modules developed in LabWindows/CVI or any test programming language. Test sequences also specify execution flow, reporting, database logging, and connectivity to other enterprise systems. Finally, you can deploy test systems to production with easy-to-use operator interfaces.

NI TestStand is designed to...

• Develop test systems faster
• Deploy test systems easier
• Increase test throughput

NI TestStand has features specially designed to develop LabWindows/CVI test systems fast, including a LabWindows/CVI flexible module adapter and NI TestStand user interface controls for LabWindows/CVI.

LabWindows/CVI Adapter in NI TestStand

With the TestStand Sequence Editor, you can create test sequences that automate the execution of code modules written in LabWindows/CVI. Each code module executes a test on the device under test and returns measurement information to NI TestStand. You can log test result information in a report or database automatically. Using the LabWindows/CVI module adapter you can call functions within any LabWindows/CVI .c, .obj, .lib, or .dll file regardless of the function prototype and easily visualize the function parameters when configuring the code module.

Build a LabWindows/CVI Test Operator Interface

NI TestStand helps deployment by providing simple operator interfaces that can execute the test system and reduce operator error. You can also create a custom operator interface in LabWindows/CVI to meet specific application requirements and present meaningful data. You can readily process and interpret incoming test data with LabWindows/CVI analysis libraries or use data management and network variable libraries to store and share the data.

Generate Reports and link LabWindows/CVI code to Specific Test Requirements

NI TestStand can automatically generate reports for each test in a variety of industry standard formats such as ATML, XML, HTML, and text as well as log these test results to your enterprise databases for future analysis. You can also implement automated requirements management using NI Requirements Gateway. A requirements traceability software solution can drastically reduce time and cost to ensure that a project conforms to all requirements set forth in a specification document and that changes to project items don't break requirements coverage.  NI Requirements Gateway traces requirements contained in the most common requirement specification tools and integrates fully into TestStand, LabWindows/CVI, LabVIEW, Telelogic Doors, MATRIXx, and more.

Deploy the Entire Test System

After development is complete, you can use the NI TestStand Deployment Utility to create a distribution or installer for LabWindows/CVI code modules, test sequences, and related files to deploy automated test systems to production.

Resources to Get Started

• Learn more about NI TestStand

Resources for Integrating LabWindows/CVI and NI TestStand

• Using LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI with NI TestStand
• Using the TestStand API in LabWindows/CVI
• Using TestStand User Interface Messages (UI Messages)
• Adding Step Results to the LabWindows/CVI Operator Interface
• Detecting Memory Leaks in LabWindows/CVI Code Modules called from NI TestStand
• Coupling NI Requirements Gateway with LabWindows/CVI

Did you find this tip useful? Rate this document or add a comment below.

If you give this a try, share your experience! Add a comment below.