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This idea mostly goes along with this idea. I use type def all the time in LabVIEW, especially with enums. TestStand can interact with my VIs with enums, but they are handled as a number. Furthermore, if the enum gets changed, the wrong value of the enum is often used. I really like the idea of custom data type of an enum. The ultimate would be if I only had to alter the enum once (in ctl file) and TestStand would automatically update its data type. This should be the same for clusters.

Find yourself placing a Sequence Call step and trying to determine the appropriate value to enter for a numeric parameter called "Direction"? Tired of creating sequences with numeric parameters named like the following: "Direction_0_Up_1_Down_2_Left_3_Right"?

The solution is to support the creation of variables with enumerated type within TestStand. Enums could be created as custom variables and then used as wherever a self-documenting variable is required.

Enum type creation:

As seen from a Sequence Call step to a subsequence that uses an Enum as a parameter:

Sequence File Validation

When loading large sequence files, TestStand does not display progress and appears to "lock up" both TestStand and the LabVIEW OI. Sequences with hundreds of steps can take minutes to load. Operators often incorrectly conclude the application has stopped respoding during long pre-loads.

I am suggesting to implement a responsive progress display, allowing the LabVIEW OI to proceed execution, and post the following UI Messages during step pre-load.

UIMessageCodes

UIMsg_ProgressPercent–(Value: 11) TestStand step modules post this message to the user interface to notify it to update its progress indicator associated with an execution.
UIMsg_ProgressText–(Value: 12) TestStand step modules post this message to the user interface to notify it to update its progress message associated with an execution.

It would be nice to be able to create a new sequence from highlighting steps in a sequence and performing a right mouse click, "Create New Sequence...", this would be a kin to Create SubVI in LabVIEW.

This action could display a dialog to give possible options such as, to copy the Setup and/or Cleanup group, Create in a New SequenceFile or in Current SequenceFile, the option to Move or Copy highlighted Steps. It could also include creating any locals and /or FileGlobals (if creating in a new SequenceFile) used by those highlight steps.

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It would be nice if the Step Settings for a Sequence Call step's Module tab would also list the calling sequences comments field and the parameter comments in addition to the prototype information. This would allow sequence calls to easily present information on the expected use of the sequence, along with parameter information (ranges, default options, etc) that would be useful to the developer. I've created a simple mockup of what I'd like to see here:

By adding these features, sequences can contain their own 'help' information which would allow the developer to configure the call without having to leave the step module dialog.

Thanks,

-Jack

Hi,

I think this Thread should be placed here.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/NI-TestStand/How-to-create-a-build-in-User-StepType/m-p/1134151

The aim of this is that users can create the same powerful steps like that once which comes from NI.

Biggest enhancement of this would be that i can get rid of the "edit" - button and there is no floating panel

somewhere else.

The second enhancement is that i may use drag and drop between the edit and variable panel (if this is neccessary).

Like Manooch_H I am interrested in comments, too

Regards

Juergen

Almost all of our analog measurements are specified in %: example

a Power Supply DMM measurement limit is 24.00Vdc +/- 5%

We typically have 100+ measurements like this in a project

Why not include it in the default step types as an optional selection?

I sure would use it, so would my team.

I agree that it should not alter existing programs using the default step, but I believe that this feature should have been in Teststand when it was first released.

I have run across this in both analog measurements, and the results from an ADC

Think a limit of 0x234 +3%, -7%

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Support for LabVIEW Classes

How many times have you found yourself typing double backslashes "C:\\Windows\\System32\\cmd.exe" or even worse, going through a copied path to change every backslash to a double backslash (and inevitably missing one), just so you can pass a file or directory as a constant to a code module or another sequence?

I'd like to see a symbol for 'explicit string' in the TestStand expression language, much like C# does with the @ symbol.

So if we typed @"C:\windows\temp" we would actually get the string "C:\Windows\temp" instead of "C:\Windows<tab>emp".

To really go the extra mile on this:

Drag and drop could be enabled, so that any file dragged from another window into an expression box would automatically paste the filename.
A browse button could be added to the expression browse dialog which would bring up the usual file open dialog and insert the selected filename.

Message Edited by Josh W on 06-14-2010 12:57 PM

Message Edited by Josh W on 06-14-2010 12:58 PM

Handling arrays in TestStand is pretty limiting and more often that not you have to pop into a code module to perform any sort of array handling.

The following is the default functions that can be used in expressions:

[Array
GetArrayBounds(array, lower, upper) Retrieves the upper and lower bounds of an array.
GetNumElements(array) Returns the number of elements in an array.
InsertElements(array, index, numElements) Inserts new elements into a one-dimensional array.
RemoveElements(array, index, numElements) Removes elements from a one-dimensional array.
SetArrayBounds(array, lower, upper) Changes the bounds of an array.
SetNumElements(array, numElements) Sets the number of elements in a one-dimensional array.

]

I would like to see this expanded to avoided have to resort to using code module.
The following is some suggestion:

Array Subset function
Array Max & Min
Replace Array Subset function
Search 1D Array
Sort 1D Array

regards

Ray Farmer

The Step Type Messaga Popup .

Usually I use the same text in the Step Name for the Title Expression

and for a long time now I have used NameOf(Step) in the Title Expression so as not to have to duplicate the Step Name.

Now that Templates are available I can save a copy this version to use instead of the default step type. But thats only true for my development PC.

This may not be saved on other development PC.

What would be nice if the default value for Title Expression was NameOf(Step) instead of "untitled".

regards

Ray Farmer

NI TestStand Idea Exchange

Link Custom Data Types to LabVIEW Type Defs

Support for Creation of Enumerated Type Variables

Sequence File Validation

Add Progress Indicators During Pre-Load

Tool to create Sequence from Highlighted Steps

Display Sequence Call target Sequence and Parameter comments in the 'Step Settings for ' Module tab

Ability to create user built-in StepTypes

Add the capability to express limits in +/-% of expected value in all limits

Cross-linking the wrong LabVIEW VI code modules

Include Configuration files, such as TestExec.ini by default in Deployment Utility

Add "Project Globals" and/or "Workspace Globals"

Support for LabVIEW Classes

Make it easier to pass filenames as constant strings

Expand on the default Array Functions

Change the Default Title Expression from "untitled" to NameOf(Step)