Automation refnum missing

[Inverter]

On TestStand I loose the reference of one Activex object. The Labview vi ( 2017) generates the reference but I cannot pass the value to the successive TestStand(2020) step because the variable ( Local.Ref) where I want to memomorize it , is empty ( Nothing)

is empty

[stefanha]

Since you did not provide the DLL, I have replaced it with a random other DLL in your OpenComm.vi and run your sequence.
When reaching a breakpoint in TestStand after the OpenComm.vi, I can see a reference ID in the Locals.Ref variable.

So it is not possible for me to replicate your issue with the sources your provided.

Btw the Locals.Ref variable would show a ref ID even if it was invalid, as long as the Vi passed out an actual reference ID.

I am not sure what the screenshot of the Open_Read_Close.vi is supposed to show.

Can you show a screenshot of your paused Teststand sequence after the OpenComm step which proves the step has passed a "Nothing" ref to the local variable?

[Inverter]

[stefanha]

The reference is not nothing, it is IUnknown -> not a known reference to TestStand.
But it is a reference which you can use in the next VI.

[Inverter]

Yes, I agree. If I debug the sequence, I go inside the first Labview step, I see that Labview generates the reference number !! but when I set this output ( reference out) to Local variable I see nothing, I loose the reference!!.

If you see on Teststand sequence I backed the Reference out ( the object ref of OpenCom vi ) to one Local variable named “Ref” because I need to pass this variable to the next step that need it.

My problem is that at the end of  OpenCom vi the Local.Ref if empty , the content is “nothing” as you can see on my photo

[stefanha]

That is not what your screenshot is showing.

You screenshot is showing that after the OpenComm.vi the reference in Locals.Ref very well exists.
Hence the scissors next to it which allow you to release manually it -> You can only release a reference that exists.

Be careful when you check the reference. After your sequence completes the execution, the reference is released automatically.

[Inverter]

At the end of first step ( open Com) I have to find ( for ex.) Local.Ref=62784563 because I backed the reference out of my vi to one Local variable ( Local.Ref)., but instead I see "Nothing".

[Inverter]

Hi, how I can mantain the reference that the first step create and pass to second step. Because I need it on input on second step. For this raison I set the output of first vi Reference=Local.Ref in order to memorize my reference on Local.Ref

I dont understand your :

"Hence the scissors next to it which allow you to release manually it"

I dont knok hao to manage the "scissors"

[Inverter]

I've tried to manually relaise the Local.Ref clicking on "scissors" but I receive this error message :