Teststand Tool Manual: Virtu L R CK

Virtu^l R^ck®
TestStand Tool Manual
Part Number
VRTM-T2-750-DOC Innovative Technologies, Inc.
Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

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All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States.
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Virtual Rack® TestStand Tool Manual
VR TESTSTAND TOOL ..........................................................................5

VR TestStand Collective View................................................................................................................ 5
VR TestStand Hierarchy......................................................................................................................... 5
VR TestStand Interfaces ........................................................................................................................ 6

TestStand Engine Interface ................................................................................................................ 6
TestStand Sequence File Interface .................................................................................................... 8
TestStand Sequence Interface ........................................................................................................... 9
VR TestStand and VR Macro Recorder Operations............................................................................. 10

Selecting Macro Recorder Target ..................................................................................................... 10
Begin Macro ...................................................................................................................................... 11
New Macro ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Insert Step......................................................................................................................................... 12
End Macro......................................................................................................................................... 12
Edit Macro ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Play Macro ........................................................................................................................................ 14
Macro Shortcuts ................................................................................................................................ 14
VR TestStand Context Menus .............................................................................................................. 16
VR TestStand Tasks............................................................................................................................. 20
VR TestStand Views............................................................................................................................. 21
TestStand Sequence View................................................................................................................ 21
TestStand Sequence File View......................................................................................................... 23
TestStand Engine View..................................................................................................................... 27

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List of Figures:
Figure 1 TestStand Tool located under VR Tools Collection ................................................................. 5

Figure 2 TestStand hierarchy in VR Explorer........................................................................................ 6
Figure 3 TestStand Engine Interface in VR Collective Tree.................................................................. 7
Figure 4 TestStand Engine Interface Table........................................................................................... 8
Figure 5 TestStand SequenceFiles Collection Entries .......................................................................... 8
Figure 6 TestStand Sequence File Interface Table............................................................................... 9
Figure 7 Collection of Sequences within a Sequence File .................................................................. 10
Figure 8 TestStand Sequence Interface Table.................................................................................... 10
Figure 9 Selecting TestStand as the Macro Recorder Target............................................................. 10
Figure 10 Begin Macro toolbar menu item .......................................................................................... 11
Figure 11 VR TestStand recording file path query .............................................................................. 11
Figure 12 VR TestStand active recording sequence panel................................................................. 12
Figure 13 TestStand Sequence Editor ................................................................................................ 13
Figure 14 Accept Changes dialog ....................................................................................................... 14
Figure 15 Form based Macro Shortcut Panel ..................................................................................... 16
Figure 16 Watch based Macro Shortcut Panel.................................................................................... 16
Figure 17 VR TestStand context menu for numeric property.............................................................. 16
Figure 18 Servlet specific TestStand recording options ...................................................................... 19
Figure 19 VR TestStand task entry ..................................................................................................... 20
Figure 20 VR TestStand sequence view ............................................................................................. 21
Figure 21 Sequence View Context Menus Table ................................................................................ 23
Figure 22 VR TestStand sequence file view ....................................................................................... 24
Figure 23 VR TestStand sequence file execution toolbar ................................................................... 24
Figure 24 VR TestStand sequence file execution toolbar menu ......................................................... 24
Figure 25 VR TestStand sequence file sub-sequence toolbar............................................................ 25
Figure 26 VR TestStand sequence file report view ............................................................................. 26
Figure 27 VR TestStand engine view .................................................................................................. 27
Figure 28 VR TestStand engine view toolbar...................................................................................... 27
Figure 29 TestStand Engine Context Menu Table .............................................................................. 28

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VR TestStand Tool
The Virtual Rack® TestStand Tool wraps the powerful sequencing capabilities
of the National Instrument’s TestStand sequencing software. TestStand is a
powerful, flexible test management software program, able to execute tests
created in a variety of test development environments. VR TestStand
converts and connects the TestStand API to the VR Matrix, making it
accessible to any VR component or client on the network. For example, the
user can configure a VR property out of bounds event to execute a TestStand
sequence, even from a remote computer.
VR TestStand Collective View

The VR TestStand Tool is located under the Tools collection of any VR
Process :
Figure 1 TestStand Tool located under VR Tools Collection
VR TestStand Hierarchy
The National Instruments TestStand software is internally organized as a
hierarchy with a global engine per process, with as many sequence files
opened as desired, with each sequence file containing one or more
sequences. Sequences finally contain one or more steps.
The VR TestStand mirrors this hierarchy with a TestStand engine object ( )

that contains the open sequence files ( ), which in turn contain a list of
sequences ( ). This hierarchy can be seen and explored via the VR
Collective Tree in the VR Explorer by expanding the TestStand Tool node:

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Figure 2 TestStand hierarchy in VR Explorer
VR TestStand’s most notable feature is its ability to act as a recorder target

for the VR Macro Recorder.
The VR Macro Recorder is covered in detail in the VR Explorer Manual.

Briefly, with the click of a button, users can start recording property changes,
action\method invocations, and evaluated measurements directly into a
recorder target such as a TestStand sequence. Users can create complex
hardware test sequences without TestStand training, without any regard to
the hardware communication protocol, or even what computer or rack the
hardware is running on.
VR TestStand Interfaces
The VR TestStand Tool exposes three interfaces, from each of the engine,
sequence file and sequence objects. These interfaces are fully available by
browsing the TestStand Tool in the VR Collective tree. Browsing to these
levels is not normally required by the operator because most of the TestStand
capability is also available via customized toolbars, context menus, and tools
& services entries through VR Explorer and the VR Macro Recorder.
TestStand Engine Interface
The VR TestStand Engine Interface exposes properties and methods that are
involved with managing the set of Sequence Files loaded, and attributes of
how TestStand is to operate within the VR Process. This interface is located
under the TestStand Tool node in the VR Collective Tree:
Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 6

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Figure 3 TestStand Engine Interface in VR Collective Tree
The following table lists the capabilities of the TestStand Engine Interface:
CloseAll Close all open sequence files.

CloseSequenceFile Close a sequence file by file path.
CommentNameSelect Controls the label assigned to recorded
steps:
Name Uses the object name
URL Relative Uses a relative URL
URL Full Uses an absolute URL
Label Uses the object label field

ExecuteAll Execute all open sequences.
ExecuteSequenceFile Execute a sequence file. If the sequence file
is already open, this method will execute the
in memory version of the file. If the sequence
file is not open, this method will open the file,
execute, then close the file.
ExecuteTemplateFile Execute a vrt template file.
OpenSequenceFile Open a sequence file, with an option to
execute.
RecordURLStyle Controls how recorded steps reference VR
objects.
Use Full Path Full URL path used in

steps. This locks the
sequence to one target

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computer.
Use Relative Path URL has relative

computer. This allows
the sequence to
execute on multiple
computers.
TerminateAll Terminate all active executions.
Version Version of National Instrument’s TestStand
engine.
Figure 4 TestStand Engine Interface Table
TestStand Sequence File Interface
The TestStand Sequence File Interface exposes properties and methods for
managing a single Sequence File that has been loaded into memory. Every
Sequence File loaded is added to the SequenceFiles collection of the
TestStand Tool:
Figure 5 TestStand SequenceFiles Collection Entries
Each of the entries in the SequenceFiles collection represents a single

Sequence File loaded in memory. Expanding the entry will display the
following collection of capabilities:
Execute UUT Execute the sequence file in a loop.

ExecuteSinglePass Execute the sequence file once.

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FilePath File path of the sequence file. Read only.

IsDirty Indicates that the in memory version of the
sequence file differs from the version on the
hard drive.
IsExecuting Indicates that the sequence file is currently
executing. The sequence file can only have
one active execution at a time.
LastExecutionReportFi File path of the report file generated during
lePath the last execution. Read only.
Save Commit sequence file changes to disk.
Terminate Terminate the active execution.
Figure 6 TestStand Sequence File Interface Table
TestStand Sequence Interface
Each Sequence File entry additionally contains a “Sequences” collection.

Expanding the Sequences collection will reveal of the individual sequences
contained within the parent Sequence File:

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Figure 7 Collection of Sequences within a Sequence File
Further expanding a Sequence entry will reveal the Sequence Interface,

which exposes the ability to execute the individual sequence:
Execute Execute the sequence, single pass.

Figure 8 TestStand Sequence Interface Table
VR TestStand and VR Macro Recorder Operations

When the VR Macro Recorder is recording and NI TestStand has been
designated as the target recorder, then all the operations performed via the
VR Explorer are inserted as individual steps in the selected TestStand
sequence. The following sections walk through beginning a Macro,
appending steps, and ending the Macro.
Selecting Macro Recorder Target
The VR Explorer can designate any recordable Server as a Recorder target.

To select TestStand as the recorder target, first select TestStand under the
Tools, and then Select the \\Record\Set Recorder menu item under the
Record button of the MORE toolbar:
Figure 9 Selecting TestStand as the Macro Recorder Target
If only one possible macro recorder target exists in the current process, then
this is auto-selected as the target recorder.

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Begin Macro
To begin recording a Macro, the user selects the ‘Record …’ menu command
from the MORE toolbar:
Figure 10 Begin Macro toolbar menu item

New Macro
If a Macro is not already active, then this will also ask the operator to either
create a new Macro, or open an existing Macro. The following dialog allows
the user to select:
Figure 11 VR TestStand recording file path query

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After making the selection, an active recording sequence panel will popup
with the record light indicator flashing ( ) in the toolbar:
Figure 12 VR TestStand active recording sequence panel

Insert Step
A flashing record indicator indicates that recording is active, and any

subsequent user activity will be recorded. Each operator interaction is
inserted to the sequence as an individual step. Recorded operations can be
done anywhere in the VR Explorer including the VR Collective tree, the Task
Bar, any VR Panels, Forms, Watches, and Controls.
Interactive recording always records the default step of any given servlet.
Each servlet or server exposes varied additional step types as well. These
steps can be inserted by right clicking on the component, and picking from the
component’s list of available step types. These are listed under the \\Tools &
Services\TestStand context menu. This topic is covered under the VR
TestStand Context Menu section of this manual
End Macro
Users can start and stop the recording at any time by simply pressing the
record button, presses the toolbar stop button ( ) or closes the popup
sequence panel.
Note: A sequence cannot be executed during recording.

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Edit Macro
Macros can be easily edited in place by using the Sequence View’s toolbar
and Context Menus. Editing allows you to modify the recorded steps as well
as add additional steps for control flow, logic, and branching.
Properties of steps can also be modified to configure step behavior with

regards to sequence pass/fail criteria, skipping options, looping, variable
usage, etc. The complete array of TestStand step features and configuration
are exposed by right clicking on any step in the Sequence:
Figure 13 TestStand Sequence Editor
The possible step modifications made through the editor are expansive and
covered in the National Instruments TestStand documentation.

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The National Instruments TestStand external sequence editor and debugger

may also be used to edit Macro sequences created by the Virtual Rack®.
Editing can be accomplished simultaneously by accepting changes in both
the VR and TestStand every time the file is saved to disk:
Figure 14 Accept Changes dialog
Play Macro
Macros can be played back at anytime from various locations.
If the Macro Sequence View is already open, then the Macro can be played
back by simply pressing the triangular play button ( ) on the Sequence View
toolbar.
Macros can also be played from the Sequence File View, the TestStand
Engine View, and as always, directly from the VR Collective Tree view.
Playing Macros from these locations is covered later in this manual.
Macro Shortcuts
It is quite often useful to create your own collection of helpful Macros for the
operations that you perform on a specific rack of equipment. As you conduct
daily operations, consider the ease of doing your operations normally once
after hitting the record button. From then on, conducting the same operations
can be done by playing the Macro. As time goes on and procedures change,
you can manually edit the Macro and/or record appended steps to the Macro.

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After a while, you may have quite a few Macros recorded and would like a
way to quickly find and invoke any one of them. Collections of Macro
shortcuts are used to facilitate this capability.
A Macro shortcut is actually just a Sequence Control button that invokes a

specific Macro. If you have a dozen helpful Macros, then you would want to
have a dozen Macro one-click buttons available for pressing.
Forms and/or Watches can be used as Shortcut Panels to host the array of
Macro shortcut buttons. To create a Macro Shortcuts Panel, follow these
steps:
1) Record one or more helpful Macros into a Sequence File.

2) Add a step to your Mount Sequence to load this sequence file at startup.
3) Open an existing or new Form and/or Watch.
4) Drag the Sequence from each Macro in the VR Collective Tree you want a
shortcut for onto the Form and/or Watch.
The Form or Watch that you created will now have a button for each Macro as
a shortcut. You can add additional controls of course as well as helpful text
and graphics to the helper panel. Below are example Macro Shortcut Panels:

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Figure 15 Form based Macro Shortcut Panel
Figure 16 Watch based Macro Shortcut Panel
VR TestStand Context Menus

The VR TestStand Context menu exposes additional step recording options
available for the step type. The following is an example of the VR TestStand
context menu for a numeric property object.
Figure 17 VR TestStand context menu for numeric property

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Different VR object types expose different recording options.
Bitmap Type Recording Options

Numeric Record Write Numeric Value
Properties
Record a step to write the numeric property. The
value used defaults to the value of the numeric
property at the time of recording.
Record Read Numeric Value
Record a step to read the numeric value and write it

into a local TestStand variable.
Record a Numeric Limit Test
Record a test step that fails when the property value

is different than the comparison value. The
comparison value defaults to the property value at the
time of recording.
Boolean Record Write Boolean Value
Properties
Record a step to write the boolean property. The
value used defaults to the value of the boolean
property at the time of recording.
Record Read Boolean Value
Record a step to read the boolean value and write it

into a local TestStand variable.
Record Pass\Fail Test
Record a test step that will fail when the boolean

value is FALSE.
Record Numeric Limit Test
Record a test step that fails when the property value

is different than the comparison value. The
comparison value defaults to the boolean value at the
time of recording.
String Record Write String Value
Properties
Record a step to write the string property. The value

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used defaults to the value of the string property at the

time of recording.
Record Read String Value
Record a step to read the string value and write it into

a local TestStand variable.
Record String Value Test
Record a test step that fails when the string value is

different than the comparison value. The comparison
value defaults to the string value at the time of
recording.
Action Record Action Invoke
Record a step to invoke the action synchronously.

Method Record Method Invoke
Record a step to invoke the method, synchronously,

using default parameters.
Execution Record Execution
Record a step to invoke a method with a specific set

of parameters. Recording execution steps can be
done from the tree, by drilling into the method
execution history, but is most often done from the
execution control. Users can configure the method
parameters from the execution dialog parameter
spreadsheet, then record using the execute button
drop down menu.
Collection Record Collection
Used to perform mass recordings of interface

collections. The ‘Record Collection’ command will
popup a type selector, allowing the user to limit

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recording to one or more object types.
Select OK to record a default TestStand step for each

object in the collection that matches the type filter.
Figure 18 Servlet specific TestStand recording options
Selecting a VR TestStand record command will insert the step into the active
sequence.

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VR TestStand Tasks
The VR TestStand Tool adds a ‘Record TestStand step’ task to all recordable
objects in the system: properties, actions, methods and collections.
Figure 19 VR TestStand task entry
Clicking the VR TestStand ‘Record TestStand step’ will start an active

recording if one is not already active, (see the ‘Context Menu’ chapter for
details on starting an active recording), and record the default step type for
the given context. For example, numeric VR properties will record a write
value step, and VR Actions will record an action invoke step.

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VR TestStand Views
VR TestStand exposes three views: TestStand engine, TestStand sequence
file and TestStand sequence. The views are hierarchical with the TestStand
engine at the top. The engine then contains collections of sequence files, and
each sequence file then contains collections of sequences. It is easier to
cover these views from the bottom of the hierarchy and percolating up.
TestStand Sequence View
The sequence panel displays the TestStand steps contained within a single
sequence, as well as toolbar and menu commands for controlling the
sequence.
Figure 20 VR TestStand sequence view
The sequence spreadsheet columns are as follows:
Step Step name. Can be modified through the Menu->Rename

Step command.
Description The step description. Can be modified in the step

property dialog.
Execution Flow The execution behavior of the step. This can be modified
through the Menu->Run Mode menu command.

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Normal Step executes normally.
Skip Step is skipped
Force Pass The step does not execute. Instead, the

step status is set to Passed.
Force Fail The step does not execute. Instead, the

step status is set to Failed
Use the toolbar and right-mouse-click context menu to control the sequence
steps.
Bitmap Command Description

Open Sub- Applies only to ‘Sequence Call’ step types ( ).
Sequence This command will popup the target sequence of
the step, allowing users to drill down into nested
sequence calls.
Run Selected Execute the selected steps, single pass.
Steps
Loop On Execute the selected steps in a loop, as
Selected Steps specified in the ‘Loop on Selected Steps’ dialog.
… This command cannot be used from remote
computers
Run Mode Sub-menu for selecting the execution behavior

of the step: Normal, Skip, Force Pass, Force
Fail.
Rename Step Rename the selected step.
Delete Step Delete the selected steps.

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Insert Step Insert a step from a list of both Virtual Rack®

and TestStand steps types. See TestStand
documentation for a description of TestStand
step types.
Save Sequence Commit sequence file changes to disk. Note that

File this command applies to the sequence file,
meaning that changes to all contained
sequences will be saved.
Save Sequence Save the sequence file to a different file name.
File As …
Print … Print the sequence spreadsheet.
Anchor Forces the column widths to best fit with the
window width.
Best Fit A one time best fit to the window width. The
Columns column widths will not track changes in the
window size.
Properties … Popup the TestStand step properties dialog.
This command cannot be used from remote
computers.
Figure 21 Sequence View Context Menus Table
TestStand Sequence File View
The TestStand sequence file contains the list of sequences, and the
sequence file view reflects this in its configuration. The view toolbar has a
sequence selection combo box that sets the context on the contained
sequence view.

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Figure 22 VR TestStand sequence file view
The VR TestStand sequence file execution toolbar is at the top of the view.
Figure 23 VR TestStand sequence file execution toolbar
The sequence file execution toolbar play ( ) button is used to execute the
‘MainSequence’, single pass. The play button drop down menu contains
alternative execution options.
Figure 24 VR TestStand sequence file execution toolbar menu

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The ‘Single Pass’ command will execute the ‘MainSeq’ once. The ‘Test UUTs’
command will execute the sequence file ‘MainSequence’ in a loop.
The next section of the menu dynamically displays the sequences contained
within the current sequence file. Click a sequence name to execute a
contained sequence, single pass.
Use the toolbar stop button ( ) to terminate the active sequence file
execution.
The VR TestStand sequence file sub-sequence toolbar can be found to the

right of the execution toolbar.
Figure 25 VR TestStand sequence file sub-sequence toolbar
Use the sequence selection combo box to set the context of the embedded
sequence view. The delete button ( ) will remove the selected sequence
from the sequence file. Note that ‘MainSequence’ is a required sequence and
cannot be deleted. The ‘New’ button ( ) will create a new sequence in the
sequence file. Note that sequence names must be unique.
The VR TestStand report view displays the HTML report generated by a

TestStand execution.

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Figure 26 VR TestStand sequence file report view
TestStand execution reports are information rich and have a wide variety of
formatting options. Report options are configured using the ‘Report Options’
toolbar button on the VR TestStand engine toolbar – see the Engine view
section for more detail. Note that the VR TestStand sequence file report
viewer can only host HTML, and will fail to load when report are generated
with XML formatting.

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TestStand Engine View
The TestStand engine object contains the collection of sequence files, and
the engine view reflects this in its configuration. The VR TestStand engine
view is split into a sequence file view on the top and a sequence list on the
bottom. Select a sequence file from the list on the bottom to view it in the top
pane.
Figure 27 VR TestStand engine view
The VR TestStand engine view toolbar at the top of the bottom pane allows
the user to configure TestStand station options, as well as create\open\close
sequence files.
Figure 28 VR TestStand engine view toolbar

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Bitmap Command Description

Station Options Popup the TestStand station options
dialog, used to set computer wide
execution options for the TestStand
engine. See TestStand documentation for
a description of this dialog.
Report Options Popup the TestStand report options
dialog, used to control how and where
TestStand reports are generated. See
TestStand documentation for a
description of this dialog.
New Create a new sequence file.
Open Open a sequence file.
Close Closed the selected sequence file(s).
View View the selection panel – will default to
the first panel in the panel list.
Control Popup the selection control(s).
Browse Popup the selection panel – will default to
the first panel in the panel list.
Find in Tree Find the selection in the tree view.
Services List of services that can be applied to the
selection.
Print Print the spreadsheet.
Anchor Forces the column widths to best fit with
the window width.
Best Fit Columns A one time best fit to the window width.
The column widths will not track changes
in the window size.
Figure 29 TestStand Engine Context Menu Table

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Virtu^l R^ck®

TestStand Tool Manual

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

IN NO EVENT WILL ITI BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc.

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States.

Virtual Rack® is a trademark of Innovative Technologies, Inc. All brand

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

VR TESTSTAND TOOL ..........................................................................5

VR TestStand Interfaces ........................................................................................................................ 6

VR TestStand and VR Macro Recorder Operations............................................................................. 10

VR TestStand Context Menus .............................................................................................................. 16

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

Figure 1 TestStand Tool located under VR Tools Collection ................................................................. 5

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

VR TestStand Collective View

Figure 1 TestStand Tool located under VR Tools Collection

The VR TestStand mirrors this hierarchy with a TestStand engine object ( )

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc

Figure 2 TestStand hierarchy in VR Explorer

VR TestStand’s most notable feature is its ability to act as a recorder target

The VR Macro Recorder is covered in detail in the VR Explorer Manual.

TestStand Engine Interface

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 6

Figure 3 TestStand Engine Interface in VR Collective Tree

CloseAll Close all open sequence files.

Name Uses the object name

URL Relative Uses a relative URL

URL Full Uses an absolute URL

Label Uses the object label field

Use Full Path Full URL path used in

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 7

Use Relative Path URL has relative

Figure 5 TestStand SequenceFiles Collection Entries

Each of the entries in the SequenceFiles collection represents a single

Execute UUT Execute the sequence file in a loop.

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 8

FilePath File path of the sequence file. Read only.

Each Sequence File entry additionally contains a “Sequences” collection.

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 9

Figure 7 Collection of Sequences within a Sequence File

Further expanding a Sequence entry will reveal the Sequence Interface,

Execute Execute the sequence, single pass.

VR TestStand and VR Macro Recorder Operations

Selecting Macro Recorder Target

The VR Explorer can designate any recordable Server as a Recorder target.

Figure 9 Selecting TestStand as the Macro Recorder Target

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 10

Figure 10 Begin Macro toolbar menu item

Figure 11 VR TestStand recording file path query

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 11

Figure 12 VR TestStand active recording sequence panel

A flashing record indicator indicates that recording is active, and any

Note: A sequence cannot be executed during recording.

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 12

Properties of steps can also be modified to configure step behavior with

Figure 13 TestStand Sequence Editor

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 13

The National Instruments TestStand external sequence editor and debugger

Figure 14 Accept Changes dialog

Macros can be played back at anytime from various locations.

Copyright © 2006 Innovative Technologies, Inc 14

A Macro shortcut is actually just a Sequence Control button that invokes a