In November last year, National Instruments launched its NI TestStand 3.5 test management software, which offers native integration with the recently announced NI LabVIEW 8 as well as requirements management tools and industry-standard XML-based reporting.
Engineers can use NI TestStand 3.5 to quickly design, prototype and deploy automated test systems using test code modules developed in legacy and the latest programming environments, including the LabVIEW 8 graphical development environment and NI LabWindows/CVI 8.0 for ANSI C development as well as Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 and .NET. NI TestStand 3.5 integrates with the new LabVIEW 8 project library to improve the organisation and deployment of files in large automated test systems. With the improved deployment utility in NI TestStand 3.5, engineers can deploy all test system software, including driver software, in one distribution package and installer. This helps ensure all of the necessary software is installed on the deployment station to deliver a faster time to first test and reduced downtime.
"At Symtx, we design, manufacture and install hundreds of advanced functional test systems worldwide every year," said Paul Hiller, chief technology officer of Symtx. "Using NI TestStand, we quickly integrate automated test systems, based on widely adopted tools such as NI LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI and PXI, giving our customers fast, flexible test solutions."
NI TestStand 3.5 further expands connectivity with other industry standards and tools by delivering the first-ever Automated Test Markup Language (ATML) reporting interface and integration. ATML is a cooperative industry effort to define a collection of XML schemas to represent test information, such as test programs, test asset interoperability and unit under test (UUT) test data, which includes test results and diagnostics procedures. NI actively contributes to the definition of the ATML schemas and delivers the industry's first ATML TestResults schema interface in TestStand 3.5. As a result, engineers can use NI TestStand 3.5 to collect test data and automatically generate ATML reports to ensure standard data interfacing between test systems.
With the new requirements management integration in NI TestStand 3.5, engineers can link their requirements management software tools, such as Telelogic DOORS, IBM Rational RequisitePro and Microsoft Word and Excel with NI TestStand 3.5, using the upcoming NI Requirements Gateway software to track and trace requirements from documentation to implementation. This feature addresses the growing concern of engineers in many automotive, aerospace and medical organisations to ensure that their test coverage satisfies specific requirements.
NI TestStand 3.5 also includes a new password protection feature, which engineers can use to limit access to sequence files, prevent general viewing and protect intellectual property. Memory corruption detection is also available in NI TestStand 3.5 to monitor system memory when calling test modules. This detection gives developers an improved means for catching costly bugs in their code prior to deployment, which improves overall test quality and minimises downtime.
About NI TestStand
NI TestStand is a ready-to-run, commercial off-the-shelf test management environment and framework for organising, controlling and executing automated prototype, validation and manufacturing test systems. Engineers can quickly build test sequences with NI TestStand by incorporating tests written in NI LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Microsoft Visual C/C++, Visual Basic .NET and C#. Built on a high-speed, multithreaded execution engine, NI TestStand delivers the performance to meet most rigorous test throughput requirements. NI TestStand also integrates with NI measurement hardware including modular instruments and switches, offering a complete software and hardware platform for automated test.
About National Instruments
National Instruments (www.ni.com) is a technology pioneer and leader in virtual instrumentation - a concept that has changed the way engineers and scientists in industry, government and academia approach measurement and automation. Making effective use of PCs and commercial technologies, virtual instrumentation increases productivity and lowers costs for test, control and design applications through easy-to-integrate software, such as NI LabVIEW, and modular measurement and control hardware for PXI, PCI, USB and Ethernet. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 3 700 employees and direct operations in nearly 40 countries. In 2004, the company sold products to more than 25 000 companies in 90 countries.
For more information contact Michael Hutton, National Instruments SA, 011 805 8197.
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