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Custom NI TestStand Reports
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Common tactics you can use:
From ‘off-the-shelf easy’…
to 99% tailored solutions.
Introduction
• In business since 1991: Turnkey Test Systems,
• Select Alliance Partners
with National Instruments in
the New England area
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• In business since 1991: Turnkey Test Systems,
Energy Storage Test Systems, Training, Consulting
•Your Speaker: Elaine Ramundo (CLA, CTA, CCVID, Senior Project Engineer, Principle
Trainer – TestStand startup & customization specialist)
TestStand & Reports
• Four ‘flavors’ of reporting built in!
• ‘Ready to Run’ reports are a little… generic.
How can Beginners ensure that they get the most
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How can Beginners ensure that they get the most
custom report possible, without the stress?
How can advanced users leverage their knowledge
of TestStand to create totally custom solutions?
Review of TS Modularity – Result List
Main Sequence
Step 0 Results:
Name
Status
Error
…
Locals. ResultList[0,1,…]
Report Generator
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…
Step 1 Results:
Name
Status
Error
…
…
…
Report Generator
…
Review of TS Modularity – Data Scope
• Step Results have a
natural flow through
the system.
Process Model
With Variables
& Step Results
Your Test Code
With Variables
and Step Results
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the system.
• Your custom data,
can flow through
too!
i.e. SequentialModel.seq
Your Database
Your Report
Report Generation Specifics
• Don’t forget the ‘easy settings available within the
environment.
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environment.
• Even building complex or custom report paths are
possible, so long as the data is known to TS during
report name creation timeframe
Report Generation Process
• DLLs vs. Sequences
Most common modifications are
sequence-based to provide
maximum control.
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maximum control.
Even if speed is essential, do ‘dry-
runs’ with sequences in order to
quickly debug and finalize
expected output.
Ways of Packaging A Report
• Built-in Styles
� TXT
� XML
• Custom Styles
� TXT (custom data/format)
� XML (custom data/format)
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� XML
� HTML
� ATML
� XML (custom data/format)
� XLS
� DOC
� Folders & Zips
Demo: Get your ‘Extra’ data in there!
• Leverage “Additional Reports” property
whenever possible to leverage TS’s ability to
auto format even your complex data
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TestStand API & Custom Reports
• Avoid/Limit editing the process model where
possible by leveraging the API’s ability to tweak
things on the fly.
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things on the fly.
• You don’t have to be a TS guru to master a few
simple tricks
� PropertyObject.SetValString() with CreateIfMissing
flag
� Execution.AddExtraResult()
Demo: TestStand API
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TestStand Callbacks & Custom
Reports
• Modify Report Footer
• Modify Report Entry
• Modify Report Header
Change just pieces of
your report on the fly…
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• Modify Report Header
• TestReportOr dig in, and change
the whole report!
DEMO: TestStand Callbacks
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Custom Report Templates in TestStand
Dig in for a full scale
customization when:
•You need report structure
that doesn’t match any
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that doesn’t match any
existing template
•You need report
content/syntax that doesn’t
match any template
DEMO: Custom Report Template
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Deploying your Custom Report
• Keep it modular!
Keep it documented!
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• Protect your
customization from
future changes
Summary
In TestStand you generally have the luxury of
starting a simple fix before implementing a
formalized solution…
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formalized solution…
Save on stress and let the product do the work
when possible via ‘Additional Results’, ‘Callbacks’
and quick API calls!
Questions?
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Come by our booth on the convention floor
and see our battery test system!
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