Test management software

National Instruments' NI TestStand 3.5 test management software 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 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 organization 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.

NI TestStand 3.5 also features an 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 contributed to the definition of the ATML schemas and can now provide what it says is 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.

Engineers can also now 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 organizations 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 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 minimizes downtime.