Browse updates and changes made in PAtools versions on extended support.

Note If you cannot find changes for your version, it might be a more recent version, documented as a new feature. Or, your version might not have included user-facing updates. You can find more information about non-visible changes, such as bug fixes, compatibility updates, and stability adjustments or maintenance adjustments, in the product Release Notes, available on ni.com.

PAtools 2024 Q2

Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 2024 Q2.

PAconfigurator

  • New editors for PROFIBUS, component interfaces, measurements, CAN, classifications, results files, PROFINET RT, and DSO configurations.
  • Added support for integration of graphical programming editors.
  • Enhancements to existing group editors. Enhanced the ability to expand parameter columns, improved multi-level view, and improved explorer search with links.
  • Create new test stations. Test stations combine the functionalities of test stations and compatibility settings, available in PAtools 8.3 and earlier.
  • Default and Use additional login flags are included in the Data Source. These flags were used in test stations until PAtools Version 8.3.
  • Deprecated support for the ExecAgent, procdump, RUICOMV2, KennfeldKonverter, PAlink, and Plink executables.

PAtools Installation on Windows OS

Install your PAtools software on a Windows OS using Package Manager.

Support for Real-Time Systems

  • When using NI Linux Real-Time, formerly each PAtools runtime system was capped at 3.9 GB. Now, larger memory allocations are allowed. The total memory allocated to all runtime systems must be less than 50% of the total memory available on the machine.
  • Added support for analysis of cycle losses using kernel shark and trace compass.
  • Added NI Linux Real-Time support for NI-XNET on Spectra Systems.
  • Added NI Linux Real-Time support for PROFIBUS CIF from Hilscher.
  • Added NI Linux Real-Time support for XCP Version 1.5 for CAN, CAN/FD, and UDP.
  • When upgrading from a previous version of PAtools, DSOs should be rebuilt with a 64bit compiler.

PAtools 8.3

Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 8.3.

Note NI released a patch for PAtools 8.3. Contact NI Support to get the patch for PAtools 8.3.

PAconfigurator

  • New editors for the following components:
    • Sequence tables
    • Step tables
    • Value tables
    • Tasks
    • Events
    • Pointers
  • Introduced fully integrated development experience and detail improvements to increase test efficiency.
  • Integrated Excel support for all new editors.

Support for Real-Time Systems

  • Added initial support for NI Linux® Real-Time (64-bit).
  • Redesign measurements and optimize data handling.
  • Write data from multiple tasks directly into one MDF4 file. Combining MDF4 files for multiple tasks is no longer required.
  • (Linux only) Added ability to define and use a Shared Memory (PAB) with a size up to 3.9 GB.