Synchronization Tab

The Synchronization tab of the Step Properties dialog box specifies a synchronization action TestStand performs around the execution of the step. You can specify that a lock protects the execution of the step or that the step synchronizes with other steps in a batch execution.

The Synchronization tab contains the following options:

• Use Lock to Allow Only One Thread at a Time to Execute the Step —When you enable this option, the step acquires a lock before it executes and releases the lock after it completes.
• Lock Name or Reference Expression —The lock the step acquires and releases. Enter a string expression to specify the name of an existing lock. You can also enter an expression that evaluates to an object reference to an existing Lock object. Leave the control empty to specify if TestStand uses a lock unique to the step.
• Batch Synchronization —The batch synchronization operation the step enters before it executes and exits after it completes..
  • Use sequence file setting —Steps use the batch synchronization setting located in the Sequence File Properties dialog box for the sequence file the step is in.
  • Use model setting —Steps use the batch synchronization setting in the Sequence File Properties dialog box for the process model. New sequences specify this setting by default.
  • No synchronization —No batch synchronization is used for steps.
  • Serial (one thread at a time) —Steps use a Serial section to ensure that each thread in the batch executes each step sequentially and in the order you specify when you create the batch. When all threads in a batch arrive at a step, TestStand releases one thread at a time in ascending order according to the order number you assign to the threads when you add them to the batch using the Batch Specification step type. As each thread executes the step, the next thread in the batch executes the step. After all threads in the batch execute the step, they continue to the next step.
  • Parallel (all threads enter simultaneously) —TestStand releases all the threads simultaneously when all threads in the batch arrive at their respective instances of a step. Each thread blocks after executing the step until all threads continue together.
  • One thread only (first thread executes step, remaining threads skip) —Only one thread in the batch executes a step. Typically, you use this type of section to perform an operation that applies to the batch as a whole, such as raising the temperature in a test chamber. When all threads in a batch arrive at their respective instances of the step, TestStand releases only the thread with the lowest order number. When that thread executes the step, all remaining threads in the batch skip the step. The threads in the batch then continue together.

See Also

Sequence File Properties dialog box

Synchronization Step Types