Refer to the following sections for information about exporting instrument and device configurations for use with other NI products.

Exporting a Device Configuration

Once you have configured a device in InstrumentStudio, you can export the device's settings to a device configuration file, which can then be imported to LabVIEW or another application to apply the device configuration to a different session.
Note
  • You cannot import a device configuration file into InstrumentStudio. If you would like to save a layout or device configuration for future use in InstrumentStudio, you can either save the entire project (File » Save all) or an individual device's soft front panel (File » Save [device name].sfp).
  • The following waveform modes are not supported when exporting a configuration that includes a waveform generator:
    • List and Sweep mode
    • Arbitrary waveform mode with a .CSV waveform type
    • User-defined waveform mode

To export a device configuration, complete the following steps:

  1. Configure the device's settings.
  2. Open the instrument header menu and select Export » Driver configuration...
  3. Select the location to save the configuration file.
The device configuration file is saved to the location you specified.

To apply device settings from a device configuration file to a device session in LabVIEW, you must first import the device configuration file to LabVIEW using a driver-specific LabVIEW VI called Import Attribute Configuration. Each driver has its own implementation of Import Attribute Configuration. Refer to the driver's documentation for more information:

Device Driver Import Configuration VI
NI-SCOPE NI-SCOPE Import Attribute Configuration File
NI-DCPower NI-DCPower Import Attribute Configuration File
NI-DMM NI-DMM Import Attribute Configuration File
NI-FGEN NI-FGEN Import Attribute Configuration File

Exporting Configurations to TestStand

Exporting configurations saves time when automating test sequences in TestStand. Once you configure your hardware in InstrumentStudio, you can export your configuration for use in TestStand sequences. You can export device and panel configurations to recent and supported 64-bit versions of TestStand. You can then use these configurations with LabVIEW, C#, C, or CVI automation code in a TestStand sequence.

Refer to the following topics for more information on exporting device and panel configurations:

Exporting an InstrumentStudio Configuration

Before you export an InstrumentStudio configuration to TestStand, ensure that the following conditions are met:
  • Use a recent and supported 64-bit version of TestStand.
  • Instrument channels that you want to include in the export are not set to idle, because idle instrument channels are not exported to TestStand.
  • Select a specific site in the site filter, or select the System pins option to only export system pins. You cannot export an InstrumentStudio configuration if you select the All sites option in the site filter.
  1. From the top toolbar or the instrument header menu, select the Export to TestStand button ().
    Note If the Export to TestStand () button does not appear, ensure that you have a recent and supported version of TestStand installed.
  2. Specify a name for the exported configuration. You can configure the default format of the TestStand export name by selecting File » Preferences and navigating to the Export to TestStand section.
    InstrumentStudio creates an IO Configuration file, which contains both the driver configuration and the panel layout from InstrumentStudio.

Inserting an InstrumentStudio Configuration in a TestStand Sequence

When you insert an IO Configuration file into a TestStand sequence, TestStand creates a copy of the configuration file in the step you specify. When you run the sequence, the step creates sessions for the InstrumentStudio-configured instruments and applies the configuration to the new sessions.

These created sessions are automatically stored in local variables in TestStand. You can then pass the session from the variable to automation code in Action steps, apply a new configuration to the existing session using the variable, or use the session in a Sweep loop to configure the sequence of values for certain attribute in each instrument.

Note For more information on using TestStand, refer to TestStand documentation on ni.com.

Editing an Exported Configuration

You can edit an exported configuration in a specific TestStand step. Complete the following steps to edit an exported configuration from TestStand:

  1. Import an InstrumentStudio configuration to TestStand.
  2. Navigate to the TestStand step you would like to edit and select Edit. InstrumentStudio opens in Edit mode and displays the instrument panels in the same layout as the document you exported the configuration from.
  3. Edit the configuration in InstrumentStudio.
  4. Click OK. Any changes you made to the configuration commit back to the TestStand step or IO Configuration file you edited.