You can export device configurations to different applications, such as LabVIEW and TestStand.

Limitations of Exporting a Device Configuration

You cannot export a configuration that includes a waveform generator with the following waveform characteristics:

  • Standard waveforms with the List or the Sweep operation mode.
  • Standard waveforms of the User-defined waveform mode.
  • Arbitrary waveforms that you create from a .csv waveform file.

Export a Device Configuration

After you configure a device in InstrumentStudio, you can export that configuration to a device configuration file. You can then import that configuration file to LabVIEW or another application to apply the device configuration to a different session.

  1. Configure the device.
  2. Open the instrument settings menu (A cogwheel icon for the instrument settings menu of InstrumentStudio.).
  3. Select Export » Driver configuration...
  4. Select the location to save the configuration file.

Import a Device Configuration

You cannot import a device configuration file into InstrumentStudio. If you want to save a layout or a device configuration for future use in InstrumentStudio, complete one of the following actions:

  • Save the entire project by clicking File » Save all.
  • Save the soft front panel of the device by clicking File » Save [device name].sfp.

To apply device settings from a device configuration file to a device session in LabVIEW, you must import the device configuration file to LabVIEW. To import the configuration file, use the Import Attribute Configuration LabVIEW VI. The implementation of the Import Attribute Configuration VI is driver-specific. For more information, see the appropriate driver documentation in the Related Information section.

Export Configurations to TestStand

You can export configurations to save time when you automate test sequences in TestStand.

After 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.

Export an InstrumentStudio Configuration

You can use InstrumentStudio to create an IO configuration file. This IO file contains the driver configuration and the panel layout from InstrumentStudio.

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 in the Idle operation mode. InstrumentStudio does not export the configuration of instrument channels in the Idle operation mode.
  • 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.

You can configure the default format of the exported file name by selecting File » Preferences and navigating to the Export to TestStand section.

  1. From the top toolbar or the instrument header menu, select the Export to TestStand button (An icon of checkmark that exports settings to TestStand from InstrumentStudio.).
    Note If the Export to TestStand (An icon of checkmark that exports settings to TestStand from InstrumentStudio.) button does not appear, ensure that you have a recent and supported version of TestStand installed.
  2. Specify a name for the exported configuration.
InstrumentStudio now creates an IO configuration file. The IO file contains the driver configuration and the panel layout from InstrumentStudio.

Insert an InstrumentStudio Configuration in a TestStand Sequence

You can insert your IO configuration file as a step within a TestStand sequence.

When you insert an IO configuration file into a TestStand sequence, TestStand creates a copy of the configuration file. You can specify the step in which TestStand copies the configuration file. When you run the sequence, this step creates sessions for the InstrumentStudio-configured instruments. Then, TestStand applies the configuration to the new sessions.

TestStand automatically stores the new sessions in local variables. You can do the following actions with the local variables:
  • Pass a session from the local variable to automation code in Action steps
  • Apply a new configuration to an existing session
You can also use the new session in a sweep loop to configure the sequence of values for different attributes in each instrument.

For more information on using TestStand, see TestStand User Manual in the Related Information section.

Edit an Exported Configuration

You can edit an exported configuration in a specific TestStand step. The changes to the configuration commit back to the TestStand step or the IO configuration file that you edited.

  1. Import an InstrumentStudio configuration to TestStand.
  2. Navigate to the TestStand step that you want to edit.
  3. Select Edit.
    InstrumentStudio opens in Edit mode and displays the instrument panels in the same layout as the document you exported the configuration from.
  4. Edit the configuration in InstrumentStudio.
  5. Click OK.