Introduction to the LabVIEW Unit Test Framework Toolkit

The LabVIEW Unit Test Framework Toolkit provides tools you use to check VIs for functional correctness.

When you create a test from the Project Explorer window, LabVIEW creates an .lvtest file on disk. Each .lvtest file contains the settings LabVIEW uses to check the VI under test for functional correctness. When you execute a test, LabVIEW runs the VI under test by using the input values you specified for each test case in the .lvtest file. LabVIEW then compares the resulting values with the expected values by using the comparison types you specified.
Note The Unit Test Framework Toolkit cannot check polymorphic VIs for functional correctness.

Using the Unit Test Framework Toolkit involves the following steps:

  1. Creating projects and tests: You must create and save a LabVIEW project before you can create tests. Use projects to group together all the files you need to perform unit testing. Use the Project Explorer window to create tests.
  2. Configuring tests: Use the Project Explorer window to configure tests interactively. You also can configure tests by editing .lvtest files. Each .lvtest file contains the settings you specify for a test.
  3. Managing tests: Use virtual folders, auto-populating folders, and LabVIEW project libraries to organize a project. You can drag and drop files inside the Project Explorer window to manage a project. Use the Project Explorer window to find tests and VIs.
  4. Executing tests: Use the Project Explorer window to execute tests interactively. You also can execute tests programmatically by using the Unit Test Framework VIs.
  5. Viewing test results and generating reports: Use the Unit Test Framework Results window to view test results. The Project Explorer window also displays results from the test execution. You can generate test reports in different formats. Test reports contain results from the execution. You can customize test reports by specifying the contents of the reports. You also can format HTML reports by using a Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) file. In addition, you can generate log files during test execution.