PAtools New Features and Changes
- Updated2026-04-22
- 5 minute(s) read
PAtools New Features and Changes
Learn about updates, including new features and behavior changes, introduced in each version of PAtools.
PAtools 2026 Q2 Changes
PAtools 2026 Q2 includes new features such as using NI Nigel™ AI in PAconfigurator, adding DUT components to DUT types, and MQTT integration.
PAconfigurator
This version of the PAtools adds support for the following features:
- Using NI Nigel™ AI in PAconfigurator to summarize online documentation or open other PAtools applications.
- Opening PAdesigner from PAconfigurator.
- Viewing dependency diagrams for modules in PAconfigurator.
- Attaching seed-key libraries to an XCP group.
- Uploading all versions of a test procedure to SystemLink at one time.
- Adding optional DUT components to DUT types.
- Adding required DUT components, grouped as categories, to DUT types.
- Configuring up to 20 runtime systems.
Support for Real-Time Systems
This version of the PAtools adds support for the following real-time systems:
- MQTT
- CAN-Logger on NI-XNET cards
- Modbus RTU with NI-843x
- Addi-DATA-APCI-1710 PCI on Linux RT
- iLinkRT on Linux RT
- Creating DSOs with MATLAB/Simulink on Linux RT
PAtools 2025 Q4 New Features and Changes
Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 2025 Q4.
PAconfigurator
- Added ability to add input parameters to a DUT type using a table.
- Added ability to upload DUT types to SystemLink.
- Added ability to upload PAtools test stations to SystemLink as virtual systems.
- Added ability to select a SystemLink workflow when defining an execution workflow.
- Added the ability to update a module and all module dependencies at once.
PAcontroller
- Added ability to open PAcontroller and userboxes offline.
- Added ability to create a test station or discover test stations in PAcontroller.
Support for Real-Time Systems
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for the following serial devices:
- PXIe-4830
- PXIe-4831
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for the Enclustra ME-PE1-R1 FPGA device.
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for the following Hilscher PROFIBUS devices:
- CIFX-50-DP
- CIFX-80-DP
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for the following Hilscher PROFINET devices to
be a master:
- CIFX-50-RE
- CIFX-80-RE
PAtools 2025 Q3 New Features and Changes
Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 2025 Q3.
Support for Real-Time Systems
- Added support for a seed-key algorithm to execute when using an XPC protocol.
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for PAcluster.
PAtools 2025 Q2 New Features and Changes
Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 2025 Q2.
PAconfigurator
- Added new editors for EtherCAT Master and PAbasic.
- Added a CAN DBC importer.
- Added functionality for defining certain DUT parameters as product-supplied inputs to a test when creating a DUT type or DUT in PAtools.
- Added functionality to version DUTs.
- Added support for SystemLink Enterprise calendar scheduling for slot selection.
- Added functionality to generate reloadable objects.
- Added support for hosting the PAtools Microsoft SQL database on the Microsoft Azure cloud.
- Removed the concept of multiple configurations per DUT. Each DUT can have only one configuration.
- Added functionality to configure custom selection lists in value tables
PAcontroller
- Added drag-and-drop functionality for moving variables from the variables grid into graphs and other UI elements.
PAscript
- Added support for posting alarm statuses in SystemLink Enterprise.
- Added a PAscript language extension for manipulating JSON strings.
Support for Real-Time Systems
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for ADV-PCI 1602 (Modbus RTU).
- Added NI Linux Real-Time support for UPS devices using a serial interface that leverages the CTS pin on the COM port.
PAtools 2024 Q4 New Features and Changes
Learn about new features, behavior changes, and other updates in PAtools 2024 Q4.
PAconfigurator
- Added new editors for PAscript, PAgraph++, and EtherCAT Hotconfig.
- Added support to upload Test Procedures, Test Stations, and DUTs to SystemLink.
- Added support to define certain Test Procedure and DUT parameters as inputs to a test. This feature is available when you create a test using this Test Procedure or DUT in PAtools or SystemLink.
- Allow Test Procedures to be versioned.
- Allow hosting the PAtools Microsoft SQL database on the Amazon Web Service (AWS) cloud.
- Removed the ability to create a Test Environment.
- Removed the Media Library feature.
- Removed the cmp folder for Test Component generation.
The Test Component is now generated in the following folders:
- From the test landing page: vspN/cmp/<Socket_name>/test_package
- From the development page: vspN/cmp/test_package
Support for Real-Time Systems
- Install PAtools for NI Linux Real-Time using MAX, SystemLink, and a USB drive.
- Removed support for QNX operating systems.
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.
Related Information
- Viewing Dependency Diagrams
After creating modules, you can view the dependencies between modules in a dependency diagram.
- Attaching Seed-Key Libraries to an XCP Group
In PAconfigurator, attach the seed-key security mechanism to the XCP group you created.
- Uploading Test Procedures to SystemLink
You can upload a PAtools test procedure to SystemLink as a test plan template. When uploaded the first time, PAtools creates a new test plan template in SystemLink for the PAtools test procedure. PAtools creates an association between them. For subsequent uploads, PAtools updates the associated test plan template in SystemLink.
- Creating a DUT Type
Create a DUT type to create a DUT template. Creating a DUT template allows you to easily configure individual DUTs for a test.
- NI Nigel AI
NI Nigel AI is an AI which brings a wealth of knowledge about PAtools into your design process. Nigel can explain key PAtools concepts to help you create PAtools tests. Nigel is powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI.
- PAdesigner
PAdesigner is a graphical editor that allows you to configure and parameterize user boxes.
- Configuring an MQTT Broker
Configure your network to use a Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) broker with PAscript.
- MQTT
Use Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) functions and data types to configure MQTT communication.
- Configuring the NI-XNET Driver for CAN
Configure the NI-XNET driver for CAN if you use NI hardware.
- Creating a Test Station
Create a test station in PAtools for each test station in your lab.
- Adding an Execution Workflow
An execution workflow defines how a SystemLink test plan should be generated, deployed, started, and stopped.
- Converting Multiple Modules
Convert multiple legacy modules at once.
- Opening a Workspace in PAcontroller Offline
You can open a workspace in an offline version of PAcontroller when you start PAcontroller Offline <version> .
- Opening PAcontroller Offline from PAconfigurator
If you launch PAcontroller from PAconfigurator, you can view userboxes in a workspace offline.
- Discovering Test Stations
Scan local hosts and configured hosts to find test stations in PAcontroller.
- Adding a Test Station in PAcontroller
If you are running PAcontroller on a machine without access to the PAtools database, create a locally stored test station in PAcontroller.
- Configuring Hardware
Configure all hardware that the real-time system starts. Add new Hardware nodes for each device and hardware interface that the real-time system uses.
- Configuring FPGA
Configure the FPGA card in PAtools PCU Configuration.
- Configuring the Channels Group
Configure the channels group to set up communication between the device drivers and the test.
- Configuring PROFIBUS
Configure PROFIBUS for standard fieldbus communication.
- Configuring the PROFIBUS Group
Configure a PROFIBUS master and PROFIBUS slaves to make your data available to an external controller.
- Configuring PROFINET RT
Configure the PROFINET RT card in PAtools PCU Configuration.
- Configuring the PROFINET RT Group
Configuring a PROFINET RT controller and a PROFINET RT device allows you to make your data available to an external controller.
- Creating a Shared Object for the Seed-Key Algorithm
An extension to the XCP editor allows you to create a shared object for the seed-key algorithm. The algorithm in the shared object runs on an Intel CPU.
- Configuring PAcluster
Configure PAcluster to distribute the execution of test components across multiple PXI controllers.
- Configuring the Component Slot Configuration Group
Configure the componentslot-configuration group to define the slots that a test uses for the connected test components.
- Configuring Test Components
Use the test wizard to configure a DUT, test procedure, and application type for the new test. The test wizard automatically filters compatible DUTs, test procedures, and application types as you configure each component.
- Configuring Simple Selection Lists
Configuring a simple selection list allows you to select preconfigured items when defining a table.
- Versioning DUTs
Create a version of an existing DUT to upload the DUT to SystemLink and improve the traceability of changes to DUT input parameters.
- Versioning Test Procedures
Version a test procedure for improved traceability of changes or to create test procedure versions with unique input parameters. You must version a test procedure to upload a test procedure to SystemLink.
- JSON Data Types and Functions
Use the PAscript JSON functions and the data types to build JSON strings.
- Installing PAtools for NI Linux Real-Time Using MAX
- PAtools Installation and Configuration
Install PAtools on Windows or NI Linux Real-Time.
- PAconfigurator
PAconfigurator is a tool for database-based configuration and management of tests. PAconfigurator guides you through the test creation process to ensure that only fully configured tests are sent to the Test Station.