PAtools Backward Compatibility

Test Stations

Introduced in PAtools 2024 Q2

Test stations and enhancements to the data source configurations replace test benches. Existing data sources will automatically migrate when you upgrade to PAtools 2024 Q2 or later. You must reconfigure previous runtime system configurations as test stations.

Default Configuration vs. Selected Test Station (Legacy)

Introduced in PAtools 8.2

PAconfigurator opens a window in which you must specify the test station database, until you complete the following:

  • Specify a default configuration
  • Change the launch behavior

Set Behavior at Launch (Legacy)

After you have defined a default configuration, PAconfigurator initially launches with the window in which you must define the test station configuration.

Complete the following steps to set the behavior at launch:

  1. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the PAtools installation directory.
  2. Open the Config subdirectory.
  3. Open the Common.config file in a text editor.
  4. Comment out the <add key="UseLegacyTestBenches" value="true"/> entry by prepending the <!-- string and ending the line with the --> string.
    <appSettings>
<!-- <add key="UseLegacyTestBenches" value="true"/> -->
</appSettings>
  5. Save the Common.config file.

At the next start the configured default test station is used. The window for selecting the test station is no longer displayed.

Notice After changing the start-up behavior, Test Bench Settings no longer starts as usual. Upon launch, a prompt appears asking if you want to start the new PAconfigurator. If you negate this query, the Test Bench Settings program closes.

Test Bench Settings (Legacy)

Introduced in PAtools 8.0

Prior to PAtools 8.0, test stations were managed with Test Bench Settings and stored in the Windows registry. This procedure was changed with PAtools 8.0 for data security reasons.

The test station data is now stored locally on each operator computer in a directory accessible to all users. This means you no longer need write access to the Windows registry.

However, the location change for test station data requires that you import the values formerly stored in the Windows registry once. Store the values in the new location. After that you can access the imported test station data in the same way as in older versions of PAtools.

Compatibility between QNX and NI Linux RT Controllers

PAtools supports PAtools Realtime on NI Linux. However, the following drivers and interfaces are not supported when using PAtools on NI Linux RT:

  • OPC/UA
  • PROFINET CIFX Hilscher slave cards
  • SMT
  • Addi-DATA APCI-1710 PCI

PAtools on NI Linux RT cannot enable system interrupts by accessing task clock sources.