Optimizing Testing Speed in TestStand

Optimizing Testing Speed in TestStand

In order to improve test execution time in TestStand, disable acquisition by unchecking Force initialisation and Force Acquisition on the Sequencer tab of the VMS Configuration panel after the first NI VMS Analyzer Setup step if the acquired video signal from the previous step is valid for the current measurement step. By initializing and acquiring only when needed, you will significantly reduce the test execution time of your application.

To explain in greater detail, a full measurement cycle consists of initialization, acquisition, measurement and measurement shutdown (Close).

In a sequencer environment where multiple measurement cycles are executed it is feasible to avoid the unnecessary and time-consuming parts of the cycles such as

• Hardware initialization before each measurement cycle
• Measurement shutdown after each measurement cycle
• Unnecessary acquisitions where the previous data acquired can be re-used.

The user has full control over these optimizations through the Force Initialise, Force Acquire, and Force Close buttons. Refer to Sequencer Tab for more information.

Enable Force Initalise in a TestStand step in the following circumstances:

• The step is the first in a TestStand sequence.
• You change the signal type within the same test sequence, e.g., change from CVBS to S-Video or one of the CAV formats.
• You choose Auto on Initialise in the Voltage Range control on the Hardware Configurator and you have varying input signals.
• You enable Reset on Initialise in the Reset Mode control on the Hardware Configurator, and you want to reset the board.

It is unnecessary and time-consuming to perform hardware initialization before each measurement cycle, so you do not need to enable Force Initialise in a step in a sequence in which one or more of the following settings change:

• lines
• frames
• sample rate
• line interval measurement
• channel
• video triggering