A name is a designation for an object of a certain type in PAtools.

Use names in two different ways:

  • Within groups for the definition of variables and objects. For example, name types for variables, tasks, and events.
  • For identification of group contents. For example, name types for programming and for tables.

A name is assigned centrally for each variable or object. The name is then stored in the database using a unique identification number (ID). The ID is used to reference the variable or object internally in the program.

Names exist for the following object types:

  • Sequence tables
  • Operation tables
  • DSO
  • Events
  • Results files
  • Functions
  • Variables
  • Buffers
  • Buffer types
  • Channel definition
  • Component interface
  • Component slots
  • Measurements
  • PAbasic
  • PAscript
  • Step tables
  • Value tables
Important You must use names for the object types listed above. Recreate non-existing names before you use an object.

Managing Names

In the PAconfigurator Development area, open the Names tab to edit, create, and delete names.

Filter names using one of the following menus:

  • Used Names
  • Type
  • Module

Elements of Names

The name under which the ID displays on the PAtools interface is composed of the following elements:

  • Base name—default name for an object
  • Type
  • Description
  • Attribute—freely selectable designation, used as an example for logical grouping of standard names or for filtering
  • System names—special form of attributes, names for control variables already present in the system by default

Names of variables have additional optional elements:

  • Data type
  • Decimals
  • Unit
Figure 5. Elements of the Name
Note A name must be unique. You cannot have identical names with different types.

Naming Rules

Rules for names include the following:

  • The name can be 1 to 255 characters long.
  • The first character must not be a number.
  • Names are not case sensitive.
  • The following special characters are allowed:
    • Dollar sign ($)
    • Underscore (_)
    • Hyphen (-)
    • Period (.)
    • Umlauts (ä, ö, ü)
Note The following characters are not allowed:
  • Spaces
  • ß
  • +
  • *
  • ?

Name Pool

Names are stored in the global names pool of the database. When you create a name, the name is initially only part of the name pool. When creating groups or tables, you can use the names pool. You can extend and change the name pool at any time.

Note Newly created names in the name pool are not yet in use.

If you select a name in a group or table, the name is used. Once you use a name or the associated ID, you cannot delete the name.

If you delete a name from a group or table, the name is not used in the group or table. The standard name or the corresponding ID still exists.

Figure 6. Name Pool

Alias Groups

An alias is another name for an object under which you can use the object in the system. Consequently, a base name can have multiple aliases. The alias group contains all alias names for an object. You can assign one group name per alias group.

The selection of the alias group defines which names are used in PAconfigurator and in the generated test.

Figure 7. Alias Groups
  • There is always the alias group base name.
  • A name belongs at minimum to the base name alias group.
  • The base names for objects are assigned in the base name alias group.

Merging Names

Merge names that are of the same type.

  1. Open the Names tab.
  2. Apply an appropriate search filter to find the names you want to assign.
  3. Select the names that you want to merge.
    Names must be of the same type.
  4. Right-click the names and select Merge Names.
    The Merge names dialog appears.
  5. From the names that you are merging, select the destination name.
    After a successful merge, the individual names are replaced by the name you select as the destination name.
  6. Click OK.
    A dialog indicates whether the merge was successful.

    In some cases, you cannot merge names. For example, you cannot merge two variables in the same variables group because of the uniqueness constraint for defined names. In this case, PAconfigurator merges the names as far as possible. In the resulting error dialog, click Remaining Name Usages to find the affected groups. Then, you can resolve the conflicts manually.