Creating a Subsequence from Selected Steps

You can create a new subsequence from selected steps in a sequence file. TestStand will replace the steps you select in the parent sequence with a Sequence Call step to call the new subsequence. TestStand will also create variables and update expressions for the new subsequence and will delete Local variables that are no longer referenced by the remaining steps in the parent sequence.

In the Steps Pane context menu , select New Subsequence from Steps . You can choose to perform the operation With Preview or Without Preview . If you choose to preview the operation, TestStand will launch the Preview dialog box, which contains the following options:

• Sequence Options —The Preview dialog box contains the following sequence options:
  • Subsequence Name —Specifies the name of the subsequence. A default name is loaded when the dialog box launches.
  • Use Current Sequence File —This option is selected by default. When you select this option, a new subsequence will be created in the current sequence file. You can select a different sequence file in which to create the subsequence by unselecting this option.
  • Sequence File Path —The pathname of the sequence file in which to create the new subsequence.
  • Delete Locals No Longer Used In Parent Sequence —Deletes Local variables that are no longer referenced by the remaining steps in the parent sequence. This option is selected by default.
• Subsequence Options —The Preview dialog box contains the following subsequence options:
  • Potential Parameters —Lists the potential parameters that will be created in the new sequence. A variable is listed as a potential parameter if that variable is referenced by the remaining steps in the parent sequence or if that variable belongs to the Parameters variable group in the parent sequence. Unchecking Use Current Sequence File and selecting a different sequence file path processes the variables in the File Globals variable group in the parent sequence and adds them as parameters if a variable is used by the selected steps.
  • Original Location —Displays the location of the selected parameter in the parent sequence.
    Note Unchecking a variable in the potential parameter list moves the variable to the original variable group (original location). If a variable’s original variable group is Parameters, then unchecking is not allowed for that variable.

  Expanding a potential parameter displays auto-resolved references and/or possible references:

  • Auto-Resolved References —Lists the references that can be resolved to the selected variable at Edit time. The expressions in the referenced locations are updated to refer to the selected variable.
  • Possible References —Lists the references that cannot be resolved to the selected variable at Edit time and can only be resolved during runtime. Expressions in the Possible References are editable.
  • Selected Reference Expression —Displays the expression in the selected location of Auto-Resolved or Possible References.

Right-click on an auto-resolved reference or a possible reference to access the context menu. The context menu contains the following options, which are disabled by default:

• Revert —When you edit an expression that is listed as a possible reference, this option is enabled for that reference and any other related reference. Selecting this option reverts the expression to its original state (the state immediately following the creation of the subsequence), regardless of the number of edits you have made.
• Redo —This option is enabled if you choose to revert an edited expression. Selecting this option undoes the revert operation and restores the changes you made to the expression before you reverted to the original.

When you click OK , TestStand will create a sequence file for the new subsequence and move the steps you selected in the parent sequence into the subsequence. TestStand will also create any necessary variables and update expressions for the new subsequence. A Sequence Call step will be inserted in the parent sequence to call the new subsequence and pass appropriate parameters. If you selected the Delete Locals No Longer Used In Parent Sequence option, TestStand will delete Local variables in the parent sequence that are no longer referenced by the remaining steps.