Creating a Plugin-Based Test Application

Use Execution Control nodes to create an extensible application. Extend your application so you can add components, such as plugins, to it after you build it.

Note

A plugin is a library component that has Identify library as a plugin enabled in its metadata.

What to Use

• Open Component Reference
• Component Reference Properties
• Open VI Reference
• Call By Reference
• Close Reference

What to Do

Create the following diagram to make a plugin-based test application.

Customize the gray sections for your unique programming goals.

	Open Component Reference returns a reference to a library component (or GLL) you specify with a name string. Note Do not include the file extension in the component name string.
	Component Reference properties reads the properties of a component reference you open with Open Component Reference. Wire the appropriate data type terminals to Component Information and Plugin? to review component metadata and determine whether the component is a plugin. Wire the Exports terminal to vi name in Open VI Reference to iterate over and run the exported VIs in the plugin.
	Open VI Reference returns a reference to a VI you specify with a name string. Wire component reference to open a VI from a specific library. Note You must wire a strictly typed VI reference to type specifier VI reference. The connector pane of the VI specified by vi name must match the connector pane of the VI wired to type specifier VI reference.
	Close Reference closes a reference to an open VI.
	Close Reference closes a reference to an open component.

Troubleshooting

• Make sure the connector pane of each exported VI in your component matches the connector pane of the type specifier VI reference. Refer to the Details tab of the Open VI Reference node for criteria for opening strictly typed reference.
• Make sure the expected plugins have Identify library as a plugin enabled in the metadata. To identify library component as a plugin, open the Library document and enable the Identify library as a plugin option from the Document tab.