TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 Readme

October 2021

This file contains installation instructions and compatibility information for TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4.

You can find more release information on ni.com.


Overview

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

Application Software Support

Installation Instructions

Product Security and Critical Updates

Accessing the Help

Finding Examples

Automating the Installation of NI Products

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Unsupported Windows Operating Systems

Legal Information


Overview

TestStand Semiconductor Module adds the following features and functionality to TestStand for developing semiconductor test system software:

  • Multisite pin map file, TestStand Semiconductor Module Code Module APIs, and Semiconductor Multi Test step type for developing a semiconductor test program that runs on multiple test system hardware configurations with a variable number of test sites at a high parallel test efficiency
  • Support for binning devices under test (DUTs) based on test results
  • Support for exporting and importing test limits with text files
  • Data types, configurable callbacks, and dialog boxes for specifying test program settings, test station settings, and test lot information
  • Plug-in architecture for handler and prober communication using TestStand Semiconductor Module handler/prober drivers
  • Result processing plug-ins for generating report and data log files for the test lot, such as Standard Test Data Format (STDF) log files
  • Plug-in architecture for performing part average testing
  • Customizable operator interface for executing test programs, enabling or disabling test sites, displaying statistics, and configuring test lot information and test station settings
  • A set of step types with template code to perform common operations, such as setting up and closing instruments, powering up a DUT, or executing common tests
  • Customizable pin- and site-aware instrument panel VIs for debugging instruments during test program execution at a breakpoint

New TestStand Users

If you are a new TestStand user, NI recommends that you complete the tasks listed in the New Users section of the Guide to Documentation topic of the TestStand Help, which is located by default at <TestStand>\Doc\Help\TSHelp.chm. Select Help»TestStand Help to launch the TestStand Help.

New TestStand Semiconductor Module Users

To familiarize yourself with TestStand Semiconductor Module, review the topics in the Getting Started book in the TestStand Semiconductor Module Help, which is located by default at <TestStand>\Doc\Help\TSSemiconductor.chm. Select Help»TestStand Help and navigate to the TestStand Semiconductor Module book in the table of contents. The TestStand Semiconductor Module Help also contains information about all module features and functionality.

Upgrade Users

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of TestStand Semiconductor Module, refer to the TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 New Features and the TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 Compatibility and Known Issues topics in the TestStand Semiconductor Module Help for compatibility information and major feature changes. Select Help»TestStand Help and navigate to the TestStand Semiconductor Module book in the table of contents.

Note  If you are upgrading from an earlier version of TestStand Semiconductor Module and use a custom operator interface based on the TestStand Semiconductor Module 2013 or earlier operator interface source code, you must re-implement the custom operator interface to use the latest TestStand Semiconductor Module operator interface source code, which includes improvements for performance, customization, and maintenance.

System Requirements

TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 has the following requirements:

  • Pentium 4/M or equivalent (Pentium G1 or higher recommended)
  • At least 300 MB of disk space. This value is in addition to the free hard disk space TestStand requires.
  • 1 GB RAM (2 GB or more recommended)

Supported Operating Systems

TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 supports the following operating systems:

  • Windows 10
  • Windows Server 2016

Notes

  • Refer to Unsupported Windows Operating Systems for more information about support for Microsoft Windows OSes.
  • TestStand does not support Guest user accounts on Windows.
  • TestStand Semiconductor Module no longer supports Windows 7/8.x, Windows Server 2012, or any 32-bit Windows operating system. TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 will not install or run on an unsupported OS. You cannot deploy or distribute applications that use TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 to an unsupported OS. Additionally, after installing TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4, you cannot use any installers built on this computer with any version of LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI™, NI TestStand™, or Measurement Studio on an unsupported OS.

    For more information about the changes to our OS support, visit https://www.ni.com/r/win32bitsupport.

Application Software Support

TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 supports the following application software versions, including service packs. If you are using Microsoft Visual Studio, refer to Microsoft Visual Studio Support.

Requirement Recommended Minimum Comments
TestStand (32- or 64-bit)
2020
2020
Refer to the Recommended System Requirements section of the TestStand Version 2020 Release Notes for information about the recommended system requirements for TestStand.
LabVIEW (32- or 64-bit)
2020
2017
TestStand Semiconductor Module APIs are compiled for the LabVIEW 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Run-Time Engines. The LabVIEW operator interface, Lot and Station Settings dialog boxes, and simulated handler are compiled for the LabVIEW 2019 Run-Time Engine.
(Optional) NI-DAQmx 16.1.0f2 or later .NET API
The TestStand Semiconductor Module NI-DAQmx .NET Code Module API requires the NI-DAQmx 16.1.0f2 or later .NET API.

Microsoft Visual Studio Support

If you are using the TestStand Semiconductor Module .NET Class Library, .NET Framework 4.0 (minimum) is required. The TestStand Semiconductor Module .NET Class Library can be used with Visual C# or Visual Basic .NET in any Visual Studio version that can target .NET Framework 4.0 or .NET Framework 4.5.

To use the .NET API, you must install the .NET class libraries or the .NET wrapper in addition to the NI device driver. For information about versions of the .NET Framework and the drivers each supports, as well as the download location of the installer files, refer to NI .NET Support.

Installation Instructions

Download the TestStand Semiconductor Module installer from ni.com/downloads. NI software includes NI Package Manager to handle the installation. Refer to the NI Package Manager Manual for more information about installing, removing, and upgrading NI software using Package Manager.

Notes

  • If Windows Update is enabled, the installation process might hang if Windows Update interferes with the installation of Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 Run-Time. Visit ni.com/r/exjq43 for more information and steps to resolve this issue.
  • If you purchased this product with an NI Software Suite or NI Product Bundle, use the installation media that shipped with your purchase to install this product.
  • Use the serial number that is included with your software to activate TestStand Semiconductor Module. For more information on TestStand Semiconductor Module activation, refer to Activating a Product.

The TestStand Semiconductor Module installation program installs files for TestStand and LabVIEW, including the LabVIEW 2020 Run-Time Engine.

Notes

  • TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 installs SeqEdit.exe.config in the <TestStand>\Bin directory and overwrites any existing file with the same filename in that directory. If you have created a custom SeqEdit.exe.config file, complete the following steps to preserve the custom file.
    1. Move the existing SeqEdit.exe.config file to a location outside the <TestStand> directory.
    2. Install TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4.
    3. Compare the SeqEdit.exe.config file TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 installed to the custom version of the file and merge the custom changes into the file TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4 installed.
  • If you are installing more than one NI product, visit ni.com/r/tsminstall for information about installation order. If you install or update LabVIEW after you install TestStand or TestStand Semiconductor Module, close and restart TestStand or run the TestStand Version Selector to properly configure LabVIEW, TestStand, and TestStand Semiconductor Module.
  • NI recommends that you exit all programs before running the TestStand Semiconductor Module installer. Applications that run in the background, such as virus scanning utilities, might cause the installer to take longer than necessary to complete.
  • Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code rddrau to access the latest software drivers and updates.

Product Security and Critical Updates

Visit ni.com/security to view and subscribe to receive security notifications about NI products. For information about critical updates from NI, refer to Available Critical and Security Updates for NI Software.

Accessing the Help

Refer to the TestStand Semiconductor Module book in the TestStand Help, accessible from the Help menu in the TestStand Sequence Editor, for information about TestStand 2020 Semiconductor Module 2021 Q4.

Finding Examples

TestStand Semiconductor Module includes a variety of example programs that you can use to help you learn key concepts or to serve as a starting point for applications you create. You can open an example sequence file from the subdirectories of the <TestStand Public>\Examples\NI_SemiconductorModule directory.

Automating the Installation of NI Products

You can automate the installation of most NI products using command-line arguments to suppress some or all of the installer user interface and dialog boxes.

If the NI product you are installing uses Microsoft .NET 4.6.2, the .NET installer may run before any NI software installs and may require a reboot before the installation of NI software begins. To avoid a .NET reboot, install .NET 4.6.2 separately before you install NI software.

For more information about automating the installation of NI products, refer to Automating an Installer in the NI Package Manager manual.

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft Windows 10 is the latest version of the Windows operating system and features significant changes compared to previous versions. Windows 10 introduces several new capabilities and also combines features from both Windows 7 and Windows 8. For more information about NI support for Windows 10, refer to NI Product Compatibility for Microsoft Windows 10.

Unsupported Windows Operating Systems

TestStand Semiconductor Module no longer supports Windows Vista/XP/7/8.x, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012, or any 32-bit Windows operating system. Versions of this product that ship after May 1, 2021, may not install or execute correctly on these operating systems. For detailed information about NI operating system support, visit https://www.ni.com/r/win32bitsupport.


Legal Information

Copyright

© 2013-2021 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.

NI respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Where NI software may be used to reproduce software or other materials belonging to others, you may use NI software only to reproduce materials that you may reproduce in accordance with the terms of any applicable license or other legal restriction.

End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices

You can find end-user license agreements (EULAs) and third-party legal notices in the following locations after installation:

  • Notices are located in the <National Instruments>\_Legal Information and <National Instruments> directories.
  • EULAs are located in the <National Instruments>\Shared\MDF\Legal\license directory.
  • Review <National Instruments>\_Legal Information.txt for information on including legal information in installers built with NI products.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights

If you are an agency, department, or other entity of the United States Government ("Government"), the use, duplication, reproduction, release, modification, disclosure or transfer of the technical data included in this manual is governed by the Restricted Rights provisions under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.227-14 for civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Section 252.227-7014 and 252.227-7015 for military agencies.

IVI Foundation Copyright Notice

Content from the IVI specifications reproduced with permission from the IVI Foundation.

The IVI Foundation and its member companies make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The IVI Foundation and its member companies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.

Trademarks

Refer to the NI Trademarks and Logo Guidelines at ni.com/trademarks for information on NI trademarks. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

Patents

For patents covering the NI products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the NI Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.

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