Known Compatibility Issues and API Changes for TestStand 4.1

Primary Software: TestStand
Primary Software Version: 4.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A

Problem:
What are the known compatibility issues and API changes for TestStand 4.1?

Solution:

TestStand 4.1 Compatibility and Known Issues

TestStand includes the following behavior changes between version 4.0 and version 4.1. Refer to the Readme.html file, located on the TestStand CD and in the <TestStand>\Doc directory, for a list of known issues in TestStand 4.1.

Use the Allow Automatic Type Conflict Resolution option on the Preferences tab of the Station Options dialog box to restrict automatic type conflict resolution. With the new default setting for this option, TestStand shows the type conflict dialog box in more cases than in previous versions of TestStand. National Instruments made this change to prevent unintended type propagation to type palette and sequence files. With the default setting, you can place types in a type palette file to ensure that TestStand does not automatically use a newer version of the types without prompting you. You can change the criteria for automatic type conflict resolution, including selecting the TestStand 4.0.x and earlier behavior.
The IVI-C step types were renamed to IVI step types. The IVI step types now support IVI-COM class-compliant instrument drivers if you install the IVI-COM Adapter component of the IVI Component Package included on the NI Driver CD.
Logging.StepResultProperty is deprecated. Instead, use Logging.PropertyResult to reference the property of a step result the database logger is processing. In addition, the context includes the Logging.PropertyResultDetails container, which contains information about the property Logging.PropertyResult references.
TestStand now stores the customized settings of the Step Type Menu Editor in <TestStand Application Data>\Cfg\TestExec.ini. Previous TestStand versions stored these settings in type palette files, but these files are no longer writable on Windows Vista. The Step Type Menu Editor no longer marks the type palettes as modified.
The Engine.GetOutputMessages method is deprecated. Do not call this method in new applications. To prevent unbounded memory use, the collection the Engine.GetOutputMessages method returns now automatically clears if the application fails to clear the collection in response to the UIMsg_OutputMessages event. Instead of calling the Engine.GetOutputMessages method, the application must obtain the newest output messages in the event callback by calling the OutputMessages.CopyMessagesToCollection method the UIMessage.ActiveXData property holds for the UIMsg_OutputMessages event.
The OutputMessage.Post method now posts a reference to the OutputMessage. Formerly, this method posted a copy of the OutputMessage object to which the caller of the OutputMessage.Post method had no direct access.
TestStand 4.1 removes support for Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. TestStand no longer ships with source code for components created with Visual Basic 6.0, including examples.
The ActiveX/COM Adapter no longer generates an error when a server method or property call returns a positive HRESULT value.

TestStand 4.1 API and UI Controls Additions and Changes

TestStand 4.1 includes new classes, enumerations, constants, enumeration and constant values, properties, methods, and events. TestStand 4.1 also includes obsolete properties, methods, and events.

Classes

The following list includes the new classes:

AdditionalResult
AdditionalResults
ArrayDimensions
PropertyObjectType
StepAdditionalResults
Utility

Enumerations

The following list includes the new enumerations:

CheckedStates
EscapingOptions
SyncStates
TestStandPaths

Constants

The following list includes the new constants:

ResourceUsageOutputMessageSubProperties
SynchronizationMechanism
TypeEqualOptions

Enumeration and Constant Values

The following table lists the new enumeration and constant values added in TestStand 4.1 to existing enumerations and constants.

Enumeration/Constant	New Values
DebugOptions	DebugOptions_ReportKnownOSandComponentProblems
ExecutionDisplayReasons (UI Control)	ExecutionDisplayReason_GotoLocation
PropertyValueTypes	PropValType_Array
SearchDirectoryTypes	SearchDirectoryType_PublicComponentsDir SearchDirectoryType_TestStandPublicDir
SyncObjTypes	SyncObjType_NotASyncObj
WriteFileFormat	WriteFileFormat_TestStand41

Properties, Methods, and Events

The following table lists the new properties, methods, and events that have been added in TestStand 4.1 to existing classes.

Class	Property	Method	Event
AutoReleaser	—	EarlyReleaseEx SetReleaserThreadId	—
Engine	Utility	GetTestStandPath	—
InputStream	Path	—	—
Location	ThreadDisplayName	—	—
Mutex	—	EarlyUnlockMutexEx	—
Notification	—	ClearEx PulseEx SetEx	—
OutputMessage	Id TimeInSeconds	AsPropertyObject	—
OutputMessages	—	CopyMessagesToCollection FindIndex FromPropertyObject ToPropertyObject	—
PropertyObject	IsModifiedType Type	—	—
Semaphore	—	ReleaseSemaphoreEx	—
Step	AdditionalResults AdditionalResultsHints	DisplayAdditionalResultsDialog	—
StepType	AdditionalResultsHints	—	—
SyncManager	LoggingEnabled LoggingOutputMessageCategoryName	BeginLogging EndLogging LogAction	—

Obsolete Properties, Methods, and Events

The following table lists the properties, methods, and events obsoleted in TestStand 4.1.

Property	Method	Event
Engine.BinDirectory Engine.ConfigDirectory Engine.TestStandDirectory	AutoReleaser.EarlyRelease Engine.GetOutputMessages Mutex.EarlyUnlockMutex Notification.Clear Notification.Pulse Notification.Set PropertyObject.GetDimensions PropertyObject.GetType PropertyObject.GetTypeDisplayString PropertyObject.SetDimensions Semaphore.ReleaseSemaphore	ApplicationMgr.SequenceFile Closed

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Report Date: 05/21/2008
Last Updated: 05/23/2008
Document ID: 4LK9CPT3

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