How do I save a type for a previous version of TestStand (4.0 --> 3.5)?

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

I have a number of step-types saved in a type file, in TestStand 4.  I would like to use this file in TestStand 3.5.  Is there any way of saving this file for TestStand 3.5.  I have gone into each step-type and custom-type defined in the type file, and under the Version tab, selected the "Set earliest TestStand Version that can use this type", to 3.5.0.725.  However, still this file is not openable in TestStand 3.5.

Thanks

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

Are you using the files in <TestStand 4>\Components\Compatibility\<VersionNumber> in your TS3.5?

Regards

Ray Farmer

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

No.

How does one do that?

[RayFarmer]

Hi,

Use the version of the file(s) found in your TS4.0 folder at  \Compatibility\<VersionNumber> and copy them to your TS3.5 folder found at <TestStand>\Cfg\TypePalettes.

Remember to bake up your folders before you starts.

Regards

Ray Farmer

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

Hi Ray,

So, what I've justr tried is this:

Copied types from TS 4\Components\NI\Compatibility\3.5 to TS 4\Components\NI\Type Pallettes

Open TS4 and opened up my type file. - What exactly do I need to do here, if anything?

Saved all.

Copy types from TS 4\Components\NI\Type Pallettes to TS 3.5\Components\NI\Type Pallettes.

Open TS 3.5 - error loading types!

Thanks for all of your help on this!

[RayFarmer]

Hi Chris,

You need to copy from TS 4\Components\NI\Compatibility\3.5 to <TestStand3.5>\Cfg\TypePalettes.

( they are not saved in the save place as TestStand4.0, you dont need to do anything to the TS 4\Components\NI\Type Pallettes  folder)

Then switch to your TestStand 3.5 and open TestStand 3.5.

You dont have to do anything with your TestStand 4

Regards

Ray

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

Hi Ray,

I've just tried this suggestion, but was still unsuccessful.

I copied the Types as you suggested. I even copied the types into <TestSTand 3.5>\Components\NI\TypePalettes as well.

I opened up TestStand 3.5, opened the Types Palette.

I then customised the palette, and tried to add the problematic type file.

It still says that the type file was saved in TestStand 4, and is incompatible with TestStand 3.5

Thanks for your on-going assistance!

Message Edited by Chris_Farmer on 08-08-2008 10:13 AM

[RayFarmer]

Hi Chris,

Ok, I'll have a look at this later today and get back to you.

Regards

Ray

[Manooch_H]

Hello Chris,

You have a couple of options for doing this. The first option is a workaround explained in this KnowledgeBase Article:

KnowledgeBase: Saving Type Palette For Previous Version

The second option involves programmatically saving the Type Palette to a previous version using the TestStand API. To do this, you must first get a reference to your type palettes using Engine.GetTypePaletteFileList. This returns an array of object references for your Type Palettes. Then, you would find the index for the Type Palette you want to save and use PropertyObjectFile.WriteFile(). For the parameter of this method you would select the version of TestStand you want to save the types for. I've attached an example 4.0 sequence that demonstrates this.

Please let me know if this works for you.

[RayFarmer]

Hi Manooch_H and Chris,

The 2nd suggestion would seems to be the route to take but doesn't seem to do what Manooch suggests. If you try to save a palette out as a previous version eg TS4.1 to TS3.5 then the WriteFile wants the compatibility version in the Compatibilty TS3.5 folder otherwise it generates an error.

"An error occurred calling 'Writefile' in PropertyObjectFile' of NI TestStand API 4.1. The compatibility type palette files for selected version could not be found" 

Also you need to change the Path as it will overwrite the Current version. Again not what you want. Therefore, you can not seem to do what Chris wants to do because you need the compatibility version file to create the previous version type palette file.  (Manooch, Maybe I doing something wrong...)

So the first option seems to be the only workable solution.

Point to bear in mind.

Adding Types to a SequenceFile Types then saving out to a previous version doesnt modify the Type fully if you dont have a compatibility file. ie Take the "Default Step Name Expression" of a Custom Step Type contains ResStr("CUSTOM_STEPTYPES", "DEFAULT_STEP_NAME").

This resource strings don't exist in Version 3.5 or lower and therefore when you load the SequenceFile into the previous version of TestStand eg TS3.5 it will generate an error.

Regards

Ray Farmer

Message Edited by Ray Farmer on 08-08-2008 09:24 PM