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Document Type: Tutorial
NI Supported: Yes
Publish Date: Sep 6, 2006

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Virtual Rack Universal Adapter and Macro Recorder <br> ITI Virtual Rack

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Overview

Innovative Technologies Inc. Virtual Rack is an integration framework and interactive system explorer that reduces System Integration time from months to minutes, and reduces test and measurement automation time from man-years to days.

Virtual Rack® includes two products that substantially enhance productivity when working with the NI TestStand Software:

  • TestStand Universal Adapter - Virtual Rack® Protocol Abstraction Layer (VR PAL)
  • TestStand Macro Recorder – Virtual Rack® Explorer


Table of Contents

  1. TestStand Universal Adapter
  2. TestStand Macro Recorder
  3. Virtual Rack® Additional Resources

TestStand Universal Adapter

Using the Virtual Rack® Protocol Abstraction Layer (VR PAL), TestStand now has a “Universal Adapter” providing direct access to any VR mounted protocol. This eliminates the need to write custom adapters to connect TestStand to technologies that currently do not have TestStand adapters.

NI TestStand™



Industry standard protocols are continuously being assimilated by the VR PAL and exposed to TestStand. This list currently includes COM, CORBA, .NET, LabVIEW RT, LabVIEW FPGA, IVI, NI-DAQ, JTRS Domains, GPIB, MIL-STD-1553, FIO, Reflective Memory, USB. Firewire, TCP/IP, TCPServer, Sockets, SECS/GEM, Spacecraft Command Language (SCL) Mnemonics, Telemetry, and more.

In addition, there are numerous custom and proprietary protocols mounted to the Virtual Rack®. Over a thousand are available through the Virtual Rack® Storeroom located on the Virtual Rack® website.

TestStand Macro Recorder


Imagine the simplicity of a one button Macro Recorder that can record TestStand steps for all of the equipment mounted in your multi-computer system. Simply press the Virtual Rack® Explorer’s Macro Recorder button and operate your equipment. All of the operations, settings, and measurements you make are instantly inserted as steps in your active TestStand sequence. This macro style recorder will have you automating your system in minutes without being bogged down by the underlying protocols, programming languages, and TestStand adapter dialog boxes, allowing you to concentrate on your application specific procedures.

Once a sequence has been recorded, you can edit the sequence with the VR Explorer’s sequence editor or you can use the full functionality of the TestStand sequence editor to add or modify steps, just as if you had manually created the sequence. Below is an example sequence generated with the Virtual Rack® Macro Recorder:


[+] Enlarge Image

Take an animated Virtual Rack Explorer Macro Recorder tour.

Virtual Rack® Additional Resources


Additional resources regarding the Virtual Rack® are available on the Virtual Rack® website. Resources include forums, documentation, tours, demos, example systems, and event schedules. Email can be sent to info@iti-team.com or sales@iti-team.com. Technical Support can be reached at (925) 803-2880.

© 2005, Innovative Technologies, Inc

2 ratings | 5.00 out of 5
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Legal
This tutorial (this "tutorial") was developed by National Instruments ("NI"). Although technical support of this tutorial may be made available by National Instruments, the content in this tutorial may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this content with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS TUTORIAL IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).