1. Overview

This release includes the following main items:

• TestBase installation package, including a complete set of sample files, documentation and tutorial slides
• TYX License Manager 2.0.0
• Installation instructions

2. Detailed Description

2.1 Critical items

2.1.1. Operating system compatibility

The product works properly with Windows NT 4.0 SP 6 and Windows 2000 SP 2 and Windows XP.

2.1.2. Internet Explorer compatibility

The product works properly with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0. It does not work with Internet Explorer 5.0.

2.1.3. Microsoft Office compatibility

The display of Excel reports works properly with Microsoft Office 2000 Service Release 1 and Microsoft Office XP.

2.1.4. Microsoft Visio compatibility

The product works properly with Microsoft Visio 2000. The current version of the product is not compatible with Visio 2002.

2.1.5. Oracle compatibility

The source of the compatibility problem that occurred for previous versions was identified as being caused by an inconsistency between the Oracle software and the Microsoft libraries used internally by TestBase. For Oracle 8 versions, this problem may be fixed by configuring the system registry as described in the document Connectivity Issue with MDAC and Oracle8i.pdf. For Oracle 9, use the information provided in the above document for version 8.1, performing the following replacements in the strings to be entered in the registry:

1.      replace oraclient8.dll with oraclient9.dll

2.      replace orasql8.dll with orasql9.dll

The MTI Controller distributed with the current version of the product was tested with the following combinations of versions:

• Oracle 8.1.5 and 8.1.7, under Windows NT 4.0
• Oracle 8.1.5 and 8.1.7, under Windows 2000
• Oracle 9.0.1.1, under Windows NT 4.0.

Note: According to the TestBase documentation for the MTI subsystem, the specification of Data Source Names for Oracle databases uses the string "Oracle8". This string should be also used with Oracle 9.x software.

2.1.6. LabWindows/CVI compatibility

The Adapter for LabWindows/CVI works properly with the following versions: 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0. Minor changes to the sample test code must be performed in order to compile it under version 5.0. The TestBase installation package redistributes version 5.5 of the LabWindows/CVI Run Time Engine. You may obtain version 6.0 of the Run Time Engine from the National Instruments web site, at http://www.ni.com

2.2.1. TestBase IDE

"Undo" and "Paste" commands used during flowchart editing do not operate properly in some situations. It is recommended to avoid using them.

Uppercase and lowercase are not used consistently during design and execution. Workaround: do not define Global Parameters that have identical names but different uppercase/lowercase letters (e.g. "Temperature" and "temperature").

The "Undo" command for the addition of an Off-Page Reference block does not delete the "pair" block that was automatically appended. Workaround: delete manually the "pair" block.

When running a test strategy in debug mode, with execution stopped between steps, if the user clicks on a different Control Flow Diagram then clicks the Run, Step, SimulatedStep or SimulatedStepWithUI buttons, an error message may be displayed: "Automation Error. Illegal to call out while inside message filter". Press OK, click on the Control Flow Diagram that is currently debugged and continue using the IDE. The error indicated before has no impact on subsequent operation.

In some situations accelerator keys (Ctrl-O for File | Open, F5 for Debug | Go, etc.) do not work. Use menus or toolbar buttons instead.

A General Protection Fault occurs when closing IDE or DC GUI after an Abort operation. Because it occurs only when the application is terminated, this behavior does not have harmful effects.

2.2.2. LabWindows support library

A limited subset of scalar data types is currently supported in the library. Workaround: use direct access to VARIANT fields for other data types.

2.3 Enhancements

2.3.1. Passing parameters to the Abort procedure

Abort procedures may receive values from Global Parameters. This feature is not yet documented in the Help System. In order to use it, perform the following steps:

1. Define the input parameters of the Abort procedure.
2. Characterize in the TestBase Test Database the input parameters for the Abort procedure, as for a "regular" test procedure.
3. Retrieve input parameters in the test procedure code as described in the development documentation, for a "regular" test procedure.
4. Define in TestBase, at the Project level, Global Parameters to be passed to the Abort procedures. These Global Parameters must have the same names as the corresponding Abort procedure input parameters. Moreover, the data types of Global Parameters must be convertible to the data types of the corresponding input parameters of the Abort procedure (see topic "Data Type Convertibility" in the TestBase Help System for details).
5. Define the appropriate default values for the above Global Parameters and/or set their values from the output parameters of other test(s).

Note: Due to the way execution is stopped, the Abort procedure is always executed using a new instance of the LabWindows Adapter, which loads a new instance of the CVI DLL. This is true even when the options "Unload Adapters" and "Unload CVI DLLs" are set to false. Consequently, the approach described in the Release Notes of version 2.2.0 for passing session handles between test procedures does not apply to the Abort procedure. This procedure should open a new VISA session for communicating to the instruments.

2.3.2. Abort with Adapters loaded

This version fixes a problem that occurred in some situations when aborting execution, if the Adapters were kept loaded during the execution of the Test Strategy.

2.3.3. Opening TestBase files from the Windows Explorer

This version offers a temporary solution for opening TestBase files (extensions .tdd, .ttd and .ted) by double-clicking their icons in the Windows Explorer. While fully functional, the solution requires an initial manual setup. An automatic setup during installation will be provided in a later release. To use this feature, perform the following operations after installing the current version:

On Windows 2000:

1. In the Windows Explorer, select menu Tools | Folder options, than click on the File Types tab.
2. Look for the extension "TDD" in the "Registered File Types" list. If not present, click New, then in the "File Extension" field of the displayed dialog enter "TDD" and press OK. The extension "TDD" should appear in the list
3. Select the extension "TDD" in the "Registered File Types" list and click the Advanced... button. In the upper edit box of the displayed dialog, enter "TestBase Diagnostic Database". Click the Change Icon... button, than Browse, navigate to the directory where TestBase was installed and select the file "IDE.exe", than press Open. The "Edit File Type" dialog will display the TestBase IDE icon. Click New. In the displayed dialog, enter the Action Name "open". Click Browse, navigate to the directory where TestBase was installed and select the file "IDE.exe", than press Open. Click OK. The "Edit File Type" dialog will display "open" in the "Actions" list. Click OK to close this dialog.
4. In the "Registered File Types" list you should see the association of the "TDD" extension with the "IDE" application.
5. Repeat steps 2 ... 4 for the extension "TTD". Use the file name "TestBase Test Database".
6. Repeat steps 2 ... 4 for the extension "TED". Use the file name "TestBase TED Database".
7. Click Close.

On Windows NT 4.0:

1. In the Windows Explorer, select menu View | Options options, than click on the File Types tab.
2. Look for the file type "TestBase Diagnostic Database" in the "Registered File Types" list. If not present, click New Type…, then in the "Description of type" field of the displayed dialog enter "TestBase Diagnostic Database" and in the "Associated extension" field enter "TDD".
3. If the "TDD" extension is already associated with another type, find that type in the "Registered File Types" list, then select it and click the Edit... button. In the upper edit box of the displayed dialog, enter "TestBase Diagnostic Database" to associate the "TDD" extension with this file type.
4. Click the Change Icon... button, than Browse, navigate to the directory where TestBase was installed and select the file "IDE.exe", than press Open. The "Edit File Type" dialog will display the TestBase IDE icon.
5. If the Actions list contains "open", select it and click Edit… Otherwise click New… button and in the displayed dialog, enter the Action Name "open". To set the "Application used to perform action" click Browse…, navigate to the directory where TestBase was installed and select the file "IDE.exe", than press Open. Click OK. The "Edit File Type" dialog will display "open" in the "Actions" list. Click OK to close this dialog.
6. In the "Registered File Types" list you should see the association of the "TestBase Diagnostic Database" file type with the extension "TDD" and with the "IDE" application.
7. Repeat steps 2 ... 6 for the extension "TTD". Use the file type "TestBase Test Database".
8. Repeat steps 2 ... 6 for the extension "TED". Use the file type "TestBase TED Database".
9. Click Close.

2.4 Problem Reports

PR 01-135: Pass input parameters to Abort.

The required enhancement is provided in the current release - see Section 2.3.1.

PR 01-137: Support file name as IDE.exe argument.

The required enhancement is provided in the current release - see Section 2.3.3.