R A C A L
I N S T R U M E N T S
genie
G e n e r i c
I n t e g r a t i o n
E n v i r o n m e n t
Racal Instruments’ unique test software brings together a truly generic integration environment called GENIE. GENIE uses all of the features within our software toolsets to provide a user friendly graphical environment for the development and execution of functional test routines.
GENIE
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Control and C
OPERATIONAL BENEFITS
Genie offers many operational benefits, in particular:
GENIE is a system so advanced that users do not need specific knowledge in either how to conduct a test or to control the system instrumentation.
GENIE boasts a large and expanding number of generic functional test routines, each being supported by an intuitive graphical panel, allowing specific test subjects to be functionally exercised with no knowledge of programming languages.
• NO TEST KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • NO PROGRAMMING KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED • REDUCTION IN OPERATOR TRAINING COSTS • REDUCTION IN EQUIPMENT LIFE-CYCLE COSTS • IMPROVED OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY
ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STAGES OF TEST PROCESS
GENIE offers all of the features expected of a high specification test executive by providing a toolset for the complete test process covering;
G e n e r i c Te s t E n v i r o n m e n t for intuitive graphical programming and control
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PLANNING DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTATION & ON-LINE HELP DEBUG SYSTEM OPERATION LONG TERM SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE
This unified test environment can be used at all stages in a test program’s lifecycle providing a single coherent user interface and maximum reutilization of information between each stage or process.
UNIQUE
Test Set Ups are performed in a guided, graphical method with a step by step process comprising templates showing the parameters required to complete the test.
APPROACH TO GENERIC TESTING
In addition to these features, GENIE also offers a unique approach to generic testing through dynamic real time test diagnostics.
Racal created the GENIE intuitive operating and development package using open standards. Genie is hosted on an IBM compatible Personal Computer running Microsoft WindowsTM and can be integrated into any test system incorporating an instrument control bus.
o-ordination of test functions
EXTENSIVE
LIBRARY OF FUNCTIONS
UNIQUE INSTRUMENT CONTROL
Conventional test types typically only address a single test resource, such as a Digital Multimeter, whereas the unique GENIE generic test types may address and control any number of resources within the test system to complete the required functional test.
In a test facility, there may be many different types or configurations of equipments being presented for repair. In practice, most equipments fail in either a limited number of modes or a limited range of test types. The GENIE functional test type library contains a large number of application specific tests (such as communications tests) which are needed to confirm the functional operation of various types of UUT. These tests can be easily sequenced into a test routine with the option for the operator to change the default parameters to ones matching the particular test subject.
CREATING TEST PROGRAMS
To create a conventional or generic test, the user need simply;
GENERIC
AND
TURN-KEY SOLUTION
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SELECT THE REQUIRED TEST TYPE FROM THE LIBRARY ENTER THE PARAMETERS IN THE TEMPLATE FOR THAT TEST SAVE THE TEST TYPE TO FREEZE THE DEFINITION.
A test system running under the GENIE environment can be provided as either a complete turn-key solution to meet a specific set of requirements of a number of test subjects or a generic functional test system with all the key functions required for a more general application set-up.
Unlike other “graphical” languages, the user writes no programming code. The test type library can be readily extended as necessary to include new test types for a particular customer requirement.
SOFTWARE CONFIGURABLE
INSTRUMENTS
A unique feature in creating a test sequence is that using the GENIE toolset a Repair Operator can set-up the front panel controls of each instrument using the learn feature, which allows users with no knowledge of software programming to modify or enhance a test using their basic test and measurement skills. It is your experts in test and measurement techniques who effectively produce the test program not software programmers.
SIMULATION
OF
RESOURCES
Development of test programs can be achieved either;
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on-line using the actual test system connected through to the UUT off-line so that the test equipment need not be tied up for development exercises
In the off-line mode, all instrument drivers can be simulated allowing the test program and documentation to be developed and proven to a high degree of confidence before needing access to the test system.
THIRD PARTY AND IN-HOUSE SOFTWARE TOOLS
The test environment software tools are designed to operate under the Microsoft WindowsTM operating system. They have open standard interfacing allowing the flexibility of interfacing to and the control of third party and in-house tools. For example, word processors for report generating and spreadsheets or databases for results analysis. The open interfacing policy adopted allows any executable program to be run as part of the test sequence using industry standard Windows features for easy data transfer.
DOCUMENTATION
Documentation production can be one of the most costly aspects in creating a test program. There are inherent difficulties in ensuring that the documentation, usually produced off-line from the development station some time after final coding, is consistent with the in-service test program. GENIE automatically generates full design documentation as the test program is being created, ensuring consistency between the current test program and its documentation. The documentation can be formatted in a number of ways from test requirement documents, full design documents and program flow charts.
TEST TYPES FOR EASY PROGRAMMING
A GENIE based system offers considerable flexibility in the generation of a test routine for the testing of a specific UUT.
ON-LINE HELP
In addition to creating design documentation, GENIE also produces on-line help files automatically during the test program development stage. These help files can be called up by an operator during program execution to provide context sensitive assistance relevant to the current test being performed.
SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE
Modifications and additions to test software may be required for a number of years after the initial development. GENIE uses the same toolset for maintenance as for development providing consistency between all stages of the test program’s lifecycle. The open interfacing standards of the software ensures that future Windows tools may be added as they become available.
Racal Instruments Inc. 4 Goodyear Street Irvine, CA 92618 USA Tel: +1 (714) 859 8999 Fax: +1 (714) 859 7139
Racal Instruments Ltd. 29-31 Cobham Road Ferndown Industrial Estate Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7PF, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1202 872800 Fax: +44 (0) 1202 897371
See our Website for further information www.racalinstruments.com www.racalinstrumentsgroup.co.uk Email: sales@racalinstrumentsgroup.co.uk
The Racal Instruments policy is one of continuous development and consequently the product may vary in detail from the description and specification in this publication Publication number: 0404/10901