Have you heard? PathWave Test Executive for Manufacturing (PTEM) software just received a makeover! If you are already a user of PTEM, you are going to love the features and enhancements that come with this release.
PTEM is an intuitive test sequencing software that you can use for various test cases from functional testing to flash programming, and even in-circuit testing using the Keysight i7090 Parallel test system. Its modular software architecture enables you to selectively plug in packages that has the features you need. With Keysight’s broad portfolio of instrument libraries and software packages, you will find PTEM versatile and easy to use with any of your test cases. A comprehensive array of test steps for instruments, execution flow control, variables processing and test judgment in PTEM means shorter development time and higher efficiency for you.
PTEM version 2.0.0 is now available for download from Keysight.
This release is a major overhaul to improve overall user experience and realigns the software architecture with the open-source platform OpenTap. This means that you can now import PathWave test automation platform (TAP) packages built on OpenTap into PTEM easily. Now you have more resources than before to help with your test development, allowing you more time to work on the final tweaks when you deliver your project.
The software installer for PTEM 2.0.0 removes non-essential components from the installation process to make it more efficient. These components are now optional, and you can choose to install them if you like. This makes the installation process easier and faster.
The installer holds the essential packages such as user variables, switch manager and manufacturing user interface to support basic operation of the software. At this state, PTEM is fully operational, and you can use it with your own plugin packages for instruments or software features. Incremental packages like PTEM Instrumentation and PathWave Manufacturing Analytics (PMA) are available in the repository from Keysight package manager which gives you instant enablement of instrument libraries and features. You can selectively download the ones you need. In this way, PTEM installer reduces its size and simplifies the installation process.
Figure2: Keysight Package Manager provides access to TAP package repository.
TAP packages are available for download and installation on Keysight package manager, a software module that comes with PTEM installation. Keysight package manager provides you access to the online TAP package repository where you will find other useful packages available for download and install.
Earlier versions of PTEM share the same installation folder as TAP software. As PTEM requires its own specific version of TAP, the installation overwrites the existing TAP version that you may have on your computer, which may be problematic if you need the version for other purposes. With this release, PTEM is now installed into its own folder and is independent of any prior TAP installations regardless of versions. You can continue to use your existing version of TAP while you have PTEM run a different TAP version at the same time. This ends any conflicts which may arise from having a common installation folder.
Figure3 above shows a list of upgraded features in the PTEM 2.0.0 and those that you no longer need in your test development as the new PTEM takes care of them automatically.
For example, in earlier versions of PTEM, you need to create a limit check test step in your test plan whenever you want to perform test on a parameter. Also, you must assign the parameter to a variable before you can test it in the limit check step. This means extra work and multiple test steps in the test plan just to perform one test.
You do not have to do this anymore with PTEM 2.0.0. You can now implement limit testing onto any parameters in your test steps directly without the need to assigning them to a variable and creating a limit check step to test them. These new features and methods help to speed up the development time by removing unnecessary steps in the testplan. In the series of posts that will follow, I will share the details of each feature and how you will find them beneficial to your test development.
Check out the PathWave Test Executive for Manufacturing demo clips on Keysight Hands-On channel on YouTube to get a sneak peek of the exciting features available with PTEM 2.0.0 or download PTEM now and experience it yourself!
You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
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