Create/Edit Code Buttons and Source Code Files Dialog Options Disabled in TestStand’s .NET Adapter

Issue Details

When using the .NET Adapter in NI TestStand, I am observing that the Create Code and Edit Code buttons are disabled, as shown in the image. I also noticed that all options in the TestStand .NET Source Code Files dialog are grayed out when I attempt to specify source code information.

Solution

This issue is typically caused by using an incompatible edition or version of Microsoft Visual Studio. The Create Code and Edit Code buttons in the TestStand .NET Adapter require Visual Studio editions that support automation features. According to the TestStand 2019 Readme and TestStand 2022 Q4 Readme, neither Visual Studio Express nor Visual Studio Community provides the automation APIs needed for TestStand’s .NET source code integration, and therefore these editions do not enable the .NET Adapter’s code‑generation features. Starting with TestStand 2022 Q4, Visual Studio Community is explicitly not supported for .NET source code automation.

To resolve the issue, install a supported edition of Visual Studio, such as Visual Studio Professional or Visual Studio Enterprise, as these editions include the required automation capabilities. Additionally, refer to the .NET Module Tab of TestStand Help documentation for further considerations related to the Create Code and Edit Code features.