Unable to Interact with Asynchronous VI Running in TestStand

Updated Sep 27, 2024

Reported In

Software

  • LabVIEW
  • TestStand

Issue Details

I am using the TestStand step Run VI Asynchronously to launch a LabVIEW VI that I want to run in parallel to my TestStand sequence. I am using a Functional Global Variable (FGV) VI to interact with the asynchronous VI similar to how it is done in this example. When I call my FGV in an Action Step to try and control my asynchronous VI, the asynchronous VI is not receiving the commands/data I am sending it. Why are the VIs called asynchronously and those called in Action steps unable to communicate?

Solution

This issue is likely due to the asynchronous VI and the FGV being called in an Action step being executed in different LabVIEW application instances. In order for LabVIEW VIs to access shared memory, they must execute in the same application instance. 

To ensure that all VIs are executing in the same application instance, you can place both VIs inside of a LabVIEW project. Then, you can specify the LabVIEW Project path in the Run VI Asynchronous and Action step configuration. This will force the VIs to execute in the LabVIEW project's My Computer application instance and the VIs will be able to access shared memory, such as using the same instance of a Functional Global Variable to pass data.