TestProNews Q1 - 2006
What's New in Arendar 2006?
Test Performance Analysis, Hierarchical Folders, Object-Level Security and More
We are departing from our normal coverage of technical and business articles in
the cover story of this issue of TestProNews in order to give you important news
about the new release of Arendar® 2006 test data management (TDM) software. This
article will give you an overview of Arendar’s overall capabilities while highlighting
new functionality in the Arendar 2006 release including multi-dimensional test performance
analysis, object-level security and hierarchical test data folders.
Arendar
test data management software provides an off-the-shelf product for capturing and
organizing test data from test software and files and making it useful and universally
accessible. Arendar uses industry-standard databases to safely store test results
and provides secure, real-time access to raw test data, multi-dimensional test performance
analysis and reports from any computer using a standard web browser.
Figure 1: Arendar 2006 test data management captures and organizes test data and makes it useful and universally accessible.
Arendar provides built-in analysis and reporting tools that aggregate raw test data
and extracts valuable information arming engineers and managers with the knowledge
they need to improve their product’s performance, quality and manufacturability.
To describe each of the capabilities of Arendar 2006 TDM software, we will break
them down into
components
that capture, organize, and provide enterprise-wide access to test data (Figure
1).
Capture
Arendar offers a variety of options to reliably capture test data directly from
test software and different types of test data files.
Arendar includes an import wizard that steps test engineers through the test data
import process. With Arendar, you can import files from your existing test stations
without requiring any changes to existing test software.
Arendar’s automatic import agent monitors the locations where existing test stations
store test data files, automatically processes new data files as they are created,
and imports them into the database.
Arendar’s automatic source code generation for LabVIEW, Visual Studio .NET, and
LabWindows/CVI simplifies test software integration. For additional programming
functionality, Arendar also provides a palette of TDM VIs for developers. Arendar
integrates into the TestStand development environment and includes a TDM process
model and custom step types for interfacing test executive applications to a TDM
system.
With all methods of data capture, Arendar guarantees data transfers even if networks
fail, servers are off-line, or test stations crash. To ensure reliable data delivery,
Arendar leverages Microsoft Message Queuing technology to verify and automatically
resend data until Arendar determines it has successfully transferred the data. To
achieve efficient network traffic, Arendar compresses data prior to data transfers.
If a test station generates data faster than the network or server can process it,
Arendar’s transparent data buffering queues data at the test station ensuring no
test data will be lost.
Organize
With Arendar, data is securely stored in Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle databases
ensuring a secure and robust TDM solution. Using Arendar, a test engineer is able
to configure these industry-proven databases without any database training or expertise.
Arendar provides an intuitive Windows Explorer-like interface with menus to configure
and modify the structure of test data in the database as test requirements change.
Arendar automatically establishes data relationships between data from tests, test
steps, and raw parametric results and optimizes data storage and retrieval so that
test engineers do not have to learn database administration skills to manually tune
the database for optimal performance.
For structured data, such as the TestStand XML report format, Arendar’s automatic
database configuration creates the database layout for the test data so that engineers
do not have to manually configure the database. However, Arendar gives you the flexibility
to alter a pre-configured database if necessary.
Two new capabilities in Arendar 2006 are hierarchical folders for test data classification
and user configurable object-level security.
Arendar’s unlimited hierarchical folders allow you and your engineering team to
graphically configure and segment the database for specific test data, station information
and reports. Folders are a useful way to organize test data and administer security
rights to partition which groups of people have access to information contained
in the folders. Arendar users can drill down through the folder structure to access
test data and reports.
Arendar’s user configurable object-level security controls visibility, modification
and access to test data, folders, and reports. Arendar security administration allows
you to set viewing, modification and access privileges for individuals and groups
independently. Arendar simplifies TDM system security administration by integrating
with Windows security for login control.
Figure 2: Arendar’s access capabilities allows you to find, analyze, and create reports on test data with your web browser or your favorite analysis software.
Access
Arendar’s web interface is the most convenient way to access your test data. In
the same way you access your favorite web sites, you can access your test data and
reports from any networked computer using your web browser (Figure 2). You can also
pull raw test data directly from the TDM database into interactive mathematical
analysis software such as Microsoft Excel.
Arendar’s integrated statistical process control (SPC) lets you analyze tests results
to improve quality, reduce costs, and shorten time to market. SPC reports include
variable control charts, attribute control charts, process capability analysis,
and run charts.
Arendar analysis tools aggregate data and present the information in Pareto Charts
and histograms so that you are able to identify trends and frequently occurring
events. Arendar’s real-time yield, failure, cycle time and test station reports
identify root causes of failure. By presenting aggregate information and allowing
you to drill down to raw test data, these reports enable you to quickly identify
and resolve problems.
No matter what method you choose to access data and reports, Arendar guarantees
secure data access so that only the people or groups you choose are allowed to view
the results. An unlimited number of users can access test data from multiple locations
around the world concurrently while tests are executing.
Multi-dimensional Test Performance Analysis
Another powerful new feature of Arendar 2006 is Test Performance Analysis (TPA).
TPA leverages the power of online analytical processing (OLAP) and business intelligence
technologies to provide powerful drag-and-drop multi-dimensional test data analysis
and reporting. You can read much more about TPA and how it helps engineers and managers
immediately learn how their tests are performing in this issue’s feature article
titled
Understanding Test Performance Analysis.
Arendar TDM System Configurations
Arendar makes it easy to start with a PC-based TDM system for a single test station
and grow into a large enterprise TDM solution connecting to hundreds of test stations
throughout your company.
Arendar Desktop
is a low-cost, integrated TDM software system for a single test station. Arendar
Enterprise is an integrated software system for managing test data from an unlimited
number of test stations.
Arendar Enterprise
configurations range from a few networked test stations in design labs and prototype
production lines to hundreds of test stations distributed geographically around
the world.
Figure 3: An Arendar enterprise test data management system provides engineers and managers immediate access to information necessary for them to make critical design, manufacturing and business decisions.
Arendar Desktop TDM applications are scalable to large distributed enterprise systems
without modifying any code by simply upgrading to Arendar Enterprise. Arendar protects
your TDM system development investment by providing a seamless migration path from
a single test station to an enterprise system without rewriting any test code or
losing any previously-collected test data, analysis results or reports.
Arendar TDM Solutions
Arendar test data management software is used to capture and organize test data
from a wide variety of research, design, manufacturing and field service applications
and provides engineers and managers with immediate access to raw test data, analysis
and reports (Figure 3).
Click Here
to get more information about how Arendar is being used in design and manufacturing
applications.
Summary
A big problem at many companies is not having effective tools to process large volumes
of data generated by automated test systems. This directly impacts the efficiency
and productivity of test engineers and managers trying to make sense out of all
this data (Figure 4). Arendar test data management software eliminates this problem
by providing a comprehensive solution for turning raw test data into valuable information
that can securely accessed by anyone, anytime, anyplace via the web. With Arendar,
the value of design and manufacturing test information is recognized throughout
your enterprise by helping engineers and managers analyze and track key product
performance metrics, identify problems proactively and take immediate corrective
action.
Figure 4: Arendar helps manage the deluge of data generated by automated test systems, which is a key problem for test engineers and managers.
Click here
to learn more about Arendar 2006 test data management software and how it can help
you turn design and manufacturing test data into valuable information for your company.
Ask the Expert
Email questions concerning this article to:
expert.testpronews@vi-tech.com
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