Simcenter Testing Solutions Simcenter Testlab: Templates

Direct YouTube link: https://youtu.be/5qRg_KpqBD8

Have a test that you perform over and over again? Tired of setting up a project with the same settings every time?

Templates are the solution!

In Simcenter Testlab (formerly called LMS Test.Lab), templates are used to store custom test settings. When a template is opened, all settings will be loaded – the user can jump right into measuring without having to re-setup the test.

Creating a template:

First, open (or create) a project with the appropriate settings for the test.

After selecting the settings and configuration for the test (channel setup, DSP, tracking, processing, displays, etc.), save it as a template.

File -> Save As Template….

Figure 1: Saving a project as a template.

NOTE: Saving an existing project as a template will save the settings of a project without saving the data.

A project template file has the extension .tpl. This contains the starting setup that is used when a new project is created.

To open a template:

1. Open the Simcenter Testlab software
2. File -> New
3. Select the template from the list

Figure 2: Select the template from the list to open it.

A new project will be created and all settings will be loaded.

Save the project and then start recording data! All the settings should be appropriate.

Note that pressing the upper left white icon for new project , there is no template choice given. The default project template called "BlankProject" will be used automatically. To use something other than the default template, the "File -> New" selection must be used.

Creating a template shortcut:

To open templates even faster, create a template shortcut.

When saving the project as a template there is an option to “Create template shortcut on Desktop”.

Figure 3: Creating a template shortcut.

Figure 4: Template shortcut on desktop.

Click on the icon to launch. The software will open and load the settings stored with the template.

Lock it down!

Worried someone will tinker with your template?

Lock it down with parameter locking.

Parameter locking allows the user to de-activate buttons and fields in Test.Lab so they cannot be changed.

Figure 5: Deactivate fields that should not be changed.

To lock parameters, go to Tools -> Add-ins and turn on Parameter Locking (no tokens required).

Figure 6: Turn on Parameter Locking from the Add-ins menu.

To lock a parameter (such as a drop down menu or a fill-in field), right click on it and select the “Property Dialog” menu.

Check on the “Read Only” box to lock the parameter.

There are also options to change visual properties of the field such as font and color.

Figure 7: Locking a field. Right click on the field and select “Property dialog”. Check on the “Read Only” field in the Edit Box Properties pop-up window.

When a field is locked it will appear greyed out.

Figure 8: The “Count” field is now deactivated.

When all the desired parameters are locked, save as a Task Shortcut.

Go to File -> Save as Task Shortcut.

Figure 9: Save as Task Shortcut….

A task shortcut is similar to a template, but in addition to just saving settings, it also saves locked parameter settings, add-in activity, and workbook configuration.

When saving as a Task Shortcut, three files are created:

• Project template (.tpl): saves default parameters of the project and locked fields
• Workbook configuration (.cfg): contains visual configurations and add-ins that have been activated
• Task Icon (.tsk): this icon uses template and configuration files to call the application in which the task has been created.

All three of these files must be stored together.

TIP: If storing all three of these files on the desktop is too cluttered, store them in another location and create a shortcut of the task icon on the desktop.

When opening the task shortcut, the template with the settings, locked parameters, add-ins, and any visual changes will be loaded.

Enjoy the efficiency of not re-creating test settings!

Questions? Post a reply, email charles.rice@siemens.com, or contact Siemens Support Center.

Simcenter Testlab links:

• Index of Simcenter Testing Knowledge Articles
• Simcenter Testlab Active Picture
• Simcenter Testlab Active Picture Plug-in Download
• Simcenter Testlab Token Licensing: What is it? How does it work?
• Simcenter Testlab: Import/Export to Excel
• Simcenter Testlab: Documentation Tab
• Simcenter Testlab: Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts
• Simcenter Testlab: CTRL-PageUp and CTRL-PageDown to change worksheets
• Simcenter Testlab: How to create a custom workflow
• Simcenter Testlab: Format Based Printing with Powerpoint
• Simcenter Testlab: Replace Data Origin...
• Simcenter Testlab: Batch Reporting
• Simcenter Testlab: Eliminate Folder Clicking with List All Blocks!
• Nastran and Simcenter Testlab: Viewing Mode Shapes and FRFs
• Simcenter Testlab YouTube Playlist

Simcenter Testlab Display links:

• Simcenter Testlab: Display Layouts
• Simcenter Testlab: Customized Legend Text
• Simcenter Testlab: Curve Linestyles
• Simcenter Testlab: Cursor Tips and Tricks
• Simcenter Testlab: Coupled Cursors and Coupled Limits
• Simcenter Testlab: Interactive order cursor!
• Simcenter Testlab: Order Cursor vs Time in Colormap
• Simcenter Testlab: The "Double X" cursor
• Simcenter Testlab: Automatic Peak-Valley Cursor
• Simcenter Testlab: Harmonic Cursors
• Simcenter Testlab: XY Graph
• Simcenter Testlab: Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts
• Simcenter Testlab: Matrix-Heatmap Display
• Simcenter Testlab: Overlay Mode Shapes
• Simcenter Testlab Display Seminar
• Simcenter Testlab Display YouTube Playlist