Using TME — Overview

The Test Management Environment uses a tab-based graphical user interface with extra functionality via menu driven tasks. This topic provides a basic overview of TME functionality.

Initially the tabs that are selectable are:

Order Information

  • For information only.

  • Review information about an order, such as the order number, date, product, model, and serial number.
   

Test Reports

  • View test data and combine into reports

It is necessary to enter valid license information in order to access the full functionality of the Test Management Environment. For more information on entering license information, see the Licenses section.

Run Tests

  • This tab will appear and be selectable when valid license information is imported.

  • Used to set up the test environment and run a test plan or selected tests.

Drop Down Menus

File

  • Use to create, open, or edit orders.
   

Administration

  • Allows a system administrator to set up test equipment and manage test data and licenses. As of E.03.75 release, the Administrative Login is now optional. The default, as shipped by TME, is that the Administrative Login is disabled. (Refer to Enable Administration Login in the Option Panel topic.) Once enabled, an administrator’s password is necessary to access most of these menu items.
   

Help

  • Provides information on TME and calibration applications installed. Also provides a live update utility to find available updates.

TME User Interface

Administrator/Operator Distinction

The TME product is designed to have two distinct user groups, Administrators and Operators. The Administrator is able to define test stations, add, change, and remove information about test equipment and test stations, including equipment and calibration standards control, data management, and system setup. The Operator is the person actually executing the tests and creating the data reports using the pre-defined information supplied by the Administrator.

Order/Session Concept

Before running any tests within TME, a new order is created. This allows product-related data to be grouped together and easily retrieved. Within each order there is also the concept of sessions. A session is a subset of data within the order which is used to generate reports. There can be any number of sessions for a particular order. An example of possible sessions may be: "Product As Received", "Product Repair Testing" and "Product As Shipped". These sessions could be used to produce three separate reports.

Using sessions

Most orders may only require a single session. By default, the first session created within an order is named "As Received" and the second session "As Shipped". Both of these names are default suggestions and may be changed to any user preference. If a single report is required for all testing carried out on a particular product, only one session should be used. Report data can only be gathered from a single session at a time. Different test run sequences from different stations are created at different times and may be gathered to create a single report, provided they are part of the same order session. Session-based reports are generated from saved session data and can be customized to include the desired group of test data from a choice of all test runs within the session.

ETE and Environmental Information

External Test Equipment (ETE) is the equipment required to test any given product. Most of the products supported by TME require extensive ETE to allow full testing to be carried out. The ETE is added to TME by the Administrator and is grouped by Test Station. A single Test Station can be used for all ETE if the ETE tends to be shared among several locations or if ETE is rack mounted and usually kept in a fixed location. Separate Test Stations may be added to reflect this. Once the Administrator has entered ETE into a Test Station, the Operator can then select from the available choices when running tests. ETE is an important part of calibration traceability and it is important that all required calibration information is entered correctly.

Environmental information can be set to default values by the Administrator if they are not prone to variation, or entered/updated by the Operator to reflect current conditions. The temperature and humidity values can be automatically updated if you use the environmental sensor described here.

The values entered can sometimes affect the specifications tested to and are included on any reports generated.

Only one operator can use a test station at one time.

Miscellaneous Information

Warmup Time

Allow sufficient warmup time for the test equipment and instrument under test (also referred to as unit under test, UUT). Refer to individual operating and service manuals for warmup specifications.

Failure to meet specifications

If the instrument does not meet one or more of the specifications during testing, check the test setup for proper configuration. Also check the condition of all connectors and ensure all connections are tight. Repeat the failed tests again. If the results are still unsatisfactory, complete any remaining tests and refer to the troubleshooting information in the service guide to correct the problem.

Abnormal indications during adjustment

If the indications received during an adjustment do not agree with the normal conditions given in the adjustment procedures, a fault exists in the instrument. The fault should be repaired before proceeding with any further adjustments. Refer to the troubleshooting and repair information in the service guide.