MTS TestSuite™ TW Software

Version 4.6 Release Notes - September 2020

100-476-288 E
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Contents
MTS TestSuite Release Notes 4
Revision History 8
Hardware 33
Software 34
Basic Installation 37
Software Activation 39

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 3

MTS TestSuite Release Notes

MTS TestSuite Release Notes

Fixes
This release corrects the following issues:
l Fixed an issue where TW would not allow Python to delete a test run after the test run was
completed.
l Fixed an issue where the ICE Simulator displayed application tasks in the task bar.
l Fixed an issue where the last cycle of a cyclic test would sometimes not display on the Review
page.
l Fixed an issue where dialogs would sometimes not display on the screen where the main
application was running, or would appear behind other applications.
l Fixed an issue where the License Administrator tool and Select Controller Type utility would
not open without administrator privileges.
l Fixed an issue where users were able to generate a diagnostic file without having the Create
Diagnostic File privilege.
l Fixed an issue where Operator level users were incorrectly enabled to change Configuration
settings. This fix supports the ability of system administrators to configure 21 CFR Part 11
compliant systems.
l Fixed various issues that caused TestWorks 4 Converter crashes.
l Fixed an issue where the Digital Input activity would not stop logging events when the Log
type was set to “None”.
l Fixed an issue where the Digital Input activity crashed when the test procedure was unloaded
and then restarted before the Digital Input activity in the workflow was activated.
l Fixed an issue where TW would hang intermittently when transitioning to the Review page.
l Enhanced TW Diag to indicate when users reach a NiDAQ limit of available analog tasks.
Also, added an option to “Create Analog Tasks by Type” to increase the total number of
available analog tasks.
l Fixed a memory leak issue in the Digital Output activity.
l Fixed an issue in TW Diag where the Speed and Speed Error meters did not work when the
ballscrew encoder was selected.
l Fixed an issue where users could copy-and-paste the inner portion of the Repeat activity,
which is not supported and resulted in invalid tests.
l Fixed an issue where devices in the External Devices dialog could not be renamed or
removed.
l Fixed an issue with TEDS Linearization where information was loaded but then inadvertently
cleared when using a linearization table.

4 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Known Issues

l Fixed an issue where TestSuite would crash when an argument (Channel) was added to the
“IsChannelAvailable” function when not currently available in the test resources.
l Modified the Apply Offset activity to exclude calculated signals in the signal selection list.
l Fixed an issue where the image in the Set Variable Button did not expand to the edge of the
control.
l Fixed an issue where data acquisition would put the default value of the variable into the array
before filling in the acquired data. With this fix, data acquisition will replace all of the array with
cycle data and not append it to the default value.

Known Issues
Operating System and Network
l During installation, MTS TestSuite installs Microsoft .NET Framework 4.7. If your PC has a
very old version of Windows 10, the .NET Framework installation may be blocked, and display
a message such as “The .NET Framework 4.7.2 is not supported on this operating system.” If
this occurs, update Windows 10 and reinstall MTS TestSuite.
l Do not enable or use the Fast User Switching or Remote Desktop features provided by the
Windows 7 operating system. Multiple-user or remote-user access to a machine control
system is a significant safety concern.
l MTS TestSuite does not support the remote design, operation, or analysis of projects and
tests from a networked drive.
l If you use 32 bit Office with a 64 bit operating system, you will not be able to use ODBC DSN
based activity.

Controller Software
l MTS 793 software does not support operating systems that use non-Unicode character sets,
such as Chinese, Korean, and Russian. When installing MTS 793 software on these
operating systems, you must set the language for non-Unicode programs to English (United
States). For example, in Windows 7, select Start>Control Panel>Region and
Language>Location>United States. This causes the 793 interface to display in English.
Failure to do this will cause some 793 applications to load improperly.

Note: This does not apply to MTS TestSuite software, which supports operating
systems that use non-Unicode character sets.

l MTS TestSuite TW Elite and TW Express cannot connect to a station while the Station
Manager access level is set to “Configuration”. Both can work with any other access level
(Operator, Tuning, Calibration).
l Review all issues documented in the MTS 793 software release notes (readme file).

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 5

Known Issues

MTS TestSuite Software

l Because MTS TestSuite tests are not backward compatible, you must not move your tests
between versions. For example, an MTS TestSuite 4.2 test becomes corrupted when you
move the test to 4.1, save the test in 4.1, and move the test back to 4.2.
l Simultaneous read and write operations from data acquisition files may result in a crash. For
example, a crash may occur if you attempt to write a report while acquiring data by using the
Generate Report activity in parallel with a Data Acquisition activity. To avoid this, do not
attempt simultaneous read and write operations in a test procedure. The potential for this
behavior began with the Nov 2014 Version 4.0 platform release, which is when MTS
TestSuite software implemented a new data acquisition format.
l If you are using a Criterion Series 40 system equipped with dual testing zones, the selected
upper or lower testing zone may change if the MTS TWE, TWS, or TWX experiences an
unexpected shutdown. Before running a test, always ensure that the appropriate testing zone
is selected.
l With this release, there is no support for automatic shunt verification of load cells on multi-
head systems (Insight or Criterion frames). Operators can still verify the load cells manually,
using dead-weight and the manual verification process in TestSuite (Controller > TEDS
Devices… > Verify, and follow the prompts).  Automatic shunt verification for load cells in
multi-head systems will be included in a future TestSuite release.
l Under certain conditions (for instance, if Windows User Account Control is on), the default
report template may not automatically link to the test data in your current test. To link the report
template to test run data, click on the Test icon on the MTS TestSuite Reporter ribbon, and
select the desired test.
l When converted to MTS TW, TestWorks 4 methods that invert the polarity of and apply
calculations to FlexTest Controller signals require modification to perform as originally
designed. To do this, you must modify the associated station configuration file (.cfg) with MTS
793 software.
l TestSuite supports a maximum font size of 125%. Larger font sizes may result in display
problems.
l Certain text display errors may be resolved by disabling an operating system setting named
ClearType. These errors appear most notably as text in which spaces are missing or as text
that includes spaces that appear unusually wide. Windows 7 has it turned on by default. If you
notice text display issues in the application, you can turn ClearType off.
l You are required to install the application software from a user account with Administrator
privileges. You must use the same account the first time you add users in the application
software. Until you add other users, only the account used to install the software has privileges
to run the application software.
l Before you can activate a new commercial license, you must use the Product Activation
Wizard to uninstall any existing trial licenses. For more information about license activation,
see “Software Activation” on page 39 of this document.

6 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Known Issues

l Although it is possible to access the same test from multiple applications or from multiple
instances of the same application, this practice is not recommended. Multiple users making
changes to the same test could produce unexpected behavior.
l Multiple, docked scope displays for general system operation may not display properly until
you resize the application window or undock the scope display. This problem does not occur
with scopes added to runtime displays.

Video Capture Feature (Licensed Option)

l For best results, use a camera that supports the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video compression
standard (such as the Logitech C920 Pro Webcam). Avoid using cameras that do not support
video compression because uncompressed video can fill up hard-disk space quickly.
l If multiple Video test-run display objects are configured to use the same video set, only one of
the objects will display a video stream.

MTS TWS Software

MTS TWS does not expose the remote start feature in MTS TWE > Define > Test Definition >
General tab. To enable the remote start feature, open the test in MTS TWE and configure as desired.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 7

Revision History

Revision History
TW Version Release Date
4.6 September 2020
4.5.2 February 2020
4.5.1 December 2019
4.5 July 2019
4.4.1 January 2019
4.3.1 May 2018
4.3 August 2017
4.2.3 March 2017
4.2.2 January 2017
4.2.1 December 2016
4.2 September 2016
4.1.7 August 2016
4.1 July 2015
3.0 October 2014
2.3.6 June 2014
2.3.5 March 2014
2.3.4 February 2014
2.3.3 December 2013
2.3.2 November 2013
2.3.1 September 2013
2.3 August 2013
2.1.2 April 2013
2.1.1 February 2013
2.2 January 2013
2.1 December 2012

8 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

TW Version Release Date

2.0 September 2012
1.1 March 2012
1.0 November 2011

Version 4.5.2
Fixed a bug to force an interlock when applying 110% of load capacity on ICE controllers.
l Fixed a bug to enable audit trail data checking of the test log.
l Fixed a crash that could occur when using UNC paths as project settings, browsing, saving
as, etc.
l Fixed a crash that could occur when zooming into a chart.
l Fixed a crash that could occur in the Export Data activity when attempting to delete from the
selected items group.
l Fixed a bug that could cause performance issues while navigating the Test Run Display
Designer when Variable Value Scopes were used.
Fixes for Reporter:
l Fixed a bug where an error could occur when generating a report that uses the Single Value
Variables table on systems using commas as decimal separators.
l Fixed a crash that could occur when opening a PDF formatted report from within TestSuite.

Version 4.5.1
l Fixed workstation / controller connection issues for how TW with ICE controllers handles lost
connections to ICE controllers.
l Fixed workstation / controller connection issues for how TW with ICE controllers handles
random TW Diag issues for ICE controllers.
l Fixed a bug where there was an issue with non-English time formats and where exporting raw
data on non-English systems failed.
l Fixed a bug where TW would crash when an extensometer without TEDS was used.
l Fixed an Insight/InsightPlus Renew bug where an error was specifying an incorrect command
id message. This fix resolved a command ID error when trying to configure Renew systems.
l Fixed a bug where operator level users could modify variables through the TW Review Tab.
l Fixed a bug on a network drive where there was a hang when converting a test to 4.5. This fix
resolved a test conversion hang when the test was located on a network drive.
l Fixed a random crash in TW Diag after an Insight firmware update.
l Fixed a crash that could occur during longer running tests.
l Fixed an issue where TW could crash when cancelling out of the Device Verification process.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 9

Revision History

l Fixed a bug where Custom Message windows are displayed on the wrong monitor, and may
be behind other applications. This fix involved resolving an issue where Custom Message
dialogs may appear on the wrong monitor or behind other windows.
l Fixed a bug where automatic execution of the finish section would delay until
creation/calculation of the analysis run before the final test run had finished. This fix involved
resolving an issue where Finish section tasks may encounter a race condition with the last test
runs analysis calculations.
l Fixed a bug where crashes and failures to effectively load the test runs occurred in TWE. The
fix involved reviewing a potential crash when loading test run data. A page was reviewed with
a "Variable Table for Multiple Runs" table.
l Fixed a bug involving an issue loading test runs.
Fixes for Templates
l Fixed a template bug in the STH Multi Cycle Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the STH Construction Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the STH - Metals Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the EM Construction Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the base TW-Hydraulic Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the EM Multi-cycle Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the EM Composites Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the EM plastic Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the EM Metals Templates.
l Fixed template bugs in the SH Composites Templates.
l Updated the ASTM D3518 Composite Templates.
l Updated the ASTM D6641 Composite Templates.
l Updated the ISO 527-5 EM & SH Composite Templates.
l Updated the ISO 527-4 EM & SH Composite Templates.
l Updated the ASTM D3039 (EM & SH) Composite Templates.
l Fixed a bug in Wrong Calculation in MTS EM ISO 15630-1 Reinforcing Bars, Rod, and Wire
Tension.
l Fixed a bug to change NRK to add Sheet Metal to the template name.
l Fixed a bug for Additive Manufacturing Example EM - E8 Template.

Version 4.5
l Improved the launch time of the installer.
l Fixed a bug where the TW4 Converter did not propagate the TestWorks 4 meter settings that
show signal or sensor names on the meters in the resulting TestSuite file.

10 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed a bug where report templates were no longer linked, the TW Review tab chart plotted
index vs index, and the statistics on the Review tab were removed, when a new test from
template was created with special characters (for example: % sign) in the test name.
l Fixed bugs where the scope did not restart (was blank) when it was set to Continuous Sweep
and Compensate for Fixturing or Tune for Specimen - Verify was run.
l Fixed a bug where variable attributes of a function would work in the TestRun and
AnalysisRun sections of TW, but not in the Finish section.
l Fixed a bug where changes to the Python function could be lost when it was saved.
l Fixed a bug where writing hard-coded strings used in the Query portion of the Write to File
activity could fail when writing to the database.
l Fixed a bug in TW and TW Diag where using the Down jog button in either application could
cause a crash.
MTS TestSuite Reporter Add-in Fixes
l Fixed a bug where "-Test Report" was added to the report file when the file type was CSV and
the report destination was a variable with a full path file name in it.

Version 4.4.1
l Fixed an issue in the Array-Variable Chart where data was slow to update.
l Fixed an issue in the TW4 converter where the default value for MaxSpecimens was not being
applied to the Maximum Test Runs variable in TW.
l Fixed an issue in the TW4 converter so that the original display name for all SampleInfo
variables is preserved.
l Fixed an issue where the Export Raw Data dialog was not using the default unit set
associated with the project.
l Fixed an issue with the persistence of variable column selections.
l Fixed an issue where exporting test run data containing ten or more DAQs resulted in
incorrect signals in data files.
l Fixed an issue where the GoTo activity was not reaching expected end-levels when the
control-mode and termination condition are in the same units.
l Fixed an issue where the Target unit in the Temperature Control activity could not be set to °F.
l Fixed an issue where the GoTo activity termination variable was different than the signal
without validation error.
l Fixed an issue where the dimension for signal and variable was mismatched.
l Fix an issue where continued restarts of the Limit Detection activity was causing problems in
793.
l Fixed an issue where the Store Ending Path Variable in the Parallel Paths activity caused a
runtime error “The variable "" is not found”.
l Fixed an issue in the TestRun function that would result in an out of order sequence.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 11

Revision History

l Fixed an issue where the MFL Extensometer would unexpectedly return an invalid number.
l Fixed incorrect definitions of Bending Stiffness and Inverse Bending Stiffness as well as other
unit dimensional fixes.
l Fixed a legacy conversion issue that involved tag definitions.
l Fixed an issue in the Rock Mechanic templates that caused an out-of-memory exception
l Fixed the buffer size (changed to 1) in all multi-cycle templates.
l Fixed an issue where Write Options were filtered out when the format was set to Macro-
Enabled.
l Fixed an issue where the .xlsm file extension was ignored when used as a variable for the
output name.
l Fixed an issue that prevented Array Variable Charts from being created when a limit line
variable was calculated to #NUM!.

Version 4.3.1
l Fixed an issue in the TestRun function that would result in an out of order sequence.
l Fixed several file filter issues with the Select File activity.
l Corrected the definitions of Bending Stiffness and Inverse Bending Stiffness as well as other
unit dimensional fixes.
l Fixed some issues with the Write Data activity.
l Fixed the AveragePeaks function to correctly return the value based on the maximum peaks.
l Fixed an export data issue when there are multiple DAQ activities in the work flow.
l Fixed some Test Progress Table issues.
l Fixed an issue were the application would crash after creating a new test from current test.
l Fixed an issue in the SignalFullScale function when working with NiDAQ channels.
l Fixed an issue where the Temperature Control activity would not detect target temperature
changes when in Fahrenheit (F) or Rankine (R).
l Fixed several TW Diag issues.
l Fixed an issue when using a variable for the maximum speed of the PID tuning parameters.
l Fixed an issue where the MFL Extensometer would unexpectedly return an invalid number.
l Fixed an issue where block data was not always being presented properly on the Review
page.
l Fixed an issue where the function generator would stop after interrupting a Dwell, subsequent
commands would not be sent to the controller.
l Fixed an MTS TestSuite TWS issue where common variables were not supported as pre-test
run inputs.
l Fixed an issue where the Dwell activity would hold at the current location regardless of the
“Dwell at Current value” checkbox state.

12 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed the MTS TestSuite Reporter Add-in conflict issue, which occurred after inserting MS-
Excel objects into other Microsoft products.
l Fixed an intermittent problem where report templates were not detected as MTS TestSuite
templates and would not automatically link.
l Fixed an issue where macro-enabled report templates were missing the Add New and
Append to Existing Worksheet options.
l Fixed various chart and table issues.

Version 4.3
l Fixed the Excel add-in conflict issue, which occurred after inserting MS-Excel objects into
other Microsoft products.
l Fixed the duplicate Variables category issue in the Reporter Add-In application.
l Fixed the alphabetical sorting issue for variables under the Single Variable Value object in the
Reporter Add-In application.
l Fixed the Calculation Editor issue where the selected choice itemʼs internal name appears
instead of its display name.
l Fixed the Pow function's argument processing issue.
l Fixed the issue with the Signal Scope's chart title, which was not getting updated according to
the signal name on the X-Axis.
l Fixed the issue with the At Hold/Resume and At Start/Stop command settings where users
could not stop and unload the test run.
l Fixed the multiple DAQs in parallel issue where the application crashes when multiple block or
cyclic DAQs end simultaneously.
l Fixed the error routing issue where clicking validation errors take users to an incorrect
location.
l Fixed the issue where tests fail to start when running two tests from different directories on
different stations simultaneously.
l Fixed the Save As Template behavior issue, which occurred when doing a Save As
Template in folders other than the default folder.
l Fixed the SizeOfArray function issue where the SizeOfArray function returns incorrect values
when its argument is a function.
l Fixed the ValleyIndex function issue where the function fails to recognize the units of a
calculated parameter.
l Fixed the import test issue where successfully imported tests failed to open automatically if a
report template or unit set fails to be imported.
l Fixed the export issue with test report templates where the export file excluded report
templates located outside of the default report template location.
l Fixed the issue where the application crashed while reading the meters definition information.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 13

Revision History

l Fixed the issue with the Input Variables activity, which did not allow the selection of read-only
variables; now, you can add read-only variables as long as you do not enable editing of it.
l Fixed the workflow editor issue where pasting an activity after an If-Else activity fails when in
outline mode.
l Fixed an occasional crash issue that occurred when stopping a test during its test run.
l Fixed the Test-Run Display Signal Meter issue where the meter disappears after changing
some of its property settings.
l Fixed the text case issue for units where "db/octave" should read "dB/octave."
l Fixed the Runtime Values tab issue where the application failed to display some of variables,
causing the test to become corrupted.
l Fixed the issue in the Calculation Editor that failed to display valid options for the variable list
syntax.
l Fixed the issue where changing the properties of multi-selected variables crashed the
application.
l Fixed the variable default units issue where the template units do not use the default units.
l Fixed an issue that resulted in an error when running a test that includes a disabled variable
that includes a calculation that references another variable that does not exist.
l Fixed the decimal comma issue that occurred when adding fractions of a second as a pulse
width value for a Set Digital Output activity.
l Fixed the Test-Run Display issue where the Adjust Variable control failed to become enabled
even when you set the Enable Condition equal to true.
l Fixed the issue that would randomly produce an error when the RUN button was pushed
while running tests located on a network drive.
l Fixed the peak displacement issue where the peak-valley point picking and displacement drift
occured for a High R value.
l Fixed the Tuning Parameters issue where the application crashes when clicking the icon that
toggles between the numeric input and variable selection of the Maximum Speed variable.
l Fixed the TEDS device issue where the application overwrites the TEDS device without
providing a warning.
l Fixed the issue where the removal of external devices occurs unintentionally.
l Fixed the issue where a test run's results fail to recalculate after changing a function.
l Fixed the Review Chart issue where the charts failed to display test-run data under specific
conditions (cyclic and non-cyclic variables).
l Fixed the post-test calculation issue, which occurred when using the TestDirectory() function
within a calculated common variable.
l Removed the message window that reads, "The specified target has been reached" when
pressing the Move Crosshead to the specified position button on the TW control panel.

14 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed the pre-allocated test run naming issue where the test run name appears incorrectly on
the review page.
l Fixed the issue that occurred when updating the MTS TestSuite configuration files to use
NiDAQmx data acquisition driver.
l Fixed the issue in which the crosshead moved in the opposite direction of the polarity settings.

Note: If you changed the Polarity and/or Effect of Increasing Extension controls to
compensate for this issue in V4.2 of MTS TestSuite TW software, you need to evaluate
and revert the changes on all workspaces.
l Fixed the NI load signal issue where the application performs the shunt check and displays the
un-tared value.
l Fixed various bugs to improve Rock Mechanics Templates.
l Fixed the Static Hydraulic (STH) Multi-cycle TW template issue so that this type of template
can load and run in TWS. (Note: These templates cannot be edited in TWS).
l Fixed various bugs to improve the EM Tuning Template (HD Control for Insight Plus
Controllers).

Version 4.2.3
l Fixed an issue where defining the preference to create a test from a specified template after
application startup would not work.
l Fixed an issue where auto tag rules could show incorrect validation errors.
l Fixed an issue trying to run STH multicycle templates in TWS.
l Fixed an issue where the ramp rate setting for the TW servo-hydraulic Control Panel jog
buttons was not being used.
l Fixed an issue where some Chinese strings may appear as illegal character sets.
l Removed the restriction of placing command activities into the Setup section of the workflow.
l Fixed a memory leak in loop activities (while, periodic, repeat).
l Fixed an issue where exporting large amounts of data could produce a 793 watchdog timeout.
l Fixed several TW Diag issues.
l Fixed a variable category issue in several different templates.
l Fixed a bug where the Custom Waveform activity did not properly synchronize the start of the
segments between multiple channels (applies only to systems equipped with MTS FlexTest
Controllers).
l Fixed an issue in the generated report where the Review Chart does not always get
displayed.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 15

Revision History

Version 4.2.2
l Fixed the issue in which a memory leak in a high frequency While Loop activity caused a
crash.

Version 4.2.1
l Added exception handling for when the controller rejects TEDS data and when the TEDS chip
is blank.
l Fixed the crash that occurs while connecting to a TW Insight load frame when the TestSuite
language is set to Russian.
l Enhanced the code to support the use of Quarter Bridge settings.
l Fixed the application error that occurred when manually typing a date into the Calibration Date
field.
l Fixed random TW4 converter issues.
l Enhanced the code to support previously unsupported NiDaq data acquisition settings.
l Fixed the memory allocation error that occurred when a test runs the custom waveform
activity inside a loop.
l Run/hold/run or run/stop/run sequences can cause peak/valley data to contain two peaks in a
row or two valleys in a row. This caused the valleys to start appearing in the peak column and
vice versa. This change is swapping the values, so the valleys are always lower values than
the peaks.

Version 4.2
l Fixed the issue in which the default report of the SH Compression Simplified template
generated only the first test run on the report graph and excluded the other test runs.
l Fixed the issue where the mechanism designed to ignore the Insight crosshead limits on an
interlock reset caused every other interlock to be ignored.
l Fixed the issue where editing post-test variable values from the test-run table caused unit
conversion and recalculate issues.
l Fixed the issue where the StressArray variable was missing two options, which affected the
Flex Formula assistants.
l Fixed the issue in which the Stress array calculation did not match the strain array and/or the
Area calculation in the Bend templates.
l Fixed the issue where specific resources failed to show validation errors when creating a test
run.
l Fixed the issue that could cause a crash when changing a variable calculation option that
needed to create a new variable.
l Fixed the issue where the tear index returned an invalid value because the last index in the
data was not being processed.

16 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed the failed connection messages on non-Acumen systems where the dialog reads,
"Unable to connect to the controller. MTS Acumen station configuration file is not valid."
l Fixed the issue where the "Display on handset" feature does not clear the value when the test
run begins.
l Fixed the issue where the TWS External Device activity was improperly filtering the "Result
Input" list and did not include an entry for "<New Input>".
l Fixed the issue where running long TW tests on Insight could cause the controller clock signal
to rollover and display incorrect running time values.
l Fixed performance issues that caused slow report generation for complex report templates.
l Fixed the issue where meters were unavailable in the Meters tab when connected to a
torsional actuator.
l Fixed the issue where MTS TestSuite crashed when you attempted to edit a report template in
which the path to MS-Excel was incorrect
l Fixed the issue where running a test when the signal scope was set to program control could
cause an error.
l Fixed the issue where pressing the space bar or defined function key shortcut during a Return
to Zero activity did not stop the crosshead movement.
l Fixed the issue in which the Python block function call returned an incorrect value that caused
calculation errors when loading older version JIC templates in new versions of MTS
TestSuite.
l Fixed the issue where the AutoRun.inf file located in the TestSuite installation interfered with
some anti-malware software.
l Fixed the issue where short data-acquisition runs could result in out-of-order data that
produced incorrect traces.
l Fixed the issue where MTS TestSuite crashes when 793 resources include invalid characters.
l Fixed the issue that caused the Dwell activity to turn the compensators off.

Version 4.1.7
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Fixed an issue that could cause a crash when a test tried to display a large number of error or
warning bitmap indicators.
l Corrected the CombinedStrainEx and CombinedExtensionEx functions to work properly during
post-test calculations.
l Fixed an issue that caused the Move Invalid Marker menu item in the charts from not always
being available in test runs that contain invalid markers.
l Fixed an issue that caused the statistics table in the Review tab to display incorrectly.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 17

Revision History

Version 4.1
User Interface
l Improved font handling and display.
l Improved display of cyclic tests on the Review tab.
l Added column options to the Variable Actions menu.
l Improved Custom Message window sizing.
l Improved user interaction with charts and with moving chart markers.
l Added point-of-use variable editing in test activities.
l Added highlights to matches in search results.

General
l Added a new licensed Video Capture feature. This feature provides the capability to:
l Programmatically capture and view video during tests in run-time displays
l Review and navigate captured video in post-test displays by dragging markers
l Add video frames to test reports.
This feature includes a Record Video test activity and a Video test-run display
object.
l Added a new licensed Temperature Control activity.
l Added support for Torsion frames to the Insight and Insight Plus controllers.
l Added the capability to display live signal values for calculated signals in signal meters before
the test starts.
l Added the capability to display results from all variables defined in the Setup section of the
workflow.
l Added support to designate an active trace when multiple traces are displayed on a scope.
l Added the capability to use the Allow Handset Control activity after the Test Run section.
l Added a tuning template to aid in determining PID tuning values for the load control mode (the
load control mode requires the licensed Advanced Rate Control option).
l Added an Adjust Variable test-run display object. This object provides the capability to adjust
test run variables on the fly at runtime.
l Added an option to the Variable Input activity to suppress automatic logging of a state
change.
l Added the capability for users to set a default project that will open whenever the user opens
the application.
l Added the capability to program command test activities beyond full-scale.
l Added the capability to assign a control mode selection in test activities to a variable.

18 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Enhanced the Reporter Excel Add-in by adding Show Tagged and Show Comments
checkboxes to the All Test Runs Variable Table.
l Improved how column headings are displayed in the MTS Reporter Excel Add-in.
l Added the capability to assign trace labels in the MTS Reporter Excel Add-in.
l Added the capability to display six decimal places in on-board meters.
l Improved capability to zoom in chart displays on the Review tab.
l Improved access to serial ports.
l Added capability to set up tables in the Review tab prior to running a test.
l Enhanced support for MFL extensometers.

TW Essential (TWS)
l Added support for temperature control.
l Added the capability to show or hide items in the left pane of the Define tab using Basic
and Advanced navigation modes.
l Added support for high-elongation extensometers that use two encoders.
l Enhanced support for MFL extensometers.
l Added a tuning template to aid in determining PID tuning values for the load control mode
(the load control mode requires the licensed Advanced Rate Control option).

Templates
l Added Torsion templates.

Fixes in Version 4.1

l Fixed issue where the Arbitrary End-Level Compensation setting was not updating.
l Increased the allowable range of the data acquisition buffer property to 16,000.
l Fixed issue where changing Signal Scope properties could cause a crash.
l Fixed issue where the Axis data variable list differed between the Properties editor and
the right-click menu.
l Fixed issue where the application could not read data files containing duplicate group
identification (for example, duplicate cycle numbers).
l Fixed issue of improper focus when copying and pasting variables.
l Fixed issue where undocking a Variable Meter produced different results based on
where the control was clicked.
l Fixed issue where using the Activity Transitions feature in the Run-Time Display
controls could cause a crash.
l Fixed issue where using an indexed array value as a limit detection value did not
increment properly.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 19

Revision History

l Fixed issue where using a special character in a test folder path could cause a crash.
l Fixed issue where the Cycle [*] command did not work in calculations unless the Cycle
Count started at zero.
l Fixed issue where exiting from the Edit Variable window could cause a chart marker to
disappear.
l Fixed issue related to point-picking in charts on the Review tab of MTS TWE.
l Fixed issue where copying and pasting a composite activity could result in a crash or
unpredictable functionality.
l Fixed issue where attempting to create a report with an ampersand (“&”) in the report path
resulted in an ambiguous error message.
l Fixed issue where changing the case of test file and folder names prevented MTS
TestSuite from recognizing them.  
l Fixed issue where templates contained incorrect slack compensation calculations.
l Fixed issue where the TEDS editor could create corrupt Insight calibration history files.
l Fixed issue where the MTS TestSuite installer would not resume after rebooting.
l Fixed issue where changing a variable category could cause a crash.
l Fixed issue where ChannelIndex and ChannelValue functions did not convert correctly
from legacy tests when using the TestSuite Conversion Wizard.
l Fixed issue where an example of string concatenation was not provided in the
documentation.
l Fixed issue where information about the Break Detection activity was not provided in the
documentation.
l Fixed issue where information about the RunTimeOffsetYieldIndex function was not
provided in the documentation.
l Fixed issue where automatic conversion of tests in languages that use semicolon list
separators resulted in conversion errors.
l Fixed issue where the test convertor did not properly adjust for the difference between the
MTS TW4 Find and the MTS TestSuite FindSubstring functions.
l Fixed issue where the Result Variable table did not update after the Result flag was
removed from the variable.
l Fixed issue where a chart marker could not be moved in a chart on the Review tab on
MTS TWS.
l Fixed issue related to point-picking in charts on the Review tab on MTS TWS.
l Fixed issue where an Offset Yield line could not be edited with MTS TWS.
l Clarified  plotting capability with the MTS Reporter Excel Add-in.
l Fixed issue where test-run chart titles did not automatically update in the MTS Reporter
Excel Add-in.

20 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

Version 3.0
User Interface
l Improved clarity of user interface with updated visual design.
l Recent templates added to recent list in search tab and file menu.
l Grids have been updated so that the rightmost column remains fixed when expanding
horizontally and so that alpha contents are left justified and numeric contents are right
justified.
l User Interface now only shows template and tests for which user has access and which
are relevant to application.
l Added ability to create a favorites toolbox list.
l Added descriptive text describing test templates.
l Improved error navigation.

General
l Added ability to create custom units (for example N/100cm^2).
l Added ability to license TestSuite for working offline.
l Added the ability to change the test or test run display name from within the test.
l Added the ability to assign sensors in MPE.
l Added “New Test from Current Test” feature. This feature creates a new test (with a
different name) that has the same test definition, but without any of the existing test runs.
l Added an activity to allow handset manual command to be used in the middle of a test.
This activity is not available on systems equipped with an MTS Series 793 controller
(FlexTest).
l Added support for empty method name field in TestWorks LIMS file import.
l Added ability for user to use handset in any test state including during a test.
l TW was updated to support the Criterion C41 1kN, C45 Wide, and C45 600N.
l Added ability to change units in Setup Variables dialog.
l Variables can now be added to message text in Input Variables activity.
l Added ability to easily initialize an array with a list of values when declaring the array
variable at design time.
l Added the ability for a test to clear the offset of a signal.
l Added the ability to limit the list of variables in the pre-allocated page.
l Added ability to support allowing all variables, including Common variables, in the same
review table.
l Updated Select File activity to convert filename to a variable for later use.
l Added a favorites list in workflow and runtime designer toolboxes.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 21

Revision History

l Added favorite list for tests and templates in the select panel, open dialogs, and file menu.
l Added “Search” to the select page.
l Added the ability in the Resources page to navigate to the places where a resource is
used.
l Added the ability to specify which page is selected when a test is opened.
l Select Page now only shows tests or templates appropriate for the current application.
l User can now configure which tab opens first in the Configuration dialog.
l Added ability to save multiple cycles per period in Cyclic DAQ.
l Added support for FlexDAC scalable data-acquisition system.
l Added support for National Instruments 9219 universal analog input.
l Added ability to perform shunt readings on NiDAQ boards equipped with on-board shunt
(NI 9237).
l Added support for automatic shunt verification for load cells in multi-head systems when
using NI 9237.
l Charts now recalculate their labels when zoomed, so you continue to see useful labels.
l For Charts, added ability to select channel and unit from right-click menu.
l For Review Charts, added support of X and Y offset.
l The test curve in charts can now be traversed using the arrow keys (PickPoint).
l Improved chart zoom functionality.
l Review tab statistical functions now ignore #NUM! values.
l New Yield function.
l Added the ability to query databases in the Read Variables from File and Write Variables
to File activities.
l Improved yield function.
l Added ability to set Default Template that shows after login.
l Added ability to backup TEDS information from devices to PC.
l Improved Echo integration.

TW Essential (TWS)
TWS is a new application for systems with Insight and Insight+ controllers that allows streamlined test
design and execution for electromechanical and static hydraulic testing. TWS is based on TWE
functionality, and features a MTS TW4 look-and-feel. TWE can be used to extend the test editing
capability of TWS.
All templates created with TWE can  run on TWS. All standard MTS provided templates except
Multicycle and Multihead are editable in TWS. In addition, the legacy converter can convert TW4
method/samples into a template/test that can be edited in TWS.

22 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

Application Performance
l Memory management was improved to support more test runs in one test.
l Improved performance and memory utilization of large arrays.
l Internal file format for acquired data changed from XML to binary.  This is to better support
very large acquired data sets.

Templates
l Templates were improved with new alternative CombinedExtension and CombinedStrain
functions.
l Improved Rubber Tear Resistance template.

Fixes
l Fixed issue where copying and pasting in the TestSuite design environment could cause a
crash.
l Fixed refreshing issue with the Function compare tool.
l Fixed template conversion issue that delivers the following message - "The current
workbook is not an MTS Testsuite report Template, so a test cannot be linked."
l Fixed issue where Set Default Project was not applied at the correct time causing
confusion is cancelled.
l Fixed issue where changing the units for a meter displays that meter on the handset even
though it was not set as the meter to display.
l Fixed issue where selecting a non-default data drive during install causes validation error
and other problems.
l Fixed issue where copied and renamed variable does not reflect new name on Monitor
tab.
l Fixed issue where calculated strain displayed in meter was slightly different from manually
calculated values.
l Added Boolean variable conditional checks to Python.
l Improved Variable Chart performance with scattered data.
l Fixed issue where extensometer arms would not open when using automatic
extensometer.
l Improved TestSuite performance when using Variable Meters.
l Fixed issue causing crash when using Scope.
l Fixed issue causing crash when using Custom Activity validator.
l Fixed issue causing tooltip displayed incorrect values when setting up a Cycle Activity.
l Fixed issue causing data acquisition crash.
l Fixed issue causing crash when updating Physical TEDS Information.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 23

Revision History

l Fixed issue where add/edit/remove buttons in the DAQ activity property panel were not
shown after adding the activity to the procedure editor.
l Fixed issue where the report generator would encounter error and not generate report.
l Fixed issue where a crash would occur after deleting pre-allocated test run that had
validation errors.
l Fixed issue where pre-allocated values were not used after creating a pre-allocated test
run.
l Fixed issue with report generator where specified significant figures are not carrying over
to the test report when there is a zero in the last digit.
l Fixed issue with report generator causing empty values in end of each line when creating
a CSV report.
l Fixed issue with report generator where test report was unable to use common variable
for folder destination output.
l Fixed issue where Interlock can occur when ramping to full scale.
l Fixed issue where extra digits were displayed for variables near zero on Results page.
l Fixed issue where variable values defined in SETUP section of TW were not displayed
correctly in Reports.
l Fixed issue where extra lines and incorrect data could appear in Review Chart.
l Fixed issue where using pre-allocated specimens causes validation errors for invalid
default (blank) values.
l Fixed issue where zeroing the actuator when it is above 10mm will cause a Frame Speed
Limit Interlock.
l Included Insight+ firmware fixes.
l Fixed issue where offset could not be removed from calibrated transducer.
l Removed requirement of using only NI DAQ 9.6.0.

Version 2.3.6
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Fixed an issue that caused the application to become unresponsive in certain situations when
switching between the Define, Monitor, and Review tabs.
l Fixed an issue that caused the application to shut down unexpectedly when using the Enter or
Escape key to close a custom message window.

Version 2.3.5
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Modified the Insight firmware and MTS TestSuite TW software to fix a bug that could cause
unexpected crosshead movement if invalid or corrupt configuration parameters exist on or are

24 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

sent to an Insight controller while used with MTS TestSuite TW version 3.6. Such a situation
will now interlock the system.

Version 2.3.4
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Support for the following National Instruments products has been added to TWE and TWX:
l NI cDAQ-9174 Chassis
l NI 9237 Module
l NI 9219 Module
l For more information about setting up and using these products with TestSuite, contact your
Field Service Engineer.
l If you use statistical array functions in the Calculation Editor to compute input data that
contains NaN (Not a Number) values, the result will be NaN (displayed as #NUM! in the
application and reports).
Several new variations of existing functions have been added to the Calculation Editor. These new
functions ignore all NaN values in the input data during computation.

Existing Function New Ignore NaN Function

MeanOfArray MeanOfArrayIgnoreNaN
MedianOfArray MedianOfArrayIgnoreNaN
StdDevOfArray StdDevOfArrayIgnoreNaN
COVOfArray COVOfArrayIgnoreNaN
MeanPlusOneStdDevOfArray MeanPlusOneStdDevOfArrayIgnoreNaN
MeanMinusOneStdDevOfArray MeanMinusOneStdDevOfArrayIgnoreNaN
MeanPlusTwoStdDevOfArray MeanPlusTwoStdDevOfArrayIgnoreNaN
MeanMinusTwoStdDevOfArray MeanMinusTwoStdDevOfArrayIgnoreNaN
RootMeanSquareOfArray RootMeanSquareOfArrayIgnoreNaN

Version 2.3.3
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Microsoft Excel 2013 spreadsheet software may crash if you delete a row containing an MTS
TestSuite object (such as a chart or table) in a report template. To correct this issue, download
the Microsoft hotfix located here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2817505.
l Fixed an issue that prevented some EM and STH templates from working properly in the TWX
application if they included an Extensometer Removal activity.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 25

Revision History

l An issue was discovered that may cause unexpected end levels when the first wave shape in
a Custom Waveform or Custom Waveform + DAQ test activity is a Hold. A validation error will
now occur if either of these activities begins with a Hold wave shape. If you want to begin a
custom waveform activity with a hold, you can insert a dwell activity in front of the custom
waveform activity to achieve the same effect.
l Fixed an issue that could intermittently skip a GoTo activity when the workflow contained two
GoTo activities in succession.

Version 2.3.2
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Fixed an issue that caused post-test displays and reports to display incorrect data after
converting a test from an older version into version 2.3 or 2.3.1. The tests that may have
experienced this issue contained multiple DAQ activities that merged data from the DAQ
activities into the same data arrays.
l Fixed an issue that caused the Configure Chart dialog to incorrectly claim that the X and Y
signals are invalid. Typically, this incorrect validation error only occurred if the signals were set
while a test run was already in progress.
l Fixed an issue that prevented pre-allocated test run variables from being used when a test
was created from a TestWorks 4 import file.
l Fixed a periodic save issue that could potentially cause file access errors and performance
issues.
l Fixed an issue that prevented test run data from being loaded when a Data Acquisition activity
was inside of a loop activity.
l Fixed an issue that caused the TestWorks 4 converter to produce data in TestWorks 4 base
units as opposed to TestSuite base units.

Version 2.3.1
This release corrected various issues, including the following:
l Fixed an issue that caused incorrect data and an extra line to appear on the Review tab chart.
l Fixed an issue that caused the TEDS devices file to become unassigned from analog output
resources when closing and re-opening the application.
l Fixed an issue that caused GoTo and Dwell activities to occasionally experience memory
leaks. When running certain tests, this may have caused an “OutOfMemoryException” error to
occur.
l Fixed an issue that caused dwell activities to dwell for incorrect periods of time.
l On the Preferences > Configuration window, the Remote tab (used with MTS Echo) has been
updated so that it is easier to use.
l Application performance has been improved when several meters are open simultaneously.

26 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed an issue in the multi-cycle templates that caused TWE to unexpectedly shut down when
the four-panel view was selected.

Version 2.3
This is a minor product upgrade.

Features
l Changes made to the columns available and filters used on the Variables tab are now saved
when you close and restart the application.
l The Outline tab has been removed. To view an outline of the test, click the new Outline View
button on the Procedure tab. Additionally, you can now design a test procedure using the
Outline View.
l Keyboard navigation is now supported on the Custom Message Window test activity, the
Specimen Editor, and the Input Variables window.
l The results table and chart on the TWE Review tab has been redesigned so that it is easier to
use.
l To support multi-head systems, new test activities have been added and existing TW4 multi-
head methods have been converted to TW templates.
l The TestWorks 4 LIMS import format is now supported.
l NextPeak and NextValley peel functions have been added.
l To allow you to run tests at the published frame capacity, the point at which a system interlock
occurs based on load versus frame capacity has been increased from 100% of frame capacity
to 105% of frame capacity.
l New "HD" control modes are available for MTS Criterion systems using TWE equipped with
Insight+ controllers. These HD control modes allow you to obtain a higher degree of resolution
when using the load or strain control modes to perform tests on stiff specimens.
l Support has been added for analog outputs.
l Support has been added for the Split-TEDS operation on Insight.
l The control panel now displays the speed of the Jog Up and Jog Down buttons.
l A new "Preallocate" option has been added to the Actions button on the Review tab. This
feature allows you to pre-allocate test runs in order to streamline batch specimen testing.
l Graphics displayed on reports are now high-resolution and can be resized.
l The appearance of tables within reports can now be customized.
l Application performance when using large data sets in TW or the Fatigue and Fracture
Analyzers has been improved.
l Tests now open faster, especially when opening tests that contain several test runs.
l Other miscellaneous changes were made in order to improve general TestSuite performance.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 27

Revision History

l A new Peak/Valley meter has been added. This is also available as a selectable item on the
Toolbox panel of the Test-Run Display tab.
l The External Devices and the Run External Application activity now support multiple
command parameters.
l The Scope tab now contains buttons for commonly-used tasks, such as zooming, panning,
and point-picking.
l Echo features were integrated into TestSuite to support remote test monitoring.
l A new template has been created to support ASTM E561.
l Various enhancements have been made to existing templates.

Fixes
l Fixed an issue that prevented some validation errors from appearing until the test was run.
Additionally, validation errors will no longer disappear if you select a different tab in the
Explorer tree.
l Fixed an issue that caused application problems after viewing a custom message activity in
the test designer.
l The performance of the "Show Block Column" feature on the report add-in has been improved
when used with large sets of data.
l When editing a choice list variable, the original ordering of the items in the list is now
preserved.
l Reports should now match the formatting (including decimal places) specified in templates.
l Fixed an issue that caused a validation error after renaming the identifier of a variable.
l Fixed an issue that caused errors to occur after running a test and changing variables.
l Fixed an issue that caused the plot to not expand as data is recovered in charts and graphs.
l Fixed an issue that caused a red X and an application error to appear on the Monitor tab after
a test was run.
l Fixed an issue that caused meters to not update when the unit type was changed (for
example, from mm/m to mm/mm).
l When a test is exported, it will now include any generated reports that are not located in the
default report location.
l Fixed an issue that caused the application to crash when adding a note to the test log.
l Fixed an issue that caused the application to crash when assigning a TEDS that does not
have the ".teds" extension (such as a .txt file). Instead of a crash, the application will now
display an error message.
l Fixed an issue that prevented the specimen category setting from being saved when closing
and re-opening a test.
l Fixed an issue that caused the TW control panel buttons to remain disabled after pressing the
"Return" button on an attached handset.

28 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Fixed an issue that caused the Reporter Add-In to stop responding when generating a report if
the report template name contained a "." character.
l Fixed an issue that prevented TestWorks 4 methods from successfully converting to TWE
templates.

Version 2.1.2
This is an incremental release to support the Multipurpose Elite (MPE) application.

Version 2.1.1
This release Fixed various issues, including the following:
l Incorporated a firmware fix pertaining to linearization to the software.
l Fixed a condition in which using the Custom Waveform activity generated an error when the
waveform began with a hold command.
l Fixed a condition in which running a test after changing certain properties on the Variable
editor resulted in validation errors that could not be resolved.
l Fixed a condition which resulted in unexpected shutdowns when viewing test runs that include
large log files.
l Fixed a condition in which the Return to Zero button on the Handset did not function properly.
l Fixed a condition in which starting a test containing a variable whose identifier was changed
resulted in an error.

Version 2.2
This is a minor product upgrade.

Version 2.1
This is a minor product upgrade.

Features
l The C-Stop (controlled stop) Interlock action is now available for test activities on
servohydraulic systems. This action stops program command with hydraulic power on and
performs the configured action (set with MTS 793 Controller software).

Note: This feature requires MTS 793 Controller software V5.6 or higher.

Fixes
l Fixed an issue in which using Peak Load or Peak Stress variables in the Write Variables to
File activity resulted in an error when the test was run.
l Fixed an issue in which force transducer calibration verification produced inaccurate results.
l Fixed an issue in which 30Hz and 40Hz filter options could not be selected or saved for EM_
DC1 to EM_DC3 in MTS TW Diagnostics.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 29

Revision History

l Fixed an issue in which changes made to charts in the Review tab were not reflected in
subsequent test reports.
l Fixed an issue in which force displayed inaccurately when the system used a force transducer
that used legacy TEDS information (without linearization).
l Fixed an issue in which changing runtime units while performing a test resulted in an
unexpected shutdown.
l Fixed an issue in which the Exceed 64 frame was missing its default parameters file.
l Fixed various issues associated with the Formula Assistant:
l Fixed an issue in which changing the specimen type when the system was configured
to use a comma decimal separator resulted in a validation error
l Fixed incorrect unit values
l Fixed incorrect variables types
l Fixed the order of variable definitions
l Fixed an issue in which servohydraulic templates that performed compression tests created
validation errors resulting from inverted signal use. Note: This fix requires MTS 793 Controller
Software V5.6 or higher.
l Fixed an issue in which servohydraulic templates used calculated signal resources instead of
calculated variables.

Version 2.0
This is a major product upgrade.

Fixes
l This release fixes a problem with setting the Insight controller signal conditioning filter. The
conditioned signals could be noisier than expected because the filter was getting reset to the
highest cutoff frequency when TestSuite was launched. This could affect calibration resolution
calculations based on noise levels.

Features
l Support for National Instruments M Series Multifunction DAQ (Insight and Criterion
controllers only). NiDaq support includes analog input and digital input/output, it does not
include analog output and counters.

Note: NI-DAQmx 9.6 driver software is required.

l Support for TEDS linearization data.
l New reporting capabilities:
l Append data to test reports
l Generate test reports in the PDF format
l Print reports from the Run Report activity

30 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Revision History

l Test Run Results Table enhanced to split into multiple tables when results exceed
table capacity
l New run-time display capability: Overlay past test-run data over current test-run data in run-
time displays.
l The new Write Variables to Handset activity allows up to 8 lines of text to be written to the
handset during test runs (Insight and Criterion controllers only).
l The new Repeat Loop activity performs subordinate activities in the loop for the number of
times you specify.
l The new End Test activity ends the test immediately, enhancing workflow design options.
l The new Express Editor user privilege allows TW Express users to edit select variable
properties, such as display name, default value, units, and more.
l Custom Message window in the Custom Message activity enhanced so you can view and edit
HTML code.
l Edit Function window enhanced with a view that displays variables, signals/channels, and
functions that you can insert into Python code.
l Interface enhanced to create and edit variables outside of the Variable Editor for convenience.
l Application log enhanced to display controller messages.
l Diagnostic reporting enhanced to create reports not associated with test runs.
l Jog buttons enhanced to include ramp and fixed modes (Insight and Criterion controllers
only).
l Functions expanded to include:
l FractureIndex
l MaxSlopeStartIndex
l MaxSlopeEndIndex
l MinSlopeStartIndex
l MinSlopeEndIndex
l Correction of minor software issues.

Version 1.1
This is a minor product upgrade.

Features
l New Test feature—Allows users to create new tests from scratch. Tests created with this
feature are preconfigured with system variables and open with empty Set Up, Run, and Finish
sections. This feature allows rapid development of simple tests.
l Correction of minor software issues.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 31

Revision History

Version 1.0.0
MTS TestSuite TW product introduction.

32 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Hardware

Hardware
Workstation Recommendations
MTS recommends workstations that meet or exceed the following specifications: 
l Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, 3.2 GHz Processor, or faster (overclocked or turbo boost specs
acceptable)
l 8.0 Gb RAM minimum, 16 Gb RAM recommended
l A Hard Drive with at least 20 Gb of free disk space
l DVD-ROM Drive
l (2) Ethernet Network Cards
l Recommended minimum screen resolution is 1280 x 1024 (for optimal view of interface)

Supported Electromechanical (EM) Controllers

l Insight
l Insight Plus
l ICE

Supported Controllers
l MTS FlexTest® 40
l MTS FlexTest® 60
l MTS FlexTest® 100
l MTS FlexTest® 200
l MTS FlexTest® GT
l MTS FlexTest® SE
l MTS FlexTest® IIm

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 33

Software

Software
Operating Systems
Tip: To ensure optimal performance, please keep your Microsoft Windows Updates current.
The software supports the following Microsoft Windows operating systems:
l Microsoft Windows 10 Professional
l Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise
l 32- and 64-bit Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate (with Service Pack 1)

Note: Ensure you configure regional settings in one of following ways:

l English: period “.” for decimal point and comma “,” for list separator
l European: comma “,” for decimal point and semicolon “;” for list separator
l European: period “.” for decimal point and semicolon “;” for list separator

Note: To avoid an uncontrolled shutdown, do not set up your PC to enter the Sleep mode when
connected an MTS controller.

Supported Languages
The software supports the following languages:
l Chinese (Simplified)
l Chinese (Traditional)
l Czech
l English
l French
l German
l Italian
l Japanese
l Korean
l Portuguese
l Russian
l Spanish
l Turkish

Standard Applications
The following applications or technologies are required:

34 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Software

l Microsoft .NET framework version 4.0 (provided during installation)

l Microsoft Office (or Microsoft Excel) versions 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, or 2019; or Microsoft
365 (formerly Microsoft Office 365)

Note: Microsoft Excel must be installed locally, MTS does not support the Microsoft Excel web
application interface.
To generate reports from the Run Report activity in MTS TestSuite, Microsoft Excel is not required.
To edit report templates and create reports with the MTS Reporter Excel Add-in, Microsoft Excel 2019,
Microsoft Excel 2016, Microsoft Excel 2013, or Microsoft Excel 2010 are required.
For Microsoft Excel 2007, you need SP2 and the Microsoft Office Hot-Fix
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976477).

Note: The MTS Reporter Excel Add-in will not work with the Excel application included in the
Starter version of Microsoft Office.
l A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required to view the documentation. A free download
is available from www.Adobe.com.
Installing and running other third-party software that is not listed above can negatively impact the
performance and stability of TestSuite applications. In some cases, third-party software may even
prevent MTS Technical Support from diagnosing and resolving certain issues. Because of this, we
recommend that you install MTS TestSuite onto a system that has a clean installation of the operating
system in order to ensure optimal performance and stability.
Examples of third-party software that may negatively impact the performance and stability of TestSuite
applications include:
l Firewalls
l Anti-Virus
l Support Assistants
l Protection/Security Manager Tools
l File Sanitizers
l Privacy Managers
l Theft Recovery Tools
l Drive Encryption
For more information, see the MTS 793 controller software release notes (readme file).

Supported MTS 793 Controller Software

(servohydraulic systems only)
This version of MTS TestSuite supports MTS 793 System Software versions 5.4 and higher which
support ICCAPI Version 1.2. See the 793 System Software readme for information about the
supported versions of ICCAPI.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 35

Software

TestSuite
l TestSuite Versions 4.0 - 4.2 use ICCAPI version 1.2.
l TestSuite Versions 3.0 - 3.6 use ICCAPI version 1.1.
l TestSuite Versions 1.0 - 2.0 use ICCAPI version 1.0.
793
l 793 versions 5.4 - 5.9 support ICCAPI versions 1.1 and 1.2.
l 793 versions 5.3 - 5.35 support ICCAPI versions 1.0 and 1.1.
l 793 versions 5.1 - 5.2 support ICCAPI version 1.0 only.
For example, if you have TestSuite Version 3.6, you can run on any version of 793 Version 5.3 or
greater, until the version of 793 you are running no longer supports ICCAPI Version 1.1.
Contact MTS Technical Support to obtain support information for other MTS 793 System Software
versions that are not on the installation disk (for example, a newer version of MTS 793).

36 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Basic Installation

Basic Installation
Before You Begin
MTS recommends that you print a copy of this document before you start the installation. A printed
copy is the easiest way to view the installation information while you are working with the installation
software on your workstation.
MTS recommends that you install a supported version of the following software in the following order:
1. Microsoft Office (or Microsoft Excel)
2. Microsoft Office SP2 (when Microsoft Office 2007 is installed)
3. Microsoft Office Hotfix (when Microsoft Office 2007 is installed)
4. MTS TestSuite

Note: For more information about the supported applications, see “Standard Applications” on
page 34.
Ensure you install and activate Microsoft Excel before you install the MTS TestSuite software, and that
you have the correct version of Microsoft Excel installed as supported by this version of TestSuite
software.
Embedded directly into Microsoft Excel, the Reporter Add-in provides an easy-to-use yet powerful
application for creating and modifying report templates. Please review the following notes before
installing MTS TestSuite.
l If you are generating a report from the Run Report activity in a test procedure, Microsoft Excel
is no longer required. If you have a non-supported version of Excel already installed that is
fine. MTS TestSuite will ignore the non-supported version of Microsoft Excel and generate
reports, correctly.
l If you plan to create or modify report templates, you must have a supported version of
Microsoft Excel along with a Reporter license.
l You need to install or upgrade to a supported version of Excel before installing MTS
TestSuite. This will ensure the correct Reporter components are installed as part of the
TestSuite installation.
l If you install TestSuite first and then install a supported version of Microsoft Excel, it means
you will need to re-install TestSuite at a later time when you plan to actually use the Reporter
functionality.
The Reporter Add-in will not show up in the Microsoft Excel ribbon if you had a non-supported
version of Excel during the TestSuite installation. This occurs because the correct
components are installed only when a supported version of Microsoft Excel is detected on the
PC. As in any TestSuite installation, all of your user files remain intact.

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 37

Basic Installation

Install the MTS TestSuite Software

You must have Windows administrator privileges to install the MTS TestSuite software. Before you
begin, please read the “Software Activation” on page 39 instructions.
1. Place the installation CD in the drive.
2. Follow the steps in the install wizard and specify a location to install the software.

Note: MTS recommends that you use the Insight simulator as the controller type
(default selection) unless connected to a Criterion or Insight controller.
3. If your workstation does not have the Microsoft .NET, version 4.0 software installed, use the
steps provided in the install wizard to install it with the MTS TestSuite software.
4. When you reach the MTS TestSuite Licenses point in the install, follow the software activation
instructions.
5. When the installation completes, Exit the install wizard.

38 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes

 Software Activation

Software Activation
About Software Activation
During installation, the Activation Wizard prompts you to activate the license for your MTS TestSuite
software. The process for obtaining the license file depends on whether the PC is connected to the
Internet. After installation, you can add and manage licenses at any time with the MTS TestSuite
License Administrator utility. Click Programs > MTS TestSuite > License Administrator.

Activating a License with an Internet Connection

If you have an activation key and the PC on which you are installing a license has an internet
connection, perform the following steps to obtain, install, and activate a license.
1. When you are at the point in the install where licenses are activated (the MTS TestSuite
Licenses window), click Activate. The TestSuite Activation wizard is launched.
2. Click I want to activate the software over the Internet panel and click Next. The window to
enter your activation key is displayed.
3. Enter the activation key and click Next.
4. A message indicates the license is being obtained from the server, and a progress bar is
displayed. The Activation Wizard installs and activates the license.
5. When activation is complete, click Finish to exit the Activation Wizard.
6. Click Next to continue with the installation.

Requesting and Activating a License without an

Internet Connection
If the PC on which you are activating a license does not have an Internet connection, follow these steps
to request and activate a license file.
1. When you are at the point in the install where licenses are activated (the MTS TestSuite
Licenses window), click Activate. The TestSuite Activation wizard is launched.
2. Click I want to request a license file and click Next.
3. Enter the activation key and click Next.
4. To copy the License Request Contents, which is a PC-identifying string, click Copy to
Clipboard.
5. Paste the copied License Request into a text editor such as Notepad, and save the Request
File to a USB drive, or burn a CD or DVD.
6. Click Finish to exit the Activation Wizard. Do not click Next to proceed with the installation yet.
7. Plug the USB drive into a PC that has Internet access. Go to the MTS Licensing Web site:
www.mts.com/testsuite/licensing/

MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes 39

Software Activation

8. Open the request file on the USB drive, CD, or DVD. Select and copy the contents.
9. Paste the content into the text box in the Web page and click Download License File. Save
the license file to the USB drive, CD, or DVD.
10. Bring the USB drive, CD, or DVD, back to the PC without an Internet connection onto which
you are installing software.
11. In the MTS TestSuite Licenses window, click Activate.
12. Select the I have a license file I want to install option and click Next.
13. Browse to the location of the license file. Select the license bin file and click Open.
14. Click Next. The Activation Wizard installs and activates the license.
15. Click Finish to exit the Activation wizard.
16. Click Next to continue with the installation.

Removing a License
If you need to remove an evaluation license, you can do so using the MTS TestSuite License
Administrator utility.
1. Click Programs > MTS TestSuite > License Administrator.
2. In the upper part of the window, select the license you want to remove and click Remove. To
remove all licenses, click Remove All.
3. You are prompted to confirm uninstalling the license. Click OK.
4. Click Close.

40 MTS TestSuite™ TW Software - Version 4.6 Release Notes