Configuring and Using Tracking Numbers

Calibration Executive version 4.1 or later enables you to maintain and view customer-specific tracking numbers using the calibration setup wizard. Two configuration files are created upon the initial launch of Calibration Executive:

  • TrackingNumberFilePath.ini - Contains path information for the tracking number configuration file. The user can modify the key under the [TrackingNumberFilePath] section to set the path of the TrackingNumbers.ini file.
  • TrackingNumbers.ini - Contains hardware serial numbers paired with associated tracking numbers, if entered, in the format SerialNumber = TrackingNumber.

When you add or edit a tracking number for a device in the DUT Selection page, Calibration Executive stores the number in the TrackingNumbers.ini configuration file. Tracking numbers created or edited in the wizard are committed to the configuration file when the user clicks Finish and the calibration session is initiated.

Setting Up and Configuring the Tracking Number File

The TrackingNumberPath.ini configuration file holds a single key under the section [TrackingNumberFilePath], which allows the user to set the path of the tracking number configuration file. The default location as created is Path = C:\<Program Files>\National Instruments\Calibration Executive\Config\TrackingNumbers.ini.

The tracking number configuration file can be renamed and relocated as the user chooses, including network locations accessible to multiple computers, and will function as long as the correct path is defined in the TrackingNumberFilePath.ini file. The file must remain a configuration file with the .ini file extension.

The tracking number configuration file organizes tracking numbers through pairs of SerialNumber = TrackingNumber, where the serial number is as detected in NI-MAX by the system API without leading zeroes.

Note Although the serial number detected by NI-MAX typically matches the serial number printed on the board, it is possible for discrepancies to occur. If you experience issues with tracking numbers that are out of sync, or if serial numbers displayed in Calibration Executive do not match those recorded, you might need to modify the serial number in the tracking number configuration file.

You can manually enter device serial numbers in to the tracking number configuration file in one of two ways by editing the TrackingNumberPath.ini configuration file directly:

  • Enter the serial number/tracking number pair under the [UserDefined] section. The setup wizard in Calibration Executive processes tracking numbers associated with detected serial numbers from this section first.
  • Enter or modify the associated entry under the section labeled with the product name (for example, [NI PXIe-4464]).

Once a calibration setup is completed, entries in the [UserDefined] section are automatically moved into sections organized by product name. The following example shows serial number/tracking number pairs for two devices in the [UserDefined] section:

[UserDefined]
18D771D = "8888"
1A3215A = "1111"

After these devices are configured through the setup wizard, the tracking numbers are moved to a product section, and the information is deleted from the [UserDefined] section:

[NI PXIe-4464]
18D771D = "8888"
1A3215A= "1111"

[UserDefined]

In addition, you can create and edit tracking numbers on the DUT Selection page of the calibration setup wizard. Tracking numbers created or edited in the setup wizard are only committed to the tracking number configuration file once the calibration session is initiated after the user clicks Finish. Tracking numbers created in the wizard are written directly to the specific product name section of the tracking number configuration file.