Building a Package Distribution with NI Package Builder

You can use NI Package Builder to build a package-based distribution that contains the files the test system requires to execute successfully on a test station computer, such as sequence files, support files, user interface files, the TestStand Runtime, NI run-time engines (RTEs), and NI drivers and components. Additionally, the package distribution you build with the deployment utility can perform additional post-installation tasks using custom execute commands.

Note You may need to update NI Package Builder to support building packages for the version of TestStand you use. Refer to the TestStand Readme and the NI Package Builder Readme for information about supported versions.

Package Builder can create the following types of package distributions:

  • Single Package— The test system files are packaged into a single .nipkg file. Dependencies you select are referenced by the package, and must be installed on the deployment target in order to install the package.
  • Repository— In addition to the main package, all dependent packages are also included in the deployment. A feed is generated which references all included packages. A feed is used to identify packages in NI Package Management tools, such as NI Package Manager. To install the deployment, register the feed in NI Package Manager on the target machine.
  • Package Installer— In addition to the main package, all dependent packages are also included in the deployment. Package Builder also generates a standalone installer which installs all the packages on a machine. The installer will also install NI Package Manager if it is not present on the machine.
Note Refer to the NI Package Builder Manual for more information.