How to configure test conditions from a file?

Question

We have a generic test setup that reads channels from a configuration file and sets up the cards appropriately.  This is all fine and good.  Next we want to specify the test conditions in the configuration file.  The test conditions can be arbitrary, like "ch1 > 3.14 for more than 50 ms and any 2 of ch2, ch3, ch4 are > 123.45 for more than 25 ms."  I REALLY don't want to invent yet another expression language.  I thought about using MathScript but then I thought, why not use a VI?  Can I reference a VI that captures all the test-specific conditions and call it programmatically on the RT PXI target?  Is this even a good idea?  Has anyone run into a similar problem?
Thanks.

Answer 1

It depends on how much string parsing you want to do and how flexable it needs to be.
Right off teh top of my head I would say you could do something like this:
for say "ch1 > 3.14 for more than 50 ms and any 2 of ch2, ch3, ch4 are > 123.45 for more than 25 ms." in the csv file you could have
ch1,>,3.14,50ms,ch2,>,123.45,25ms,ch2,>,123.45,25,ms,ch3,>,123.45,25ms,ch4,>,123.45,25ms
Then use Read Spreadsheet File.VI set to read a string.
That will output a string array with each element containing each value that is seperated by the commas.
Then you index the array elements and convert them to numbers as needed for input to your vi's
Use the fields elements containg the < or > to select cases fo comparing as needed
Message Edited by RTSLVU on 01-30-2009 02:13 PM