In Switch Executive am I better off using manual or execution

Question

If I close a relay using Switch Exec ( IVI Switch)  in Test Stand 4.0, take a measurement then open that relay am I better off using manual or execution for the "life" of the step?
I want to make sure the switch is open after the open relay step is executed.

Answer 1

Hi Clint,
2nd Question: Exclusions 
For mutual exclusions, you create a list of channels that should never connect to one another.
For set exclusions, you create two lists of channels. Channels from the first list should never connect to channels of the second list. For example, a set exclusion can be used to separate a high-power DC and RF signal.
In reference to the 2 to 4 relays: if they were closed at the same time, would the result be a connection between channels?  If so, then you want to create an Exclusion of type Mutual and add these channels to the list. 
1st Question: Aliases
The easy answer to the copy/paste question is to use the integrated Excel import/export feature.  You can export your Virtual Device to file and open it in Microsoft Excel.  From there, you can edit your configuration and copy the necessary aliases from one Route Group to a new one (using Excel's simple text editing features and/or advanced formulas).  When you are satisfied with your changes, you can import your configuration back to a new or existing Virtual Device. 
However, I believe the whole purpose of copying aliases between Route Groups was to create exclusions for one Route Group, but not the other.  This is not possible.  Exclusions can be created for the Virtual Device, and this exclusion then applies for all the Route Groups in that Virtual Device.
If you want one Route Group that obeys an exclusion, and a second Route Group that ignores the same exclusion, then one way to do this would be to create two individual Virtual Devices; the first Virtual Device configured with exclusions, the second not.
By the way, you can do this using the aforementioned Excel import/export feature.
Hope this helps.  Let me know if you have further questions!
Chad Erickson
Switch Product Support Engineer
NI - USA