ZapTools - interfacing SeqZap

The way SeqZap interfaces to the world is through some special kind of plugins called ZapTools. SeqZap comes with a line of ready-to-use extendable standard ZapTools. The whole idea with ZapTools (and the other plugin types) is to be able to extend the functionality of SeqZap without having to change SeqZap itself.

The current list of standard ZapTools includes:

  • Analog IO
    Data acquisition using generic analog input and output devices.
  • Audio Tool
    Audio recording and playback using standard Windows or ASIO audio devices.
  • Automation Interface
    Generic automation- and test-interface for communication with local and remote devices and applications through the sequanto automation protocol.
  • CAN Tool
    Communication with devices through the CAN protocol. Also support for simulation of CAN devices.
  • Data Tool
    Provides access to data sources, all the way from simple CSV files to large database servers.
  • Digital IO
    Data acquisition using generic digital input and output devices.
  • Email
    For testing e-mail functionality and for sending mail notifications about the test execution.
  • Event Queue
    Handling real-time events from the system under test, instruments, devices and parallel tasks.
  • File Tool
    Standard operating system methods to create/list/remove directories and create/move/copy/delete files.
  • File Transfer Tool
    Sending and receiving files via any stream using different protocols, e.g. x-modem. Any protocol can be added as a separate plug-in.
  • Graphical Tool
    Working with graphical bitmaps to e.g. inspect display dump from a device. Includes VNC client.
  • LabVIEW® Automation
    Automating National Instruments LabVIEW ® and LabVIEW Real-Time ® applications and calling LabVIEW ® VIs.
  • MIDI Tool
    Send and receive MIDI-messages and streaming via plugins in SysEx-messages.
  • Modbus Tool
    Communication using the Modbus protocol. Both the master role and simulation of slave devices are supported.
  • Oscilloscope
    Provides standard access to different brands of oscilloscopes.
  • Process Control
    Executing system commands and reacting to their output and return code.
  • Sample Array
    Used by Audio Tool, Oscilloscope Tool and some custom tools to view, measure, generate and analyze multi-channel sample-data
  • Selenium
    Automating web interfaces.
  • SOAP
    Provides a way to interface with web services which expose a SOAP interface.
  • Streams
    The Stream Toolbox contains a wide variety of tools usable for working with streams of different sorts. These streams can be used on their own, or in combination with other tools that uses streams, e.g. the Modbus tool.
  • Switch Matrix
    NI DAQmx Switch available in first version.
  • Task tool
    Abstract SeqZap interface to background tasks, used by other tools and custom tools to provide a way to control and wait for the completion of tasks.
  • Timer/Counter
    Using hardware timer/counters for event counting, time/frequency measurements and frequency-/pulse-generation.
  • UI Automation
    Automating user interfaces using our standard protocol for user interface automation. Standard support for QT and .net interfaces.
  • VNC
    VNC is a simple bitmap based protocol for providing access to the graphical display of a remote system.
  • Windows Input
    Control mouse and keyboard on local machine.
  • XML
    Read and write simple XML fragments.
  • XYDisplay and XYTerminal
    For text-based displays and terminals.