Using Project Alpha as a TSL Adapter Development Platform Test Harness

The following are instructions for getting ProjectAlpha running on a system with Visual Studio for use as a test harness for new adapter development:

1. Download project alpha source code: https://github.com/GridProtectionAlliance/projectalpha/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
2. Once downloaded, right-click on “projectalpha-master.zip” and select “Properties”
3. If there is a checkbox on the bottom right under the “Advanced” button that reads “Unblock”, click this checkbox and then click "OK"
4. Extract zip file contents onto local computer
5. Rename root folder “projectalpha-master” to a new project name, e.g., “MyAnalytic”
6. Open ...\MyAnalytic\Source\ProjectAlpha.sln solution in Visual Studio (version 2022 recommended, free Community version is OK)
7. If there is a message that the ProjectAlphaSetup project cannot load, this is OK – this requires the WiX extension – but this setup project is not needed for adapter development
8. Once solution is open in Visual Studio, right-click on ProjectAlpha root and select "Rebuild Solution"
9. Verify that project builds successfully, see "Build Output" window and look for message such as "Rebuild All: 6 succeeded, 0 failed, 1 skipped"
10. In Windows explorer, navigate to the ...\MyAnalytic\Build\Output\Debug\Applications\ProjectAlpha folder
11. Sort the files by "Type", this should group executables together right below the folder list
12. Run the application ConfigurationSetupUtility.exe, then click Next on the first screen
13. Make sure "I want to set up a new configuration" is selected, then click Next
14. Make sure "Database (suggested)" is selected, then click Next
15. Make sure "SQLite" is selected and both "Run initial data script" and "Run sample data script" are checked, then click Next
16. Validate that file path for SQLite database is ...\MyAnalytic\Build\Output\Debug\Applications\ProjectAlpha\ConfigurationCache\ProjectAlpha.db, then click Next
17. Leave the defined default values on the "Define User Account Credentials" screen as-is (no changes) and click Next
18. Make sure "ProjectAlpha Windows service" and "ProjectAlpha Manager (local application)" are selected, then click Next
19. On the "Setup is ready" screen, click Next
20. If last message on "Setup in progress" screen starts with "Operation succeeded", click Next
21. Make sure "Start the ProjectAlpha" and "Start the ProjectAlpha Manager" are selected, then click Finish
22. This will launch ProjectAlpha debug host service, console application and manager application – if Windows Defender Firewall prompts about blocking, be sure to enable ProjectAlpha for at least "Domain networks" and "Private networks" and click Allow Access
23. Verify that the ProjectAlpha Manager application is connected to host service with a green bubble on the top right – and that sample data from TESTDEVICE is flowing (graph on front screen will be trending data)
24. On the Windows toolbar links (i.e., the ^ arrow near clock on Windows taskbar), find the icon that looks like a gear and right-click the icon, then select "Exit ProjectAlpha Iaon Host" and select Yes from the dialog that reads "Are you sure you want to stop ProjectAlpha Iaon Host Service" – this will stop debug host service and close console application
25. Close the ProjectAlpha Manager Window
26. Back in Visual Studio, navigate to the Libraries/MyAnalytics project and review ExampleAdapter and RollingWindow classes
27. Visual Studio should now be able to run ProjectAlpha in debug mode and manage adapter development
28. Note that the ProjectAlpha Manager application can be configured to load real sample PMU data captured using the PMU Connection Tester