A Test Lab Guide (TLG) stack diagram is a visual portrayal of the relationships between different types of TLG content, such as modular TLGs, test lab extensions, and TLG mini-modules—for either individual TLGs or for the stack for a feature, product, technology, or end-to-end solution.

The relationships indicate in which order they must be configured, and therefore their dependencies, starting from the bottom of the stack and working up. Therefore, at the bottom of each stack is a base configuration TLG.

There are two types of TLG stack diagrams:

1. Individual TLG stack diagrams, which show the set of TLGs needed to build out a specific test lab configuration. These are typically needed for and shown in modular TLGs, TLG mini-modules, and test lab extensions to visually show the set of TLGs involved, with the modular TLG, TLG mini-module, or test lab extension shown at the top of the stack. Here is an example (click on it to see a larger version):

2. Product, technology, feature, or end-to-end solution TLG stack diagrams, which show the complete set of TLGs and their relationships. These are typically needed for and shown in TLG portal pages. Here is an example (click on it to see a larger version):

This article describes the process for creating and publishing a TLG stack diagram.

End-to-end process for creating and publishing a TLG stack diagram

1. Make a list of the TLGs (modular TLGs, TLG mini-modules, test lab extensions) that are needed for your diagram and get the text for their titles.
2. Create a TLG stack diagram using the graphical program or app of your choice. If you are adding a TLG stack diagram to a TechNet Wiki page, ensure that your graphical program can export the diagram to a PNG, GIF, or JPG file (needed for inserting a graphic in a TechNet Wiki article). If you use PowerPoint, you can use the TLGStackDiagrams.PPTX file in the Test Lab Guide (TLG) Content Creation Kit as a starting point.
3. For each block corresponding to a TLG:
   1. Use the text of the title for that TLG.
   2. Format the title text to use the Segoe UI font and the color for the type of content (see the RGB colors figure later in this article).
   3. Use the correct color for the type of content (see the RGB colors figure later in this article).
   4. (optional) If a TLG installs a product, add a small icon for the product next to the TLG title's name.
4. Verify that your TLG stack diagram contains all of the necessary TLGs. Show it to someone else to see if the stack makes sense and the relationships are clear, especially for a stack for a product, technology, feature, or end-to-end solution.
5. If needed for including in a TechNet Wiki article, create a PNG, GIF, or JPG version of the diagram.
6. Add your individual TLG stack diagram to your modular TLG, TLG mini-module, or test lab extension. Add your product, technology, feature, or end-to-end solution TLG stack diagram to your TLG portal page.

Here are the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) values for the block and title text colors corresponding to different types of TLG content (click on it to see a larger version):

For more information, see Wiki: Creating and publishing Test Lab Guide content.