topic Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software? in LabVIEW

can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

walton — Thu, 08 May 2003 22:04:42 GMT

I developed a LabView software. Can I integrate my old xx.exe program into this LabView software? Any information on this point would be appreciated.
Yun

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

mikeporter — Thu, 08 May 2003 23:31:21 GMT

Well, theoretically it's possible. What version of LV was the original version written in? What version of LV are you using now? Did you enable ActiveX access when you made the executable?

Mike...

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

Jeremy Braden — Fri, 09 May 2003 15:45:04 GMT

LabVIEW does not have a mechanism for allowing any executable to run in a LabVIEW window. As the previous poster suggested, you can do this if the exe has been coded to be an activeX control.

You might be interested in the system exec VI. This allows LabVIEW to launch other executables.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

Vishi Anand — Mon, 12 May 2003 15:36:27 GMT

On this subject, has anyone controlled a DOS EXE (not ActiveX EXE) through
LV. By controlling I mean, where standard I/O is re-directed to LV
application. That way I can send keystrokes to the DOS EXE and capture its
output.

Sometimes you have these old programs in EXE format and you need to put a
nice shell around them. Someone on CVI forum had suggested VC++ library to
do this but I haven't pursued much. Tcl is really good for this kind of
stuff, but the pointy haired one only wants LV.

vishi

"Jeremy Braden" wrote in message
news:50650000000500000015F10000-1042324653000@exchange.ni.com...
> LabVIEW does not have a mechanism for allowing any executable to run
> in a LabVIEW window. As the previous poster suggested, you can do
> this
if the exe has been coded to be an activeX control.
>
> You might be interested in the system exec VI. This allows LabVIEW to
> launch other executables.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

Jeremy Braden — Tue, 13 May 2003 14:32:21 GMT

I know of no such technique for doing this.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

mikeporter — Tue, 13 May 2003 23:07:06 GMT

The way to do this is to redirect the text output from the program to a file, and then read the file into LV. I unfortunately don't have all the information with me, but do a search in the archives here. The way I learned about is was a discussion a couple years ago. You can also check online for information related to writing DOS batch files--which is how you actually run the DOS program--that should get you pointed in the right direction.

So it is possible, messy, but possible.

Mike...

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

mikeporter — Tue, 13 May 2003 23:34:16 GMT

Ah HA!

I knew I had it somewhere... I looked through some old code and the one that does the trick is System Exec.vi that Jeremy mentioned. Not only does it allow you to launch other executables, it also returns the standard output from the program to LV.

It's located in a library System.llb--or at least is on my computer (V6.0).

Mike...

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

AMpatel — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:11:22 GMT

Hi Every one, Currently i am working on remote lab for power factor correction in labview and i have a instrument(Electric energy saving tester) that can measure power factor, voltage ,current etc and also supply voltage to the instrument, but problem is that i dont have labview driver for the instrument and also dont have programming guide ,so i can make driver for this instrument.

can anyone tellyme how run .exe file in labview window??

Moreover i used one example which on following link:http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/how-to-run-exe-file-by-labview/td-p/303946 (Run program.vi) and is launch .exe file in windows not in labview window.

so is it possbile to run .exe file in labview window and control my instrument.

Best regards,

Patel

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

smercurio_fc — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:03:53 GMT

see here: http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Is-there-a-way-to-call-an-exe-non-LabVIEW-such-as-Notepad-in-a/m-p/965161#M432655

Your success mileage may vary.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

AMpatel — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 05:58:04 GMT

Thanks for reply, but my project Aim is to make remote lab for power factor correction .i used that example it works, but how can user can acess that .exe file.

Moreover, if i used Run Program.vi which on http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/can-I-integrate-my-exe-program-into-my-LabView-software/m-p/85165/highlight/false ,than is it possible to access that (Run Program.vi) remotely because my instrument only connect to my PC through RS232 to USB converter not with user PC.so, it can only open .exe file in my PC.How can User execute that .exe file?

sorry for any inconvenience

Best reguards,

Patel

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

smercurio_fc — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:16:19 GMT

System Exec is used to launch executables outside of LabVIEW. You'd need to run the executable first so that it creates its window, and then make the window a child window using the technique for which I provided a link.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

AMpatel — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:59:06 GMT

Sorry i could not understand.. can u explain me in detail?...pls

Best Reguard

Patel

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

smercurio_fc — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:50:25 GMT

The "Run Program" VI that you alluded to simply uses System Exec to launch a program outside of LabVIEW. Before you can place a program's window "inside" of a LabVIEW window you have to actually run that other program first so you can get the window reference. Otherwise the Windows functions will have nothing to work on. Thus, you must actually launch the program first, wait for the window to be drawn by the operating system, and then you can get a reference to the window using the FindWindow function. That can be used to set the parent for the executable's window. The "Child Window Example" that I linked to does the second half. It assumes the external program is already running. You need to add the first half, which is to launch this other executable.

By the way, you said you don't have an instrument driver for this instrument or a programming guide. What is the instrument? Who makes it and what is its model number?

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

AMpatel — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:38:49 GMT

my instrument is PROVA 8500 electric energy saving tester and it is made by one of taiwan company PROVA. i talked with them but said we are not providing any programming guide..i dont undestand how can they sell the product without any programming guide....if u have any idea about this instrument pls let me know...and this chid window is very hard to understand for me. i dont understand how to work on this topic. if u have any other idea to about to control instrument ..pls reply me.

Moreover , i have software CD for this instrument ,but it has just 1. .setup (.exe file) 2.Support files 3 bin 4.usermanual and 5. licence.One more thing is that this intrument is written in visual basic and old one was written in labview..and i have CD for the both the versions ..but it is useless..it is just software.

therfore my work is stuck on one problem..i dont know how to do.?....pls reply me if u have any idea about this topic...here i have attached software manual for this instrument...hope it may be help for u to understand...

sorry for very long message ... i hope i will get reply....

Best Reguards,

Patel

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

Matthew_Kelton — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:04:46 GMT

You still haven't really explained what you are trying to accomplish. You've been given links on how to stat the manual contorl EXE program and how to use thw WinAPI to mke it a child window into a LabVIEW program. But, all this is going to do is make it look like the program is in your VI. You will still have to manually control the instrument. With the Visual Basic code, you may be able to use AutoIT to control the application and write a script to do what you want, but it is not trivial.

The other thing to try is to get a serial port sniffer and figure out the programming interface for wht you need to do. You can try this one. You can use the included software to control the instrument and see what data is going back and forth and try to determine for yourself the interface. This may be fairly simple, or it may be quite the effort.

Unfortunately, this is the boat you're in since the communication protocol is proprietary.

Re: can I integrate my exe program into my LabView software?

AMpatel — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:41:37 GMT

First of all sorry to matthew for not reply for previous questions...

ok now i can explain whole problem in details..As i told in previous forum currently working with remote lab project with power factor correction.In this project i have instrument that can measure powerfactor,voltage,current etc and i want to integrate this instrument with labview but problem is that i dont have driver for this instrument in labview therefore i have integrated .exe file of my instrument with labview.

Using the webpublising tools i was trying to make remote lab but problem is that this .exe file is only opening on server side not on client side. Therefore i have a question that, is it possible to access integrated file .exe file on remote PC.

Best reguards,

Patel