GPI help

[OmerK]

I am using DIAdem 2012 .

I need to sync DIAdem graph player with an external multi-video-player (you can see my forum post here http://forums.ni.com/t5/DIAdem/Sync-DIAdem-with-external-video-DIAdem-and-c/td-p/2241274 ).

I have received a solution and was told to use the GPI ToolKit.

I Downloaded the GPI and encountered several issues:

• At first, I don’t really know what is the GPI, what it's for and how to use it.
• Some of the help files doesn't work, and those that does are not enough detailed and comprehensive. I couldn't’t understand how to use it.
• I read that I need to register the GPI DLL as an extension and run a sample. I did it and parts of  the sample didn't work and I don’t really know what registering the DLL actually do.
• I tried to install the GPI wizard. Again, same story with the help files. It was written that I need to copy an .awx file to "[visual studio]/COMMON/msdev98/template" folder, which doesn't exist .
• I tried to use some of the samples, none of them worked.

The big question is- how to work with the GPI? How to integrate it with external apps and codes? 

[D-Cubed]

Hi OmerK,

We have a few Developer Zone articles on GPI, see the below links:

Installing a DIAdem GPI Extension 

Registering GPI- DLLs in DIAdem

Please refer to the articles for more information.  In the meantime, I will do further research to find if we have a better resource on GPI to use.

Warm Regards,

[OmerK]

Hello Daniel,

I did what you wrote to me in the last message but i need a better explanation and example to get what i want .

In your last message you just wrote how to register the GPI extension and nothing more.

thanks and watting for reply

[D-Cubed]

Hi Omer,

NI publishes a toolkit which contains a wizard for creating GPI extensions.  The wizard creates all the necessary infrastructure for bringing the functionality of external code into DIAdem.

This toolkit has not been updated to work with the .NET Framework.  You will need to use a copy of Visual Studio 6 to run it.  If this is possible, the wizard should be able to guide you through the process.  Will you be able to access a copy of Visual Studio 6 for C++?

If not, there are other options to explore such as creating a COM object which contains calls to your DLL.  COM objects can be called by VBS script in DIAdem.  While this option may not provide the best interface, it will give you access to your external program.  It should be noted that the actual creation of the COM object is not native to DIAdem.  

Please let me know if this helps.

Warm Regards,

[OzShimon]

Hi Daniel,

I need also to sync my player with Diadem. i need some basic functions from diadem. 

I need that Diadem start run- the cursor start running when i click play in my player. i need the both to be sync.

There is any option to add some diadem DLL to my visual studio project (2010) to use this basic function? 

or i have to use the GPI Extention? if i do how am i using it?

( i Downloaded the GPI-Extention zip file and looked throght but i didn't understand how to use it and the samples didn't work.)

Thanks and waiting for reply

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi Oz,

If you want to control DIAdem from your player, the only option is to use DIAdem's ActiveX server.  Honestly, it does not sounds like you're going to end up happy.  Still, you can send a command over ActiveX to tell DIAdem to start or stop the cursor in VIEW.  A GPI-DLL will not help you control DIAdem, but it might be used to have DIAdem control your player.

Brad Turpin

DIAdem Product Support Engineer

National Instruments.

[OzShimon]

Hi Brad,

Sorry, I'm confused, i need to control my player from DIADem. so the GPI-Extention could help me? how am i using the GPI? there is another alternative to control my player from Diadem, without the GPI?
(i read about created COM object)?

Today i have a DLL i have created to control my player. how i am import this DLL to the script and using him to control the player?

Thanks .

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi Oz,

If you wrap your existing DLL with all the specific trappings of a GPI-DLL, then the functions and variables in your DLL that you choose to expose to DIAdem become native commands and variables inside DIAdem, accessible by any VBScript running DIAdem.  We have a GPI-DLL wizard, but I think that only runs in Visual C 6.0, which most people don't have anymore.  I can not help you create the GPI-DLL wrapper, as I have never done that without the wizard, and it is very complicated.

If you add a COM wrapper on top of your DLL, then any VBScript, including VBScripts running in DIAdem, can call the DLL functions exposed by the COM wrapper.

You could alternatively wrap your DLL with a LabVIEW VI, then call that VI with the LVRuntime object in a VBScript running in DIAdem.

Those are the only options I can think of,

Brad Turpin

DIAdem Product Support Engineer

National Instruments

[icetiger62]

Hi Brad,

is your post still up to date? I also have a .DLL that I want to register, but when I follow the advice given on the hompage, it says my DLL is not a GPI-DLL, so I am trying to create one. Is there any tool I can use?

Best regards

IceTiger62

[Walter_Rick]

Hello IceTiger62,

We have updated the GPI interface. That was necessary especial to support 64 bit.

https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/software-products/download.diadem.html#306756

Greetings

Walter