Is is possible to use Labview Instrument Driver Wizard Templates as SignalExpress Device Drivers?

[RainOr]

Hello,

I have a DMM that I can control and acquire data from directly from LabView 2011. I used the InstDriverWizard and have a working driver I modified from the provided DMM templates.

Are these files in anyway able to help me interface SignalExpress 2011 with my DMM?  There aren't any SignalExpress PnP drivers for my meter - I checked.

MAX communicates with my meter via a virtual serial port (USB, SCPI).  I can issue commands to the DMM using VISA Tests, but cannot attach SE to the device (create a step) directly, it appears I must go through a higher level driver.

Thanks,

--DV

[Charles.Tac]

Hi RainOr,

I think the problem is that you have to use IVI driver for this instrument to work on SignalExpress. Here could be a few steps useful to you.

1. Find the latest version of IVI Compliance Package and install it (link).

2. Download the IVI driver of you instrument from IDNet and install it (link).

3. Then you should have a "IVI Drivers" node in MAX, create a new logic name of your instrument (e.g. DMxxx) and select the proper driver session name in Driver Session combo box.

4. Click Go to button besides the Driver Session. Add the Hardware and select it to link the IVI driver to a VISA resource name.

5. In SignalExpress, you could select the driver logic name from instrument combo box.

[Tim_W.]

Hello,

I would suggest trying Charles.Tac's advice because an IVI driver should work for your application. 

This article provides a step-by-step set of instructions for setting up a physical device (such as your DMM) or a simulated device. If these options don't work for you please respond.

Thanks,

Tim W.

Applications Engineering

National Instruments

[Tim_W.]

Sorry, that last link wasn't referenced properly, here's the correct one:

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YH5GCAW&l=en-US

Tim W.

Applications Engineering

National Instruments

[Albert.Geven]

If signal express only accepts IVI drivers and not correct template drivers it is worse than I already thought.

The subset of drivers that is available in IVI is very small and awful difficult to debug if something is wrong.

I beleive that also IVI drivers should work but don't take that as an argument that others don't work.

[RainOr]

Hello Everyone.

Thanks Charles.Tac.

I have performed the steps you outlined...

The issue I am facing is there isn't a specific IVI driver for my device (BK 8231E DMM) so I went down the road of trying to build a driver in LV 2011 in hopes I could create one and use it for LV SE2011.

Without the IVI driver, I cannot attach to the instrument in the Step-Setup

I setup the device in MAX \ IVIDrivers \ DriverSessions \ Advanced-Instrument - I left the Driver Module blank. I only referenced the IVI Driver Ver 1.0 and IVI DMM Ver 1.0 Published APIs. 

I do not have a .DLL or 32Bit Module to reference in this case <I suspect my problem is here based on the replies>,

Some additional Info:

In LV2011, Instrument I/O Assistant connected directly to the instrument via COM3 and works great without any modifications to initialization or other .VI's - didn't even need to use my home-made driver.

Is there a generic stub Module/Driver for use with IVI_DMM devices?

[Tim_W. · Accepted solution]

Since you are able to use your device in LabVIEW, but not in SignalExpress, you might consider creating a plug-in for SignalExpress using LabVIEW. 

SignalExpress 2013 Help

According to this resource, plug-ins are good for "controlling an instrument or any measurement hardware not supported by the native SignalExpress steps." This should hopefully avoid the use of IVI drivers, since it appears your particular DMM doesn't have support at the current time. Plug-ins do have some limitations, but might provide a next-step for your application.

Tim W.

Applications Engineering

National Instruments