Trouble with NI-VISA 5.0.3 detecting a cDAQ 9474 chassis and modules over USB

[eccentricorbit]

Hello friends.

I am running Windows 7 64x, I installed MAX 4.7.4, NI-VISA 5.0.3 and the other software that comes with these.

I have a cDAQ 9174 chassis and 3 modules.

My problem: when i connect the hardware to my PC over USB, it shows up in MAX, but NI-VISA doesn't detect them under "USB" (or anywhere else).

Purpose: What i am ultimately trying to do is communicate with the NI 9223 module using VISA commands through MATLAB.  The MATLAB Data Acquistion Toolbox does not support the NI 9223, so i'd like to try to acquire from it using VISA.  However, I can't find the VISA address of the device.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on why the modules aren't showing up in NI-VISA and if my ultimate quest is worthwhile without doing something nasty like writing C++.  I haven't found a good source for NI VISA commands either, but i'm sure this exists.

Thanks!

Wes

[kellis.wiseman · Accepted solution]

Hey eccentricorbit, 

Unfortunately, you can not talk to a cDAQ chassis or module using VISA. Your options are DAQmx and low level coding (something nasty like C++). If you do not want to get DAQmx, you can find great examples by navigating:

Start menu » National Instruments »  NI-DAQ » Text Based Code Support » ANSI C Examples

Hope this helps!

~kgarrett

[eccentricorbit]

Thanks kgarret,

While not the answer i was hoping for, it definitely solves the mystery of why i can't get it to work.

I have DAQmx, but was trying to talk to them with the MATLAB Instrument Control Toolbox over VISA to integrate into our MATLAB-based laboratory control system since the Data Acquistion Toolbox does not support my NI 9223.

Was this a conscious decision to not support VISA, or are there plans to support it?

EO

[kellis.wiseman]

Hey eccentricorbit, 

While I am not sure if there are plans to support communicaton with a cDAQ device via VISA, I would doubt it since DAQmx is the specified driver for our cDAQ devices. I am sorry that there isn't a more straightforward way for that MATLAB toolbox to communicate with the cDAQ! Good luck!

~kgarrett