VISA MAX configuration

[jeremyhannon]

In NI-MAX, I cannot create a new VISA Serial device.  I am trying to configure the NI-VISA to COM1 serial port so that I can run an executable on my laptop that I created in Labview 8.2.1 on another computer.

I have downloaded "NI-VISA Runtime 4.1" and "Labview Runtime Engine 8.2.1", and as you can see from my attached screenshot, the VISA software is installed and recognized by MAX.  However, VISA does not show up as an option under "Devices and Interfaces" even when I try to "Create New ..".  I have also tried to import the MAX configuration onto my laptop, but I get a version/wizard conflict, shown in the other screenshot attached.  I assume that this is the same problem.  BTW, the MAX version I have installed is 4.0.0.3010.

Jeremy

[Dennis_Knutson]

I'm not sure that you can create a new interface with just the run-time. You shouldn't have to anyway. If there is a serial port on your system, it should be automatically listed. Does windows device manager list a serial port? Is there a built-in port or are you trying to use a USB->RS-232 converter?

[jeremyhannon]

I am using a built-in serial port on my laptop.  I just checked device manager and the port is enabled, see attached.  (In fact, if I run my serial program from the original computer and connect it to my laptop, I can view the datastream with a Serial program like TeraTerm)

Based on another post, I also tried to Refresh my View in MAX but that didn't help.

Jeremy

[Krista H]

Hi Jeremy,

Can you connect to your Com port and device by using Hyper terminal. Here's how to verify that your COM port is working in Hyperterminal. P I would also like you to do a repaire on the VISA runtime engine and MAX it seems to me that something might be corrupt and a repair might fix it. lease try this and let me know how this goes.

[jeremyhannon]

Although my Hyperterminal instructions were a little different, I completed the HyperTerminal test you referenced.  I changed the ASCII to "Echo Typed Characters Locally".  If I type in characters, I see the characters themselves, not duplicated.  (The instructions indicate this is a failure)  However, if I turn the echo off, I don't see any characters at all when I type.  This makes me think that characters are correctly echoing.  I tried the same test on the desktop which is already running labview successfully and had the same results.

Regardless, I can transmit ASCII characters from one computer to my laptop and back and forth over a null modem F-F serial cable and Hyperterminal receives them correctly on either end.

Secondly, you suggested that I do a 'repair' on my installation of VISA runtime engine and MAX.  Is this simply uninstallation and reinstallation?  If not, please provide more specific instructions.

Jeremy

[Krista H]

Hi Jeremy,

Sorry that I didn't explain this enough. What you can do is go to Add and Remove programs and instead of uninstalling the drivers you can actually choose to repair. The repair should fix things. Sometimes a repair won't be enough but an uninstallation and a reinstallation will. Really you can do either. If you have more questions please let me know.

[jeremyhannon]

I attempted several things, including repairing the VISA Runtime installation and the Labview Runtime installation.  I have now uninstalled all the NI software and reinstalled 1) Labview Runtime 8.2.1, VISA Runtime 4.1, and NI-DAQmx 8.3 Runtime (including Measurement and Automation Explorer).  However, when I open up NI-MAX, under devices Serial is still not an option (see screenshot, attached).  Am I missing another key piece of software to be able to run my application?

Jeremy

[nayer]

Hello Jeremy,
Even with VISA runtime you should be able to see your COM ports, just to be sure install NI-VISA. This might help. Let me know how it goes.
Thanks
Nikhil A.

[jeremyhannon]

Installation of NI-VISA was successful, and appeared to include MAX 4.2.1, whereas I had been running MAX 4.1 previously.  This time, when I opened up Measurement and Automation Explorer, under "Devices and Interfaces", "Serial & Parallel" category was now available, including COM1, COM3, and LPT1, the ports on my laptop. 

Now, I opened up my Labview-generation executable, ran it, and was able to serially communicate to my prototype board via COM1.  So everything worked!!  In Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs, it now shows that I have the following installed:

NI Labview Run-Time Engine 7.1.1

NI Labview Run-Time Engine 8.2.1

NI LabWindows/CVI 8.1 Run-TIme Engine

NI Measurement & Automation Explorer 4.2.1

NI PXI Platform Services for Windows 2.3.0

NI-DAQmx 8.3

NI-VISA 4.1

NI-VISA Runtime 4.1

NI-VISA Server 4.1

This solves my problem.  My only remaining concern regards licensing.  We have two full NI licenses for our group, one of which is for the desktop computer that I used to develop my application.  I now want to run my application (.exe only) on my work laptop, which does not have a paid NI license.  I will also recommend two of my co-workers to install the above software so that they can use my program to communicate to our protoboard.  I believe this is the purpose of Run-Time Engines that can be downloaded, right?  Please let me know if any of the four software packages (Labview runtime, DAQmx runtime, VISA runtime, NI-VISA 4.1) I have installed is not allowed under this licensing situation and if there is an issue I will try to resolve it with my local Wisconsin sales rep.

Jeremy

[nayer]

Hello Jermey,
You need to have LabVIEW runtime, but you can download and install all the drivers (not the runtime) on your deployment PC and there should not be any problem.
Good luck.
Nikhil A.