Can Labview Executables(.exe) be recompiled to source code(.vi)?

[neighbor]

We have lost some valuable virtual instruments(.vi's) in a hard drive crash. We do have copies of the executables(.exe's). Is there  any procedure or software available to return them to their original state (.vi's)? Please Help.

[tbob]

Sorry, you are S.O.L.  This cannot be done.  You should have made backup copies.

[PJS]

Nothing like having some sympathy in life 😉

[Bob_Y.]

Actually the answer is maybe.

If you only need to call the VIs and not edit them, the following from some old info-LabVIEW posts may help you out.  I have never done this and I don't know if it works with newer versions of LabVIEW, but it may help you out of a bind.  find the whole thread by looking in SearchVIEW for "How do I distribute copy-protected Labview applications?"

I hope that this helps,
Bob Young

<quote>
There are some requirements...

To load and run an executable in LabVIEW development, it must have been
built by the same version and platform. Since the VIs have no diagrams, they
can't be recompiled.
Only 6.0 (don't know for 6.1... tell us someone) can open EXE's as LLB's.
However, you can take a 5.1 executable, rename as an LLB, use the 6.0 VI
Library Manager to copy VIs from this LLB to a new dir or LLB. Then LabVIEW
5.1 will be able to open and run.

<snip>
Jean-Pierre
<end quote>