Create Data Link (Data Link Properties) window won't show up while using LabVIEW

[JLuna]

I've started reading about how to do a set up of a microsoft data link file (UDL). Now I know that there are several ways to manage this. 

a) Using windows explorer, create new text file and changing the extension to .udl

b) Practically following the steps that are explained here: http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/5351D6732E4100B586256F700060CC17

     While having Labview open, just got to tools ---> Create Data Link and a windows property (Data Link Properties) should appear. 

My problem is that, when click on the option "Create Data Link" as the figure shows, that specific windows won't show up. Some small

windows partially blinks very fast, barely can be seen. So I was wondering if someones knows why is this happening? I really need help 

because I'm starting to read and understand how to link a database to Labview. 

I don't know if it matters, but I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit. 

Other thing if I run that code, as the block diagram appears in the image, the Data Link Property window will appear indeed. But if I choose to go to: Tools ----> Create Data Link .... Nothing happens -_____- 

As mentioned before a little windows appears to blink very fast and that's it. 

In advance, many thanks to all!

 

[Bob_Schor]

I'm not sure why you are having trouble.  Try the following -- restart LabVIEW, type Ctrl-N to open a new (blank) VI, go to the Block Diagram, and try to Create Data Link.  This is what I got when I did that ...

Bob Schor

[JLuna]

Noup. I closed Labview and opened a new VI. Went to TOOLS ---> CREATE DATA LINK ... Nothing happened 😞

[Bob_Schor]

Very strange.  What version of LabVIEW are you running?  Are you opening the Tools menu when you have the (empty) Block Diagram window showing?  Can you describe better what you do see when you try to do this?  Are you, perhaps, using a Trial/Evaluation/Student version of LabVIEW?

Bob Schor

[JLuna]

I'm using Labview 2014, version 14.0f1 (32-bit) and having a new VI been in the block diagram or front panel (either way, same result) with nothing on it. I go to TOOLS  ------>  CREATE DATA LINK and a

the "Data Link Properties" windows should appear, but nothing happens.

[tst]

That menu option basically just runs <LabVIEW>\project\database.llb\Prompt and Save UDL.vi, which calls an ActiveX method to show the dialog and then a CIN to save it. My guess is that there's an error with the ActiveX object on your computer and that VI doesn't report it, so you don't see the details. If you want you can try running that VI directly to see what happens. As far as I can tell, it is the exact same thing that's happening in the code that does work for you, so I'm not sure what the difference is.

Personally, I manipulate UDLs relatively rarely and I create them even more rarely, so I didn't even remember this option exists. I just use your first method and I suggest you do the same. It's not as if it's hard.

[JLuna]

Oh ok... I'm have not much knowledge of the Activex objects but in others words you're just saying thats the mainly problem. That object its not responding to the "Create Data Link" command... right? In this 

case I'm now just curious if there's a way to fix it. Like a windows update or something? Is there a way?

[tst]

What I'm saying is that I don't know what the problem is, but you can run the code yourself to try to find out. At least you can see if there are any errors. Like I said, it looks like it's the same code that you say does work, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't work there. The only difference I can think of is that VIs which are called from the menus are running in a private application instance, but I don't see why that should cause it not to work.

And again, personally I wouldn't spend any time on it.

[JLuna]

I can't get passed why is that happening... So I opened the VI you mentioned located in:

C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\NationalInstruments\LabVIEW2014\project\NI_Database_CDL2.lvlib

In this library are three .vi

Initialize.vi

Prompt and save UDL.vi

Prompt for file.vi

So I opened the second one, the one you mentioned and it appears to be an error in the CIN (Code Interface Node) as the images show. I have no clue what C-code is missing. Do you have knowledge about what object code is missing?

BTW, many thanks in advance.

[tst]

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@JLuna wrote:
it appears to be an error in the CIN (Code Interface Node) as the images show

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That would definitely explain why it doesn't work. If the VI is broken, it can't run and so you don't get the dialog. As for why it's broken, I don't know. As you can see in the context help, CINs are a legacy feature and aren't technically supported. It's possible that at some point along the way it just stopped working and no one noticed. I expect it probably won't work at all if your LV was 64 bit, but you say it's 32, so that's not it.

If you really care about this, you can probably just replace that CIN with a standard write to a file, as a UDL file is basically just a file containing the connection string (you can open it in Notepad to see if it has some more details), but be aware that this modification will only work on your computer.