LabVIEW
Do DAQ PCMCIA boards need to be physically in the laptop to create an application?
Hello Peg,
There are several methods that you can use to program a DAQ application without having the device actually in the machine. You can build the vi if the drivers are installed for the device (installing DAQmx once installs all of the drivers for all of the devices that use DAQmx), but doing this "blind" can make it difficult to test and check for bugs. I would suggest simulating the device in MAX if possible (many of our devices can be simulated, however not all can). To do this, in MAX right click on NI-DAQmx Devices»Create New DAQmx Device»NI-DAQmx Simulated Device. These simulated devices allow for basic testing of code and have almost all the properties of the actual card.
You can also create simulated signals to test your code. These vi's make general data (e.g a sine wave for an analog input) so that you can see if the data flow is the way you want. If you search the LabVIEW help for "Waveform Generation", there is a good article with all of the different types of signals and how to make them.
The only thing to note with creating programs without the hardware installed (or for moving to a different computer) is that when the hardware is installed, the device number can change from the one the program references. This will definitely happen if you simulate the device. This is because the driver sees the simulated device as an actual card and will use the next device number for the hardware.
If you are making an executable out of your program, it would be easiest to put a control on the front panel to select the device and channel. As far as the installer, you can include the drivers for the card under Additional Installers. Building your executable should not cause problems without the hardware as long as you do not try to run the application without the hardware installed (or simulated).
Neal M.
NIC AE
www.ni.com/support
SR#: 1041497
There are several methods that you can use to program a DAQ application without having the device actually in the machine. You can build the vi if the drivers are installed for the device (installing DAQmx once installs all of the drivers for all of the devices that use DAQmx), but doing this "blind" can make it difficult to test and check for bugs. I would suggest simulating the device in MAX if possible (many of our devices can be simulated, however not all can). To do this, in MAX right click on NI-DAQmx Devices»Create New DAQmx Device»NI-DAQmx Simulated Device. These simulated devices allow for basic testing of code and have almost all the properties of the actual card.
You can also create simulated signals to test your code. These vi's make general data (e.g a sine wave for an analog input) so that you can see if the data flow is the way you want. If you search the LabVIEW help for "Waveform Generation", there is a good article with all of the different types of signals and how to make them.
The only thing to note with creating programs without the hardware installed (or for moving to a different computer) is that when the hardware is installed, the device number can change from the one the program references. This will definitely happen if you simulate the device. This is because the driver sees the simulated device as an actual card and will use the next device number for the hardware.
If you are making an executable out of your program, it would be easiest to put a control on the front panel to select the device and channel. As far as the installer, you can include the drivers for the card under Additional Installers. Building your executable should not cause problems without the hardware as long as you do not try to run the application without the hardware installed (or simulated).
Neal M.
NIC AE
www.ni.com/support
SR#: 1041497
Message Edited by Neal M on 10-02-2007 10:58 AM
