How to add instrument to LabVIEW?

[Sankalan]

Hi,

I have installed the trial version of Labview 2019 and trying to create projects using it. I have installed a few simulated NI-DAQmx devices like PCIe-6320, PCIe-6321, etc. There is no physical instrument connected to my PC and I want to add a few instruments there. I know the procedure to add drivers with the help of MAX but unable to add any instruments. How it can be done?  

[GerdW]

Hi Sankalan,

so you know how to create simulated devices, but you don't find a way ("procedure") to add "any instrument"?

Which "instrument" are you talking about?

[bhpowell]

Hi, Sankalan.  I assume by "instruments", you mean 3rd party box instruments like a DMM, Scope, Function Generator and the like, which you'd normally connect to through GPIB, LAN, or USB.  Is that right?

Do you have specific models of instruments you're wanting to use?  Or just generically a DMM or Scope, for example?

To talk to instruments in LabVIEW, you use an Instrument Driver.  (Hundreds available for download from ni.com/idnet or using the NI Package Manager.)  There's a particular type of Instrument Driver called an IVI Driver.  Almost all IVI Drivers include a way to simulate the instrument.  (Simulation is a parameter that's sent to the Initialize VI.)

So, I'd search to see if an IVI driver is available for your specific instrument.  If you don't have a specific model in mind, you can just install NI-DMM, NI-Scope, etc., because they are IVI drivers.

I hope this helps.

[RTSLVU]

Well it depends on the instrument

1. National Instruments branded devices should be auto detected when you plug them in and maybe even downloading and installing the basic drivers for you.
2. Other brands connecting by USB should also be auto detected but you will have to supply the driver and tell it where to find them just like any other USB device in Windows
3. Instruments connected through GPIB will be found using NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (NI-MAX) by opening the GPIB device tree and searching for instruments
4. Instruments connected through Ethernet (LXI)  are set up in NI-MAX similar to GPIB instruments
5. Instruments connected through serial ports will have to be manually configured in NI-MAX

In all cases you will have to install the LabVIEW "drivers", actually just VI's, into LabVIEW yourself.

[Sankalan]

Hi GerdW,

Let me clarify it with the help of a screenshot of the NI Instrument Driver Finder- Configure Search window. There I can see the instrument drivers which are installed but under Connected Instruments, it shows 'no connected instruments detected' which I have marked in red. How to connect some simulated instruments like a DMM or scope by downloading it from the website? Is it mandatory to connect a physical instrument, can't I connect a simulated one?  

Regards,

Sankalan 

[GerdW · Accepted solution]

Hi Sankalan,

the "Instrument Finder" is made to find instruments - real ones!

How to connect some simulated instruments like a DMM or scope by downloading it from the website?

It's not possible.

Is it mandatory to connect a physical instrument, can't I connect a simulated one?

Yes.And yes.

You can simulate DAQmx devices - because that feature is built into the DAQmx driver library. But you cannot simulate external, 3rd party devices - because there is no driver supporting simulation of such devices…

(You could create your own "driver library" using OOP/classes, with a class for each simulated device…)