How to simulate cRIO in labVIEW ?

[herschelle]

Hello everybody !

                       I´m new to labVIEW  and I want to simulate cRIO on it. I have read all the posts regarding this issue, but none of them really solved the problem. Actually, I read the solution given on ni developer zone titled "How to simulate FPGA targets using the project explorer in labVIEW". However, when I tried to follow the instructions given there, I realised that on opening "Project Untitled" - "New", my system shows only "New" as an option and not "Target Folder" and "Targets and Devices". Why is this so ? I have asked few of my friends, but unfortunately they too are new to labVIEW. I , therefore, request you to help me with this problem. Please reply in simple language, that I (a beginner with labVIEW) can understand !

Many thanks for your help !

Herschelle

[dkfire]

What version of LabVIEW do you have ?

What modules do you have installed ?

Do you have the Real-time and FPGA modules ?

[herschelle]

Hi dkfire !

Thanks for your reply !

I am using labVIEW 2011 Service Pack 1.

I don`t know wether it has Real Time and FPGA module in it. I thought that since this is the latest version, it already has these modules. Can you please tell me as to how to check wether I have these modules or not ?

Thanks,

Herschelle

[Alex.T]

Hi Herschelle,

It certainly sounds like you could be missing the LabVIEW FPGA and Real Time modules. These are extra modules that are installed on top of LabVIEW and don't come with the development environment as default. Just to let you know, since the NI Compact RIO has both a Real Time Operating System and an onboard FPGA, both of these modules are required in order to start developing an FPGA/RT application for them, even if we're using a simulated device. This is because these modules contain the Application Programming Interface (API) required.

You can check if you have a license for the software by doing the following:

Head over to Start » All Programs » National Instruments » NI License Manager.

- On the left hand pane, under Local Licenses, you'll see a list of all the softare you have licenses for.

- Expand the LabVIEW 2011 SP1 tree.

- Then expand the Modules tree.

If you have LabVIEW FPGA/RT licenses, they should appear in this list.

To check if the software is installed...

Next, we can go to the Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) by navigating through Start » All Programs » National Instruments » Measurement and Automation.

- On the left hand pane, under My System, expand the Software tree.

- Expand LabVIEW 2011 SP1 to see if the FPGA/RT modules are installed on your machine.

If the software is installed on your machine, they should appear here. 

Just to check, do you also have NI-RIO installed? You can pick this up from our downloads website.

Kind Regards,

[herschelle]

Hi Alex,

         thanks for your reply. I followed your instructions and your are right. When I expand "Modules", all I see is " Application Builder", which means that I don't have RT and FPGA modules.  So, I guess, I will have to install these modules first. Can you please suggest as to what I should do now ? Do I need to buy the whole modules or only the "Related Software " ?

Thanks again,

Herschelle

[Alex.T · Accepted solution]

Hi Herschelle,

LabVIEW FPGA for LabVIEW 2011 SP1.

LabVIEW Real Time for LabVIEW 2011 SP1.

These downloads will give you the evaluation mode of both of the modules for 30 days free of charge. Alternatively, you can also buy the software online via the software product pages.

FPGA Module Product Page.

Real Time Module Product Page.

I hope that this helps!

[herschelle]

Hi Alex,

          I will install these modules and will then try to follow the instructions given on ni forum. If I have any further questions / problems, I will post them again, on this forum.

Thanks a lot for your help.

I really appreciate it !

Herschelle

[Alex.T]

No problem. Best of luck!

[herschelle]

Hello everyone !

             I installed the trial versions (30 day validity) modules of Real Time and FPGA. Later, I installed NI cRIO 4.1, which was downloaded from ni.com. However, while installing cRIO file, some of the files were not installed. There were prompts like " RIO.chich failed to install"  I can´t understand why this happened. Anyway, there was an option to continue installing, which I clicked. After the complete installation, I tried folllowing the instructions on ni.com about simulating hardware targets using project explorer. However, when I opened "New"-"Targets and Devices"-"New Target or Device", it did not displayed cRIO as an option, as shown in the forum. Instead it displayed the following options:

1) Networked Computer / Device

2) Real Time Desktop

3) Real Time Industrial Controller

4) Real Time PXI

  So, now I don´t know as to how I can simulate cRIO. Please let me know if you have any suggestions/solutions.

Many Thanks,

Harshal

[Alex.T]

Hi Herschelle,

I'm sorry to hear you had some difficulties with the installation. I'll do some reading to try and find out the nature of the causes and get this information back to you.

How to Simulate a Compact RIO:

• A Compact RIO is a networked device, external to your development PC.
• To add a Simulated Compact RIO, right click on 'My Project' and select New » Targets and Devices. 

The Project Explorer works like a hierarchy of local and networked devices. We use 'My Computer' to add a Real Time/FPGA interface to our project when the device itself is a part of a computer, like a PCI-FPGA card or when we want to run code on a Real Time PC. We use 'My Project' to get access to networked devices such as Compact RIOs.

I hope that this helps.