How to use/port LabVIEW 32-bit Instrument drivers in LabVIEW 64-bit

[sridatta04]

Hello NI Community,

I am working with a device from Rodhe SGS100A. They have 32-bit LabVIEW instrument drivers and my project is in LabVIEW 64-bit.

Is there anyway I can use those VI's in my project? They don't show up under instrument drivers (which is kind of understandable).

So my question is: 1) Is it possible to use them in 64bit?

                              2)If so then how?

Any help on this would be appreciated.  

[McQuillan]

Hi sridatta04,

I have just downloaded the driver myself and it is run off a 32-bit dll which would have to be recompiled for use in 64-bit environments. So, unless someone else can find something I do not think it is going to be possible with what R&S have provided.

However, it could be worth a quick comment to R&S to ask if they will recompile for you.

[altenbach]

Using LabVIEW 32bit would seem like the obvious solution.

Is there any specific reason that your project would not work in LabVIEW 32bit? 

[sridatta04]

The end customer would like it in 64-bit labVIEW. There will be further development on it from our and customer's end and this is the only odd man out with 32-bit drivers. 

[McQuillan]

I'm always weary when people say 'I want 64-bit'... It can cause a lot of issues like this.

As a software developer I always try to use LV 32-bit when I can.

I am currently writing a large application where I need the added memory depth - so there are definitely use cases... but keep asking why.

The response I normally get when I ask why is 'Because I'm using a 64-bit OS'... This is not the correct answer.

[altenbach]

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@sridatta04 wrote:

The end customer would like it in 64-bit labVIEW. 

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They need to provide more specific reasons than that. As a software provider, you need to advise them about reasonable choices.

[sridatta04]

Totally agree to your point. 

[mcduff]

Are you sure there are no 64 bit versions?

Below is a quote from LabVIEW driver history for the R&S® SGS100A SGMA Family RF Source

2.2 Installation
Install the 32-bit driver or 64-bit driver based on your LabVIEW type, not based on your Windows OS type.
In order to use the LabVIEW instrument driver after installing, please copy the folder:
32-bit driver:
C:\Program Files (x86)\IVI Foundation\VISA\GWinNT\rssgs
64-bit driver:
C:\Program Files\IVI Foundation\VISA\GWin64\ rssgs
into your LabVIEW folder:
32-bit LabVIEW:
C:\Program Files\National Instruments (x86)\LabVIEW 2010\instr.lib
64-bit LabVIEW:
C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2010\instr.lib
After restarting your LabVIEW development environment the driver will then be directly accessible from the Instrument Driver function palette menu:

mcduff

[sridatta04]

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@mcduff wrote:

Are you sure there are no 64 bit versions?

Below is a quote from LabVIEW driver history for the R&S® SGS100A SGMA Family RF Source

2.2 Installation
Install the 32-bit driver or 64-bit driver based on your LabVIEW type, not based on your Windows OS type.
In order to use the LabVIEW instrument driver after installing, please copy the folder:
32-bit driver:
C:\Program Files (x86)\IVI Foundation\VISA\GWinNT\rssgs
64-bit driver:
C:\Program Files\IVI Foundation\VISA\GWin64\ rssgs
into your LabVIEW folder:
32-bit LabVIEW:
C:\Program Files\National Instruments (x86)\LabVIEW 2010\instr.lib
64-bit LabVIEW:
C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2010\instr.lib
After restarting your LabVIEW development environment the driver will then be directly accessible from the Instrument Driver function palette menu:

mcduff

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Yes there are no 64-bit LabVIEW one's. I came across this document a while back!. Thank you for sharing it though 😞 

[mcduff]

Are you controlling it with a PCIe card or via the ethernet cable? If the latter, regular old VISA should work.

mcduff