I'dd like to use LabView to attach to a CNC FTP server and download and unplad information to it. I'm using 6.i

[Nick Smith]

I am trying to attach to a FTP server on a CNC machine. I have been looking for code in 6.i that I can use with out buying the internet tool kit.

[John Lum]

Nick,

With 6i, your best bet is to use DataSocket. This is covered in other DevExchange forum threads and on the NI Web site (KnowledgeBase, DevZone examples), but I know it's tough to find just the nugget you need.

Here's what I'd suggest as reference:
1. LabVIEW shipping example called "DS Reader.vi". Find it in your version by doing Search Examples >> Communication >> DataSocket >> DataSocket Reader
2. This KnowledgeBase entry on the URL format to use when connecting up to a resource on an FTP site (covers logging in): http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/bae38f5848be7c098625672400640233?OpenDocument
3. This one on how to explicitly get an unformatted text file using DataSocket:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/3efedde4322fef19862567740067f3cc/f3
cc5f7e60a75cb2862567e700696abf?OpenDocument

Hope it helps,
John Lum
National Instruments

[Nick Smith]

Thanks John:
I had found the items that you refered to, however, could not get them to work. I'm new at LabView, so am probably doing something wrong. Any more ideas?

Nick

[John Lum]

Nick,

I'll bet you're having trouble because you're trying to retrieve unformatted text (i.e. not a .wav or .tdt or some other common format). In this case, I think you want to use the [text] argument on the end of the URL, as outlined in one of the KB docs.

I've attached an example that I can run here without error; it retrieves one binary (zipfile) and one textfile from the ni.com FTP site. Try it and examine what I did.

Best of luck,
John Lum
National Instruments

[preston_johnson]

I am not sure what you are need to collect from the FTP server, however there is a supplier of LabVIEW to CNC machine tools out there at a reasonable price. You might check out the "machine link" product at http://www.controlinksystems.com/

I would be happy to discuss this further with you or your team.

Sincerely,

Preston Johnson
Business Development Manager, Industrial Applications
512-683-5444
preston.johnson@ni.com