What is the best way to pass commands to a SCSI tape drive.

[bh3560]

I want to run a test on a cartridge and do a log sense to find out how many ECC's the tape has. I have software to do this but I cannot do any modifications to this software. I have read in the forums about using wnaspi.dll but I am still confused on how to use call library node. I have also read about using aspi.ocx. Does anyone have any idea about how labview can use this aspi.ocx(Active X) and wnaspi.dll? I have been using labview for about 18 months so some things are still new like this post.

Thanks for your time,

Brett

LV 7.1 Win2K.

[Steven_T]

Hello Brett,

When using dlls from LabVIEW, you need to know where the dll is and the prototype for the function you need ot use.  You place a call library function and then double click to configure it.  Browse to the dll, select a function then add parameters to the function including return type.  Once everything is set up, you should be able to call the dll.  You may run into issues with dlls that take complex data types as paremeters.  If the parameters are pointers to structs containing pointers to structs, then there needs to be a wrapper function calling this dll from another dll (this gets really messy).

To use the ActiveX control, you can use an automation refnum in LabVIEW.  You will be able to select which control to use.  Once you have the reference you need in LabVIEW, you can manipulate the control using property nodes and invoke nodes.

There are example programs in example finder that demonstrate how to do both of these activities (using an ActiveX control and calling a DLL).  I hope this helps.

Steven Trahan

[rolfk]

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@bh3560 wrote:

I want to run a test on a cartridge and do a log sense to find out how many ECC's the tape has. I have software to do this but I cannot do any modifications to this software. I have read in the forums about using wnaspi.dll but I am still confused on how to use call library node. I have also read about using aspi.ocx. Does anyone have any idea about how labview can use this aspi.ocx(Active X) and wnaspi.dll? I have been using labview for about 18 months so some things are still new like this post.

Thanks for your time,

Brett

LV 7.1 Win2K.

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I can't recommend trying to call Winaspi through the Call Library Node. That API uses rather complex structures as parameters and that will get a real headache to deal with that on LabVIEW diagram level. The Active X solution might be a bit simpler but knowing ASPI a bit I guess it could be still very involved.

There once was an Alliance member (from Australia I believe) that had a complete SCSI Toolkit that you could buy. Not sure if they are still around or still sell that Toolkit but checking out the Product Solution guide here on NI.com might be a good idea.

Rolf Kalbermatter