how to communicate Ni hardware with a dos-plattform software

[luisky]

Hi:

I am new to labview and NI-hardware. I want to update the hardware in a lab. The software used in this lab is on the DOS-plattform, i.e. the programs that make the process to run are written in QuickBasic. The actual computers attached to the process are also very old, from the 1980's (386MGz). Thus, we want to replace the old data adquisition system and the computers with Ni-hardware and new computers (pentium IV) but we also want to use the old programs, i.e. we don;t want to recode the old programs in labview.

So my question is: is it possible to do connect NI-hardware with programs that runs on the DOS-plattftorm?

If yes, I would truly appreciate if you can provide me with details about how to perform this operation; if not, please let know what would be my options, also provide me with some details.

Thanks for your help...

lars

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you don't want to program in LabVIEW, why did you post to the LabVIEW board?

You really need to provide some more details on what type of hardware you are using - digital I/O, analog out, analog in, number of channels, acquisition rate, etc. From that, some appropriate substitutions might be found. Posting to the Multifunction DAQ board is probably the best place.

In any case, you are going to have to do substantial rewriting of the old code to use new hardware.

[luisky]

Hi:

As I said, I'm new to this envoriment and I didn't where to place my question. Anyway, the proces is a heat exchanger and the objective is to control the outlet temperature by changing flowrates. We use a multivariable control system to maniputale the valve positions based on the temperature measurements. As for the hardware, the actual daq is an OPTO-22 B1 with  4 T/C and 2 4-20mA that measure temperature and flow respectivelly, all the inputs are analog. I have 2 4-20mA analog outputs that send the signal to the valve actuator. The software we use was writen in quick-basic(back in the late 80's), this software runs on the DOS-plattform. The computer we use to run this proces is a 386GHz. 

Based on the above, is it possible to perform any modifications that would help to use the dos-based programs? or what do you suggest me to do?

tahnks for your comments...

luisky

[Dennis_Knutson]

As I said, in order to use different hardware, you are going to have to re-write all of the code that communicates to the old hardware and replace it will calls to the driver for the new hardware. You will almost certainly find that the you will have to re-write parts of it anyway when you move to a much faster pc. I'm not to sure about the hardware but the latest DAQ driver that supports DOS is

[Jonas Van Otterdijk]

Hi,

You need to communicate between a dos PC with QuickBasic and another (modern) PC with NI hw.

Try serial communication, or file communication if connected to a network...

Both ways you have to change the QuickBasic program minimally.

[LabViewGuruWannabe]

If you are going to upgrade the computer and the I/O board(s), you would be better off writing a new program with LabVIEW or something more modern. Not only will you have a better interface for controlling your equipment, but you will also gain a whole slew of additional functions, like reporting and data logging an remote monitoring. If your program was written in QBasic, then it should be very easy to rewrite it in LabVIEW, especially since your process is relatively simple. 6 inputs and 2 outputs is a piece of cake for NI hardware and LabVIEW.

If you need some help from someone that knows both QuickBasic and LabVIEW, just let me know.