Can LabWindows programs run without a runtime engine?

[Skinny]

Hi,

I've never used LabWindows -- therefore this question may sound stupid.

We have many LabVIEW programs and we would like to give our clients a simple testprogram. The problem with LabVIEW executeables is that they need the runtime engine. This easily extends to 10MB in an email, which is too large.

I thought about making a C++ program, but then I'd need to buy a Windows C++ developer enbvironment, which seems to be overkill for the purpose.

Since LabWindows already is in my NI Developer Suite I was wondering whether or not it would be possible to make a compact program that does not need a separate runtime engine? I just want to email one .exe file.


Thanks in advance and may you all have a great weekend!
Martin

[bilalD]

LabWIndows/CVI is an ANSI C compiler,so it won't be able to compile any C++ code. Any dll or executable you create will have a dependency on the CVI runtime engine, which it its smplest form is 2-3 dlls. If you really need to minimize dependencies and you're not using any UI features, then you can create an exe with the target settings set to "Intrument Driver only",which would mean you would only need to distribute the instrup.dll. If you use some UI featues, you will have to distribute some other dll's, the size of which comes to about 3 megs.

Users may also download the CVI runtime from here if you don't want to distribute the runtime files via email.

Most machines already have the MSVC runtime engine, which is why you don't need to install anything else if you create an executable with MSVC. So that runtime dependecy is still there, only most poeple don't see it.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

[Skinny]

Thanks!

All I need is some string controls, text rings, and support for VISA (serial port) communication. If this can be implemented within 3 megs (including all dll's) I'll definitely use LabWindows since I've plans on starting using it anyways.

As I understand you the user do not have to run any installation programs if I include the needed dlls? I just want the user to receive e.g. a zip, so that the user does not have to do anything but extracting and running the executeable.

- Martin

[Skinny]

also... can LabVIEW programs also be distrubted with some dlls so that the runtime engine install procedure can be skipped?


- Martin

[bilalD]

If you are planning to use VISA, then the user will need to install the VISA runtime to get your application to work. You might be better off using the RS-232 library that is included with CVI RTE. This will not require you to install any additional drivers on the users machine.

Yes, the user will be able to extract the zip, and run the exe, provided all the required dll's are present in the same directory or in some system searching directory.

I'm not too sure about the same procedure applying for the LabVIEW runtime. You might try posting on the LabVIEW forums to get information about that.

[Skinny]

I need both RS232 and RS485 - is the last one also included in CVI RTE?

As I understand correct VISA support can also be be used by distributing the .exe with the dlls corresponding to the VISA runtime? I ask since you write that the user "will need to install", and since I understood from the previous that everything could be included by distributing with the appropiate dlls.


- Martin

[bilalD]

Yes,you should be able to use RS-485 as well. And this library is part of the CVI RTE.

The VISA runtime is a seperate installer that the user will need to run on their machines. Since this is a driver, it gets alot more complicated than just copying files over and hence an installer is provided. You will not be able to get the VISA application to work if you manually copy over the VISA dlls.

VISA is not part of the CVI RTE, it is a seperate device driver.

[Skinny]

Thanks - that cleared up everything!

- Martin