DAQmx simulated device

[Humph]

I have developed my software using a DAQmx simulated device PCI 6254. All is well. I am going to test the software on a 'real' system with the PCI 6254 board installed. I have read the 'Target Settings for Executables' and 'Necessary Files for Running Executable Programs' help files, but I am still unsure if my software will work on the real thing.

The target computer will have Windows XP installed. Do I need to install any other NI software, like MAX, or any other libraries? Can I build a viable executable on my laptop and transfer the executable (and Installer ?) via memory stick?

I would appreciate detailed load instructions as time on the 'real' hardware is very limited.

[hendra@ngms]

I have recently developed an application that uses the NI PCI6518.  This was done using CVI 8.5 with the full Device Driver installation.  When I did the first Distribution Kit for this application, I selected the NI-DAQmx Runtime 5 when I edited the installer setup.  This produced the smallest Distribution Kit.  I was surprised when I went to Build the Distribution Kit that it asked me to insert Disk #1 of the Device Driver CD's.  Apparently it needed to copy the DAQmx runtime module from the CD.

But other than that, it was a very normal build, and has worked perfectly.

Yes, you can always create your Distributin Kit on a laptop and move it via USB stick to your target computer.

[Humph]

Thanks very much for that. I was worried that I might get to site and find that the software was still operating on a simulated device. I have built a distribution kit as you suggested with option 5, so now it's just waiting for the site visit and the installation on the real piece of kit!

[hendra@ngms]

If you have never actually operated this application with the device, make sure you have your laptop with you, so you can develop at site.  It's very easy to code a simulation and have it not work like the real thing.  Contact me if you need some advice when you are at the site.

[Humph]

Many thanks. Site visit is scheduled for next Tuesday, so I'm relaxing for the time being.

[Humph]

On site and having trouble. What software do we need to have installed on the target computer? The guys here have been running MAX to check the card is working. I installed my distribution kit and when the PC was re-booted, a new device was detected, but there were no drivers for it. I would have thought that my distribution kit would have supplied the drivers?

When we tried re-installing MAX, it said that it couldn't support LabWindows /CVI because it clashed with currently installed software.

Can you help?

[NicoLeach]

If no drivers were detected, DAQmx is not installed. (or the installed version does not support the 6254)
The distribution kit  *** is able to *** supply drivers, run-time engine etc...

You should
1) download DAQmx or use the DAQmx CD
2) Power OFF; unplug the board ; Power ON
3) Install DAQmx
4) Power OFF; plug the board ; Power ON
5) Tell us if it's OK

Regards,
Nicolas


Message Edité par NicoLeach le 04-29-2008 01:50 PM

[Humph]

Hi, thanks for the reply. We think that an installation of MAX may have included LabVIEW items, so we have used System Restore to go back to a clean system. With the PCI 6254 removed, we have installed my distribution kit, then powered off, installed the card, then re-booted. The system has found drivers and the application runs, providing the different panels as required. However, the panel that should show the millivolt signals shows silly values ranging from 7.6E+294 to NaN. These values jump as the mouse is moved from the active panel to the background. Is there any way we can debug the DAQ inputs?

[NicoLeach]

You should check the values measured by your board using MAX.
Have you named your board under MAX? Do you use the correct device in your program?

Nicolas

[Humph]

Hi Nicolas

I created the DAQmx tasks on my laptop and named each channel. The DAQ Assistant showed SCB 68 pinouts, where on site we have SCC cards, but with the same pin numbers. Couldn't see any way to get an SCC option in the DAQ Assistant on the laptop.

I have now created a new distribution kit which includes MAX 4.3. I'm hoping that will install MAX and let us look at the card in isolation.

By The Way is there any way of short cutting the laborious distribution kit building? In LabWindows 5.0.1 we had to build floppy disc kits (<2MB) which I thought took a long time, but 165MB takes a fair time to build!

The new dist kit has installed MAX 4.3, but it doesn't show the PCI 6254!!!!! There is no device list in the tree?? Doh