Generating IVI C++ Wrapper..

[wxfield]

I have just installed CVI 6.0 from the NI Developer Suite 2001. I want to generate the C++ wrapper for my IVI DLL's but I keep getting a window that says "..the file ividrvr.hpp cannot be found. Make sure CVI is installed correctly." Ok.

So I uninstall the whole darned thing, and reinstal..same problem. I searched the entire disk for this file..nothing. What's going on ????

Kindest regards,
Warren Crossfield

[Jeremiah Cox]

Hello Warren,
This feature is now obsolete and will not be present in the next update/release of CVI. We have new IVI C++ class drivers and specific drivers that are included with Measurement Studio for Visual C++ 6.0. In addition, C++ wrappers are in the works for ALL of the specific IVI drivers in our Instrument Driver Library available online at http://www.ni.com/idnet (note that this will not include contributed or legacy drivers). I would watch the Instrument Driver Library website for these updated wrappers in the coming weeks. If you have any further questions regarding this feature or the new C++ wrappers, please do contact us at http://www.ni.com/ask.

Jeremiah Cox
Applications Engineer
National Instruments
http://www.ni.com/ask

[aperez]

Warren Crossfield,

Actually, this feature is obsolete in CVI 6.0 and it shouldn't have been there in the first place! This will be corrected soon in a patch I heard. But let's talk about the wrapper you were trying to create for your IVI DLL. I'm assuming that you want to program in VisualC++ and that's why you need a C++ class.
In Measurement Studio 6.0, there are 5 C++ IVI classes: CNiIviDCPwr (for DC power supplies), CNiIviDmm (for digital multimeters), CNiIviFgen (for function generators), CNiIviScope, and CNiIviSwitch. Also, in the C:\Program Files\National Instruments\MeasurementStudio\VC\Instr directory you will find several IVI-compliant instrument drivers for some commonly used instruments.
In addition, when you run the Measurement Studio AppWizard in V
isualC++, the wizard detects all the drivers you have on your computer (legacy C drivers as well) and it allows you to add them to your project. So in essence, you do not need the CVI tool anymore.
Let me know if you have any further questions.

Regards,

Azucena Perez
National Instruments

[wxfield]

Hi Azucena,

Firstly, let me just make it clear that I love this product and it's features. I have been using CVI to create DLL's for client devices for quite some time now. The ability to output documentation with a few clicks has been very impressive to my clients.
However, Even though I understand the focus of IVI and have read the dox on the IVI website..I need the ability to write VERY custom drivers and instrument drivers that are highly configurable. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Taking away features or flexibility from CVI may be seen as a bad thing. I really enjoyed coding a DLL driver, generating documentation, then clicking the mouse a second time and having a C++ wrapper generated for the entire project.
Maybe I'm not understanding your an
swer, but it sounds like I won't be able to do this any longer.

Kindest regards,
Warren Crossfield

[aperez]

Hi Warren,
What version of CVI were you using before upgrading to CVI 6.0? I'm curious because it seems like this feature hasn't been there since CVI 5.5. Bear with me as I do some research on this issue. I'll be getting back to you as soon as I have a good resolution for the absence of this utility. I apologize for the inconvenience thus far.

Regards,

Azucena

[wxfield]

Azucena,

So wait a minute here..you want me to help you eliminate a feature that I think is a good thing? Are you kidding? 😉

The feature was available since 5.5.x in the menu bar, however, if the ROSE template files are not available (or installed) you cannot use the feature. So a person has to be clever and extract those uninstalled files from the CD and place them in the right places in order for the feature to work. The clue that led me in this direction was the fact that I could select the menu item and it would gladly post an error dialog saying it couldn't find certain files. NI has been notorious for having really bad installation software on the Windows platform..so i just figured the installer didn't work right, so I grabb
ed them off the install..placed them in the correct paths..and it worked.

W

PS-Please don't take the C++ wrapper feature out. It REALLY is useful to not only me, but many others I have spoken with.

[aperez]

Warren,

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. But I have good news. The C++ wrapper feature stays. It will be incorporated in an upcoming maintenance release for Measurement Studio. In order for you to use it right now, copy the attached file into your ..\cvi\bin folder.

Regards,

Azucena