Is labwindows suitable???

[ress]

I am building an application using labview 7.0 and 6024E daq card. but in my application because of some hardware problems,I need to use another daq card instead of 6024E . The card I will use is an old one and no labview drivers are available... so I planned to use C++ builder instead of labview.. Then I noticed taht I may use Labwindows but I am not very sure.. What I wonder is if I can use Labwindows without any problem with an old daq card.. I have the driver source codes in C and C++and driver dll's of the old daq card.. Will labwindows see my old daq card (of amira co) and let me use its features?? Is labwindows suitable for this??

[Al_S]

You don't need to pick a language (LabView, LabWindows, or C++) based on having a DLL: they can all call functions in a DLL. Pick a language based on what's easier for you and your company to support.
If your have a driver DLL and the documentation for the driver functions, you can still use LabView. Use the Call Library Function node. Right-click on the node to Configure it: enter the function name (case sensitive) and define the parameters and return value (based on the documentation).
For LabWindows and C++, you'll need the .Lib and .h files for the DLL. With an existing DLL, you shouldn't need the source code.

[ress]

You mean if I have the driver dll's for the card I can use it with labview even if the card doesn't have a labview driver..?? If so its ok but I dont have have any labview drivers for the card because the card is an ISA daq card which is old.... The drivers are for C language.
Thank you..

[Al_S]

Labview can call functions in a DLL directly using the Call Library Function node. You will create a VI that calls the driver functions in a DLL. You will basically be creating a LabView Instrument Driver VI. It's not as scary as it sounds and it's not too difficult if you have the DLL functions documented.

[Al_S]

Look at the following NI Knowledgebase articles.
Click here for an overview.
Click here and look at the section titled "Calling External DLLs From LabVIEW" for an example.

[Jeremy_L]

Hi Ress,

The C dll should work just fine in LabVIEW by using Call Library Function Nodes as Al prescribed. One thing to note is that you should have an export header file or documentation on the available functions so you know how to address the dll functions and give the correct parameters. The dll itself just has to be located in the same path as the LabVIEW application, or a system searchable path (i.e, a path defined in the environment settings). Hope this helps!

[Jeremy_L]

Just to add to my previous post that the path of the dll will only really matter if you're planning on distributing this LabVIEW application, so if you don't plan on distributing then the dll can really be anywhere you want.