LabWindow/CVI Build DLL Question

[Gordon1205]

I have the following question about using LabWindows/CVI to build dll files.

Can anyone help me?

In my operation system, I had installed LabWindow/CVI version 6.0 on WindowXP

to build my own dll file.

My question are:

1. I had installed the NI-VISA 3.0 and the ICP pacakge 2.0 on my OS perviously. Now

[Gordon1205]

I have the following question about using LabWindows/CVI to build dll files.

Can anyone help me?

In my operation system, I had installed LabWindow/CVI version 6.0 on WindowXP

to build my own dll file. I had also installed the NI-VISA 3.0 and the ICP pacakge 2.0

on my OS perviously. Nowm, for some reason I must install the NI-DAQmx 8.6 pacakge.

My question are:

When I installed the NI-DAQmx8.6, the VISA version was updated to the version4.2, and the IVI

engine version was updated to the version3.1, CVI RTE version was updated to 8.1.1.xxx

1. When I build the dll file using LabWindow/CVI 6.0 and release it, what are the version needed for another

    WindowXP OS to using the dll file? (VISA version? IVI version? CVI RTE version?)

2. When I build the dll file using LabWindow/CVI, what version of the CVI RET being used? 6.0 or 8.1.1.xxx?

3. If the answer of the question 2 is version 8.1.1,  any computer using the dll file must install CVI RTEVer 8.1.1? or can install CVI RTE Ver6.0?

[JonathanN]

Hi Gordon1205,

When you build an application (DLL, EXE, etc) using a specific version of the LabWindows/CVI IDE, that application does not require a specific version of the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine. The only requirement is that when it runs, that it can find a version of the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine whose version is equal or higher than the version of LabWindows/CVI which built the application. Therefore, it is possible to build an application with LabWindows/CVI 6.0, for example, and then run that application using the LabWindows/CVI 8.0 Run-Time Engine.

So in your case, you have the 6.0 version of the IDE installed and that's what you developed your DLL in. Thus you need at least version 6.0 on the target systems.

Now because you did install some drivers that updated the version of the CVI RTE, this simply means that when you are running on your development machine (i.e. IDE version 6.0), your DLL or EXE will be using the 8.0 RTE. Remember, that only 1 version of the RTE can be installed on the system. You can have multiple versions of the CVI IDE but there will only be 1 version of the RTE and that's what all the applications will be using.

Since you are running against version 8.0 on your development system, it’s probably best if you use that version on your target system since that's what you are doing your testing against. 

Anyway, you can find more information in the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine Backwards Compatibility KnowledgeBase.

Best Regards,

[Gordon1205]

Hi Jonathan N:

                        Thanks for your kindly reply.

                        I have another question about the LabWindow/CVI IDE. When I use the LabWindow/CVI 6.0 to build my own dll file,

                       it doesn't  need the CVI RTE?(i.e the new version of CVI RTE 8.1.xxx doesn't affect the dll file I had build?)

[JonathanN]

Hi Gordon1205,

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. When you build a DLL in version 6.0 of the CVI IDE, this means you are using CVI 6.0 features and thus you need to have version 6.0 of the CVI RTE or higher on a target system in order to run your DLL.  Any version of the CVI RTE greater than or equal to 6.0 will work fine. 

If I'm still not answering your question, please clarify some more.

Best Regards,

[Gordon1205]

Hi Jonathan N:

                          Again, thanks for your reply.^_____^

                          I understand that in the target system I have to install CVI RET 6.0 or higher version to insure my dll run will.

                          My question is : Is the instasllation of the CVI RTE8.1.xxx  won't affect the dll file builded with LabWindow/CVI 6.0?

                                                    (i.e Are the two dll files the same?  1. First dll file is builded with LabWindow/CVI 6.0 & CVI RTE6.0,

                                                                                                             2. Second dll file is builded with LabWindow/CVI 6.0 &CVI RTE8.1.xxx )

[JonathanN]

Hi Gordon1205,

The installation of CVI 8.1.xx will NOT affect building a DLL in version 6.0 of the IDE.  The only advantages you will get when using the 8.1.xxx RTE on your system is bug fixes which there have been quite a few since 6.0.

Best Regards,