Programming PCI-1588 via C#

[HNelson]

Sorry I'm not sure if this is in the right place or not but here it goes.  I have 2 PCI-1588 cards from NI and have programmed them all and well through C++ however their implementation into a current system requires the code to be written in C#.  Do the commands listed in the NI-Sync API Reference Help work within C#?

Thanks in advance

[Jerome30]

I think you should open VS include NI plug-in and then check your functions..

[HNelson]

First step,

How do I include the proper header files/libraries in C#?

[TobyHex]

Hello HNelson,
In response to your last question, you want to call the same NI-Sync dll that you referenced when writing your C++ code. This will allow you to write your code within your C# environment in much the same way that you did in your last application.Unfortunately NI-Sync does not have support for .NET languages (i.e. c#) and therefore you must call the C API if you plan on using C# to create your application. If you are having trouble figuring out the proper format for doing this call within C# you can look at the example located here. Thanks again and have a great day!Regards,

Nicholas K

[JonathanN]

Hi HNelson,

If you had Measurement Studio, you could use the Instrument Driver Wizard to create a .NET wrapper for NI-Sync.  The Instrument Driver Wizard generates a .NET wrapper class based upon the instrument driver function panel, header file and optional .sub files installed for that driver. In this case, when you install CVI support for NI-Sync, you will get the niSync.fp file which is located in the C:\Program Files\IVI Foundation\VISA\WinNT\niSync\ directory.  The wizard creates all the P/Invoke signautres for you whihc is really nice.

Anyway, just thought I would throw that out there.

Best Regards,

[HNelson]

Where can I install the CVI support for NI-Sync?  I do not have the CVI examples on this computer and forgot how to install them.  I do have measurement studio and will be trying Janathon's method as soon as I can get my hands on the nisync.fp file. 

[HNelson]

I was able to find nisync.fp on the older computer and was able to begin coding is C#.  Wrote in a simple program to initialize the card and get time however I received the error regarding nisync_32.dll.  I am unable to find it on the computer and am usure of where to get it.

[JonathanN]

To install CVI support, you just need to select the LabWindows/CVI Support item in the installer tree for the NI-Sync driver.

When you run the Instrument Driver Wizard, you need to use niSync.dll and not niSync_32.dll. The niSync.dll is found in the C:\Program Files\IVI Foundation\VISA\WinNT\Bin directory.

Best Regards,

[HNelson]

Thanks a lot Jonathon, worked like a charm.  Was able to use the nisync.dll and everything compiled and ran well.

Glad it actually is possible to use C# to communicate with the hardware.