Problem with LabVIEW 7 and IMAQ Vision V6.0

[Cabman]

I've run the "Convert VI to use LabVIEW 7 Image Datatype" on my LabVIEW 6.1 Vision programs but I still have many broken wires.

Most of them seem to involve IMAQ Cast Image. I use this VI a lot to convert my 10bit camera images to 8bit. Do I need to upgrade IMAQ Vision so the VI's are compatible with LB7

[mhaag]

Thank you for contacting National Instruments. Upgrading to the latest version of IMAQ Vision for LabVIEW would correct the problems you are seeing along with providing you with the latest updates and VIs to be used with your vision applications; however, if that is not a viable option then we can do a few other things to get the old vision programs and VIs working properly.

Using the "Convert VI to Use LV 7 Image Datatype" is the correct first step, but, as you saw, it cannot always upgrade everything in your VIs. For these other broken wires, you can use a library that is installed with vision, DatatypeConversion.llb, which contains two VIs (fuctions) that you can add to your code to manually convert from one datatype to another. This library is located in the ..\
National Instruments\LabVIEW 7.x\vi.lib\vision folder on your computer. If you open up this library you will see that it contains two VIs that you can add to your block diagram.

If the IMAQ Cast Image is the only VI causing problems, then I would recommend opening that VI up so you can see its block diagram. You will notice that all the VI does is make a call to a dll. You can add the DatatypeConversion VIs into this VI and then save it so that it now will be set to accept the new image datatype rather than the old.

Anywhere where you see the broken wires, you can add these conversion VIs to correct the problem. Again, if this becomes too much trouble or there are a significant number of broken wires and VIs that need to be corrected, then you may want to consider the latest version of Vision.

Regards,
Michael
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[Cabman]

Thanks, I've tried the conversion VIs and it solved the problem. Updating my current VIs is possible, but it is creating new VIs I'm concerned about.

I use IMAQ Vision Builder V6.0 and when I create the LabVIEW VI from the script, I experience the same problem of course. If I upgrade to the latest version of Vision, will Vision Builder create LabVIEW 7 VIs without errors, or do I also have to upgrade to NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection as well?

[mhaag]

Glad that was able to correct your current problems. If you would like to upgrade your system so that everything works and that you do not have to worry about this problem in the future, then I would recommend looking into the Vision Development Module. This modules includes the latest version of LabVIEW and Vision Builder, which is now called Vision Assistant. Vision Builder for Automated Inpsection (VBAI) is another application that is a standalone program that can be used independently from LabVIEW.

Regards,
Michael
Applications Engineer
National Instruments