Upload custom VI to smartcamera 1742

[Little_Helper]

Hi

I use the NI SmartCAM 1742 and Vision Builder 3.6.1.

How do I upload a custom VI to the camera for use with the step "Run LabVIEW VI"?

Best regards

Simon

MSc.Eng. Manufacturing Technology

[ChristopheC]

Hi, 

You first need to save the VI for distribution to ensure that all the VI dependencies are available.

Complete the following steps to save a LabVIEW VI for distribution:

1. Launch LabVIEW.
2. Open the VI. If the VI is already open, save the VI.
3. Select File»New Project.
4. Add the VI and any dependencies to the project. If you want to run the VI on a remote target, you must first add the target to the project. Compete the following steps to add a remote target to the LabVIEW project:
   1. In the Project Explorer window, right-click the project root and select New»Targets and Devices.
   2. Select the target you want to add from the Targets and Devices section of the Add Targets and Devices dialog box.
   3. Click OK to add the target to the project.
5. Save the project by selecting File»Save Project.
6. Right-click Build Specifications underneath the VI you added to the project and select New»Source Distribution from the shortcut menu to display the Source Distribution Properties dialog box.
7. Enter a Build Specification Name and Destination Directory.
8. Select the Source Files category.
9. In the Project Files list, select the top-level VI and any dependencies, and add the files to the Always Included list.
10. Select the Destinations category.
11. In the Destination type control, select LLB.
12. Select the Source Files Settings category.
13. In the Project Files list, click Dependencies.
14. Enable the Apply prefix to all contained items checkbox and enter a prefix.
15. Select the Additional Exclusions category.
16. Enable the Disconnect type definitions, Remove unused polymorphic VI instances, and Remove unused members of project libraries checkboxes. Do not enable the Modify project library file after removing unused members checkbox.
17. Disable the Exclude files from VI.lib, Exclude files from instr.lib, and Exclude files from user.lib checkboxes.
18. Select the Preview category. Click Generate Preview to review the generated file hierarchy for the source distribution. To ensure the preview is accurate, save changes to VIs in memory before you create or edit a build specification.
19. Click Build. You can find the resulting source distribution in the directory specified in the Destination directory control in the Information category of the build specification.

Then, ftp the llb to the "User VIs" folder at the root of the smart camera.

Hope this helps.

Christophe

[Little_Helper]

Hi Christophe

I have seen that step-by-step guide to save the distribution, but I do not have the option to select New»Targets and Devices in my Labview 8.5 installation when starting a new project. I have the option in LV 8.6 and 2009. I was told that I perhaps had to install the Vision Acquisition Software and Labview Real-time module 8.5. I have tried this, and still don't have the option to select target and devices.

What seems to be missing?

When I will get the above to work, do you know what target I am suppose to select? When I setup the distribution in LV8.6 I have the possibility to select Existing target or device, Existing device on remote subnet and New target or device. In none of them I have the option to choose the SmartCamera. I have setup the SmartCamera in MAX. What target do I need to select?

Do you perhaps know when Vision Builder will support LV8.6 or 2009 VIs? It is a pain that it doesn't follow the other releases 🙂

Best regards

Simon

[ninlmartijn]

Dear Simon,

Do you have multiple Labview versions on your PC? Perhaps the vision acquisition is only instaled for the latest Labview verion on your PC. You may want to start the vision acquisition installer again and select the previous version support for Labview. Please check also the driver support for realtime.

When Realtime and vision acquisition are available the add target and smartcam folder should appear.

Best regards,

[Little_Helper]

Hello Martijn

Your screenshot was very helpful, I thought I had the real-time for Labview 8.5 installed, but I didn't. I have now installed it but still wasn't able to locate the smartcamera in the project environment in LV8.5, but I could find it in LV2009 and connect. Then I realised that I use Vision Builder 2009 to connect to the camera, why I have updated the software on the camera to this version. Do I need to use some specific software version on the smartcamera or a specific version of vision builder?

Best regards

Simon 

[Little_Helper]

I tried to downgrade VBAI and the software on the smartcamera to 3.6.1 and now I can locate the camera in Labview 8.6.. 

[ChristopheC]

The driver software NI-IMAQ installs support for the Smart Camera. You need to install it from the Vision Acquisition Software to be able to see the targets in the LabVIEW project.

Christophe

[Little_Helper]

What version of vision acquisition software do i need to install?

[DenLumske]

Hi Simon,

It depends on which LabVIEW version you are planning to use.

Vision Acquisition Software 8.5.1 has support for LabVIEW 8.5.1 and is the first version that has support for the NI-17xx Smart Cameras.

Vision Acquisition Software 8.6 supports LabVIEW 8.6 and supports Smart Cameras.

Here you can see what's new in different versions of NI-IMAQ. 

Hope this clears things for you.