cwimaq.ocx

[167Avenue]

I have an old  project that uses CWImaq.ocx (v6.0) and Imaq1394.dll (v1.5.1).

We interface directly to the imaq1394.dll.

This is a complex dll written in Delphi and uses National Instruments Active X components.

It is currently running on Windows XP, and we wish to upgrade to Windows 7 32 bit.

I am currently deciding if there is an easy upgrade path for me using my existing development path.

I have installed a number of different National Instruments applications.

It appears that the latest version of CWImaq.ocx is v9.0.0.1.

But it appears that Imaq1394.dll no longer exists.

The latest version of Imaq1394.dll would appear to be 2.04, and this may only be for Windows XP.

Can you please confirm that this is the status (or not).

And What software I should install in order to get these files.

Whilst I appreciate it is not the prefferred development path.

I still need to consider whether it is an option.

Many Thanks (in advance).

Martin Girling

[Emily-C]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for giving such a detailed description of your current set-up! You are correct that cwimaq.ocx 9.0.0.1 is still supported on Windows 7. However, as you suspected, the newest version of NI-IMAQ for IEEE v2.0.1 is only supported on Windows XP and Windows 2000.

In order to use your camera on a Windows 7 system, you would need to upgrade to the IMAQdx drivers, which are a part of our Vision Acquisition Software. If you want to continue using your current application, you will need to continue to work on a Windows XP system.

Regards,

[167Avenue]

OK. Si I understand that Imaq1394.dll no longer exists.

My previous implementation directly interfaced to this dll by the following interface calls

  DLL_imaq1394AttributeInquiry:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;Attribute:DWORD;MinimumValue:DWORD;MaximumValue:DWORD;Readable:DWORD;AutoMode:DWORD;Enable:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
 DLL_imaq1394CameraOpen:function(CameraName:PAnsiChar;var SESSION_ID:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
 DLL_imaq1394Close:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394GetAttribute:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;Attribute:DWORD;Value:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394GetFeaturesCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;PsaFeature:TFeature):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394GetVideoModesCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;PsaVideoMode:TVideoMode;CurrentMode:integer):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394GrabCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;myImage:CWIMAQImage):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394SetAttribute:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;Attribute:DWORD;Value:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394SetupGrabCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394SetupSequenceCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;DispatchArray:array of CWIMAQImage;Number_ofImages:integer;SkipCount:integer):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394ShowErrorCW:function(var ErrorCode:integer;var ErrorMessage:PAnsiChar;errorMaxLen:integer):integer; stdcall;
 DLL_imaq1394SnapCW:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;myImage:CWIMAQImage):integer; stdcall;
 DLL_imaq1394StopAcquisition:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD):integer; stdcall;
  DLL_imaq1394TriggerConfigure:function(SESSION_ID:DWORD;Polarity:DWORD;TimeOut:DWORD;TriggerMode:DWORD;OptionalParameter:DWORD):integer; stdcall;

Most of these calls are associated with grabing an image. We only use firewire so the imaq1394 dll was sufficient.

So how do I now grab an image.

Is there another dll that I must interface to????

Or do we interface using function calls within the ocx file????

Please advise

Thank you

Martin

[Emily-C]

Hi Martin,

The IMAQ 1394 driver was replaced by the IMAQdx drivers, which are part of our Vision Acquisition Software. These drivers do require a license. If you have a serial number for your current drivers, you can call into NI Support to find out if your current serial number will work for this upgrade, or if you'll need to purchase a new license.

The new drivers will come with the IMAQdx DLL, which should have similar functions for interfacing with a Firewire camera.

Regards,

[167Avenue]

Yes I have installed the software, but can you please point me at the methods used to grab images from Firewire cameras.?

Are these methods encapsulated within the ocx file or do I have to interface directly to a dll?

Is there a help file?

Thankyou

Martin G

[167Avenue]

I have read the following article.

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/18/licensing-national-instruments-vision-so...

Very interesting.

Firstly, I am not certain that my NI-IMAQdx drivers are installed.

It appears that there is no reference to it in NI-MAX.

I do have Vision Builder AI 2012 SP1 f2 installed.

Secondly. The article states

Note: As of 2009, the legacy IEEE 1394 driver will no longer be automatically included with the NI-IMAQdx drivers, but can be downloaded from our website.
I am not quite sure if this is still correct and cannot find a clear link on your website.

Can you please confirm these two questions.

Thankyou

Martin G

[Emily-C]

Hi Martin,

If the NI-IMAQdx drivers are installed, they should show up in MAX under the Software tab. VBAI won't necessarily install these drivers. If they aren't showing up, you can download Vision Acquisition Software to install.

As of LabVIEW 2009, the legacy drivers can be downloaded separately. However, as we discussed above, they are only supported on Windows XP and Windows 2000.

We don't have examples for Delphi specifically, but you might be able to find some more information on working with these functions from text-based code by looking through our text-based examples. These should be installed under C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQdx\Examples. Please let us know if you still have specific questions after completing the installation.

Regards,