Can I install Measurement Studio 8.5 onto multiple versions of Visual Studio?

[JumperBones]

Hello all,

I scanned through the release notes and the read-me's on Measurement Studio 8.5, but could not find the answers to some installation-related questions that I have.

I think I can figure out the answers to my questions, but I want to make sure before I perform any of these installs/un-installs...

Here goes:

I am an NI Developer Suite customer who is on SSP, and I have installed Measurement Studio 8.1.2 Enterprise onto Visual Studio 2005, on WinXP Pro SP2.  (I also have the other Developer Suite IDE's installed as well: CVI 8.5, LV8.5, TS4.0.1).

I also have other third-party component suites installed onto Visual Studio 2005 (Infragistics, for example).

I just got Visual Studio 2008, but have not installed it yet.

I just downloaded Measurement Studio 8.5 today, but have not installed it yet, either.

So here are my questions: (all my questions assume that I first un-install Measurement Studio 8.1.2)

1.) Can I install Measurement Studio 8.5 onto both versions of Visual Studio (2005 and 2008)?  There are multiple installers, so it appears that I can... 

2.) If not, would you recommend that I install it onto VS2005, or VS2008 to be able to use all of its features (I am a C# developer)...?

3.) If you think that I would be better off installing it onto VS2008, can I leave VS2005 intact (along with its existing third-party component suites)?  This question implies that Ieave VS2005 and its existing third-party suites alone (except for the removal of MeasStudio 8.5, of course), then install VS2008, then install MeasStudio 8.5 onto VS2008 only, then someday in the future install updated, VS2008-ready versions of my third-party component suites onto VS2008, then eventually sometime after that un-install VS2005 and its older versions of those component suites...

4.) If I can do what I just described in #3, do I have to worry about the other three NI IDE's (CVI 8.5, LV8.5, TS4.0.1) being affected by any of these installs/un-installs, or is there a certain order of installs/un-installs that should be performed to ensure that everything will be OK?

My guess at the answers are: 

1.) No

2.) VS2008

3.) Yes

4.) No

...but I'll wait and see what you NI gurus say...

Thanks for taking the time to read this...

JB

[JonathanN]

Hi Jumper Bones,

1. We have separate installers for Visual Studio .NET 2003, Visual Studio 2005, and Visual Studio 2008. This means that you can install Measurement Studio 8.5 for any version of Visual Studio (i.e. you can have Measurement Studio 8.5 for VS .NET 2003, VS 2005 and VS 2008 all installed at once).  Each installer will create a MeasurementStudioVS200x folder in the <National Instruments> directory. So the direct answer to your question is yes.
   
2. N/A since the answer to 1 is yes
3. If you don't want to mess with your current VS 2005 setup, then just install the VS 2008 support. In this case, you will have Measurement Studio 8.1.2 for VS 2005 and Measurement Studio 8.5 for VS 2008 installed. We have separate assemblies for VS 2008 so building applications in VS 2008 won't affect any existing applications. 
   
4. Installing Measurement Studio 8.5 won't affect other software applications like CVI, LabVIEW or TestStand.  There is no certain order you have to install these software packages. The only order you need to be concerned with is when you install drivers. You always want to install the driver software after you install theses SW packages. 
   

You do not have to un-install Measurement Studio 8.1.2 before installing 8.5. 

I hope that answers your questions and if not, please let me know.

Best Regards,

[JumperBones]

Thanks so much for your fast and detailed answer...

I went to give your message-reply a rating, but can't figure out where or how to do that.

Oh well, 5 stars from me...!

JB

[psgeorge]

I am currently developing applications using VS 2005 andMS 8.1.2.  I am wanting to upgrade to VS2008 and MS 8.5.  From the previous posts, it appears that I can upgrade Visual Studio and Measurement Studio in any order and then re-install the latest drivers?  Is this correst or is there a specific order inwhich I should upgrade?  Do I need to uninstall the current versions first and then install the new versions?  After installing the new versions correctl (hopefully), when I open my existing projects will they automatically be updated to use the new MS 8.5 and drivers?

Has NI written anything up about a preferred order to upgrade?

Sorry for all the questions... I just want to get this done with minimal pain!

Thanks!

[JonathanN]

Hi psgeorge,

The order you should install software is:

1. Visual Studio
2. Measurement Studio
3. Drivers

So in your case, you should first install Visual Studio 2008 and then install Measurement Studio 8.5.  At that point, you should then install drivers. 

When you open up one of your older projects, we (as in Measurement Studio) will prompt you asking if you would like to upgrade your references. In the dialog box that appears, if you click Update, the versions of the National Instruments assemblies referenced in your project are automatically corrected to use the latest values on the system.  You can read more about upgrading projects in the Updating Measurement Studio .NET Applications help topic found in the NI Measurement Studio Help.

Best Regards,

[psgeorge]

Thanks for your reply!  Should the older versions be uninstalled first (or does it matter)?  I'm making the assumption that if I am moving up to VS2008 with Measurement Studio 8.5 that I will not want to go back to VS2005 and MS 8.1.2.

Thanks again!

Paul

[JonathanN]

Hi Paul,

You don't have to uninstall the previous version before installing a new version of Measurement Studio.  I would also note that you could have the following if you wanted:

Visual Studio 2005 with Measurement Studio 8.1.2
Visual Studio 2008 with Measurement Studio 8.5

This way you can bounce back and forth if you need to.

Best Regards,

[psgeorge]

Great!  Thanks for all your help!

Regards,

Paul

[H__S]

Hello everybody,

I have the same problem (--I guess), regarding to NationalInstruments.Analysis.Enterprise .dll file. I'm trying to make an interface for a function generator in MATLAB, and I'm currently working with such dll files. I need to install Measurments Studio 8.5, but I cannot find it! I've googled so many times, yet no result after all. Perhaps, there would be something about it, which I know not. I appreciate any further hint or help. BTW: I've read MStudio 20013 Realese Note, and understood that I need 2012 version of it, 'cause I'm using VS2005. Thanks for your attention.

kind regards,

H__S