How can I change the 'Last Calibration Date' on NI hardware

[DTI1]

I work in a calibration laboratory, and am trying to change the ‘Last Calibration Date’ on DAQ cards (the test case is a PCI-6031) using DAQmx LabVIEW 2009 Vis. I’ve tried using the code provided in the following knowledgebase issue with the password “NI” (without quotations) to no avail.  

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/20AF004BDACC2148862570A4006824FA

 No error is reported, but the calibration date is not altered.  I’ve even tried setting the “Active Device” parameter in the calibration information property node above the ExtCal.LastDate/Time parameter.

Customers require us to change the cal date on devices we have calibrated.  Does anyone know how this is done?

[Sean_F]

HI DTI1,

Are you performing the calibration as described in the calibration manual (linked here)? Are you making sure to commit the calibration when you call the DAQmx Close External Calibration VI?

[DTI1]

We're using Calibration Executive, but it doesn't change the devices Last Cal Date, so we're looking for a way to do that manually.  Yes, the Commit Action is wired into the close function, but the date does not update.

[Seth_B.]

When you calibrate the board, are you performing an adjustment, or just a verification?  Verification will not updated the calibration date, but adjustment will.  In order to update this date, you'll need to adjust the board after verifying it.

[DTI1]

Yes - the Last Cal Date must be updated for verification, too.  This, along with the Cal Interval, forms the Cal Due Date, and the customer must be able to see this updated due date.  In other words, when the customer gets his device back from us, the due date should indicate he needs to send it back for calibration in a year (or so).  We don't want to have to put the device through adjustment if it doesn't need it - this takes time and can cause problems.  So until Cal Exec updates the Last Cal Date on successful verifications, we need a way to update the date outside of Cal Exec.

[Seth_B.]

For newer devices, we are working to add functionality to update the calibration date on verification instead of just adjustment.  This will likely occur some time early next year.  If this functionality is mission critical and is needed before early next year, please contact your local sales representative and they can help investigate the possibility of a custom solution.

For some background on why this functionality does not currently exist, unless the board leaves calibration within the 24 hour specifications, we can't guarantee that the accuracy will still be valid for a year.  Thus, the decision was made not to update the calibration date unless the board is brought back into the 24 hour specifications via adjustment.