NI-DAQmx Minimum Install for an Application written in C language.

[peterj]

Hi,
I would like to develop a DAQ application in C language, running on a laptop. I have purchased a NI USB-6211.
On Windows XP, I run setup from the NIDAQ830 CD. Deselected all three major items, NI-DAQmx 8.3, VI Logger and NI Measurement & Application Explorer 4.1. Then I selected Microsoft Visual C Support only. The setup reported installing 60 items.
Do I need, like five versions of NI Assistant Framework LabView Code Generator and all 9 services which were put on the computer?
I think not, so I rerun setup again and deselected OPC Support, VI Logger and NI M&A which were installed after all. 27 items were removed.
In Windows XP Services there are still items like Lookout Citadel Server, National Instruments PSP Locator and National Instruments Time Synchronization set to Automatic Startup, but not running.
Why are those left in there? I would not want to trash other people computers with unnecessary things bundled with my application nor waste time cleaning up. What are my options?
Thank you,
Peter

[Jesse_O]

Hello Peter,

When you selected to install C Support, the setup probably reselected several items.  You are correct that if you are not using LabVIEW you do not need the LabVIEW code generation.  However, it is still recommended to have Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) on all computers that will be using DAQ devices.  This allows you to test the device and run simple diagnostics.  On top of this, it allows you to rename or verify what devices are.  Otherwise you have to programmatically determine what each device is (i.e. Dev1 = PCI-6259 and Dev2 = USB-6009).

For applications that you want to distribute, NI now offers a runtime engine of the DAQmx driver.  There are four versions available for download on the website.  There is a fifth version on the ftp here, however it does not include MAX and should be used with caution (for the reasons I listed above). 



Some of the services you mention are required by MAX, and some (such as PSP) are used for the DAQmx I/O Server.  If you install the DAQmx runtime engine 5 (no max support) they do not install.

I hope this helps you out.

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments.