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Using a LabVIEW VI with LabVIEW SignalExpress

Primary Software: LabVIEW SignalExpress>>Development System
Primary Software Version: 2.0
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A

Problem:
How do I import a LabVIEW VI to use with LabVIEW SignalExpress?

Solution:
There are two main ways of using a LabVIEW VI with LabVIEW SignalExpress. We can use a self-made VI or start from a template. Detailed instructions on how to use both of these can be found in the LabVIEW SignalExpress help file (In LabVIEW Signal Express: Help»LabVIEW SignalExpress Help). In the help file, look under: Using LabVIEW SignalExpress»Building VI's for Run LabVIEW VI Steps. For convenience, instructions on Building Run LabVIEW VI Steps from Existing VI's are below.
  1. Open an existing VI to use as a Run LabVIEW VI step. You also can use a template to build a Run LabVIEW VI step.
  2. Connect all inputs and outputs necessary for the operation of the VI to the connector pane of the VI. When you call a VI from LabVIEW SignalExpress, it reads the connector pane of the VI to determine the inputs and outputs. If you do not wire the inputs and outputs to the connector pane, LabVIEW SignalExpress cannot pass data into or out of the VI. Connecting the inputs and outputs to the connector pane also enables LabVIEW SignalExpress to properly convert a LabVIEW SignalExpress project to a LabVIEW block diagram. Make sure LabVIEW SignalExpress supports the data types of the controls and indicators.


  3. Select File»VI Properties, select Execution from the Category pull-down menu, and place a checkmark in the Reentrant execution checkbox. Reentrant VIs create a unique dataspace for each instance of a VI when it is called. Because you can use a single VI multiple times in a LabVIEW SignalExpress project, you must save the VI as reentrant to avoid dataspace clashing.


  4. LabVIEW 7.x: Save the VI as an LLB with all of its subVIs included by selecting File»Save with Options and clicking the Application Distribution option in LabVIEW. When you combine all subVIs into an LLB, you ensure that all of the components necessary to execute the VI are present on the system. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for more information about creating linked libraries in LabVIEW.

  5. LabVIEW 8.0 and later: Save the VI as a source distribution with all of its sub VI's included by creating a new project library which includes the VI's.
  6. Click Add when prompted to add the open VI to the new project.
  7. Right-click the Build Specifications option in the Project Explorer window and select New»Source Distribution
  8. Select Source Files in the My Source Distribution Properties dialog box. Select your VI under Project Files, then press the upper Add Item arrow (points to right) to add the item to the Always Included pane.
  9. Select Additional Exclusions in the My Source Distribution Properties dialog box, then uncheck the Exclude vi.lib, Exclude instr.lib, and Exclude user.lib options. Click the Build button to build the source distribution.

If you have questions, refer to the LabVIEW Help for more information about creating project libraries and source distributions in LabVIEW.

Detailed instructions on how to import LabVIEW VIs into LabVIEW SignalExpress as Steps can be found in the LabVIEW SignalExpress Getting Started Guide (Start»All Programs»National Instruments»LabVIEW SignalExpress»Getting Started with LabVIEW SignalExpress). Go to Section 7 (p. 39 of 139)

In review, a few key requirements (listed previously) are:

  1. After you have created a VI in LabVIEW, make sure to set its VI properties to reentrant. (File»VI Properties»Execution, make sure the box Reentrant execution is checked )
  2. You must fill in the connector pane of the VI for inputs and outputs.
  3. You must use LabVIEW 7.1 or later to create a VI to be run from the Run LabVIEW VI step in SignalExpress.
  4. You cannot run a VI that was saved for a previous version of LabVIEW using the Run LabVIEW VI step in Signal Express. You must save the VI in the actual version of LabVIEW you specify in the Run LabVIEW VI step.


Related Links:
LabVIEW SignalExpress 3.0 Help: Run LabVIEW 8.6 VI
LabVIEW SignalExpress 3.0 Help: Building Run LabVIEW VI Steps from Existing VIs

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Report Date: 03/13/2007
Last Updated: 10/14/2009
Document ID: 47CHSAN5

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