Using OPC with the Measurement Studio Network Variable Class Library

Primary Software: Measurement Studio>>.NET Support
Primary Software Version: 8.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: LabVIEW Modules>>DSC Module

Problem: How do I get the Measurement Studio network variable to communicate with OPC (OLE for process control) using LabVIEW DSC RTS? I have an existing OPC server and am currently using Measurement Studio DataSocket to communicate directly with OPC, but I would like to upgrade to network variable in Measurement Studio support for Visual Studio 2005.

Solution:

Install Measurement Studio 8.1 or later. Network variable is available only in Measurement Studio support for Visual Studio 2005.
Install LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) Run-Time System (RTS).
Install your OPC server. Only OPC2 and higher are supported by DSC RTS.
Select Start»All Programs»National Instruments»Variable Manager»Variable Manager to launch the Variable Manager.
If there is a process listed for the Local System, skip to step 6. If there are no processes listed for the Local System, right-click and select New Process to create a new process. Type the name of the new process in the Enter Name of New Process dialog box and click OK.
Right-click on one of the processes on the Local System and select New IO Server.
For the I/O Server Type, select OPC and click Continue.
Name the server in the Enter IO Server name dialog box and click OK.
Select the OPC server from the list of Registered OPC Servers you installed in step 3 and click OK.
Right-click on one of the processes on the Local System and select New Variable to launch the Shared Variable Properties dialog box.
Note Measurement Studio uses the term network variable to describe software items that exist on a network that can communicate between programs, applications, remote computers, and hardware through the Shared Variable Engine, while LabVIEW uses the term shared variable to describe the same software items.
In the Shared Variable Properties dialog box, select Bind to Source and click the Browse button.
Select one of the OPC items from the OPC I/O server you created in step 6.
Click OK to bind the new variable to the OPC source.
Use the new variable as you would any other shared variable.