Installing DAQ Support for Multiple Versions of LabWindows/CVI

Primary Software: LabWindows/CVI Development Systems>>Full Development System
Primary Software Version: 8.1.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Driver Software>>NI-DAQ, Driver Software>>NI-DAQmx

Problem:
I have two versions of LabWindows/CVI installed on my PC. When I installed the DAQ drivers, the DAQ libraries only show up in one version of LabWindows/CVI. Is it possible to use the DAQ libraries in both versions of LabWindows/CVI?

Solution:
Yes, it is possible to have the DAQ libraries integrated into multiple versions of LabWindows/CVI installed on the same PC.

DAQ libraries only install into the latest version of LabWindows/CVI since the DAQ installer doesn't search for all LabWindows/CVI versions on the system. For example, if both LabWindows/CVI 8.0 and 7.1 are installed on the system, the DAQ libraries will only be installed to the LabWindows/CVI 8.0 directories.

There are several options to include the DAQ libraries in the desired LabWIndows/CVI version. The options that follow copy files from 8.0 to 7.1; you can apply these options to copy files from a working version to another version.

Option 1 - Add the DAQ libraries to your Instrument folder inside the Library Tree

This option adds the DAQ libraries to your Instruments folder only for the current LabWindows/CVI session. This means that these loaded libraries will disappear when LabWindows/CVI is restarted. Refer to the KnowledgeBase Instrument Driver Disappears Every Time LabWindows/CVI Closes for more information.

To use this option, follow the steps below:

Right-click on the "Instrument" folder inside the Library Tree and select Load Instrument....
Navigate to the C:\Program Files\National Instruments\CVI80\bin directory.
Change the "Files of Type" setting to All Files (*.*) and select NIDAQmx.lfp for the DAQmx library and dataacq.lfp for the Traditional DAQ library.

Option 2 - Add the DAQ libraries to your project

This option ensures that the DAQ libraries will load everytime your project is opened. To add the DAQ libraries, right-click on the project name inside the Project Tree and select Add File.... Then follow steps 2 and 3 mentioned in "Option 1".

Option 3 - Add the DAQ libraries to the main LabWindows/CVI libraries

This method adds the DAQ libraries to the main LabWindows/CVI libraries. The advantage in using this option is that the .lfp files do not need to be added to a project. These DAQ libraries will automatically be loaded into the Library menu and the Libraries folder in the Library Tree. Therefore any LabWindows/CVI project created will have access to those libraries.

Add the DAQ libraries to the main LabWindows/CVI libraries by copying over the files mentioned below from the LabWindows/CVI 8.0 directory to the 7.1 directory.

DAQmx

Copy the following files from the CVI80\bin directory to the CVI71\bin directory.

nidaqmx_lvrt.lib
nidaqmx.fpc
NIDAQmx.lfp
nidaqmx.lib
NIDAQmx.sub

Copy the NIDAQmx.lib file from CVI80\extlib to CVI71\extlib.
Copy the NIDAQmx.lib file from CVI80\bin\borland to CVI71\bin\borland.
Copy theNIDAQmx.lib file from CVI80\bin\msvc\ to CVI71\bin\msvc\.
Copy the NIDAQmx.h file from CVI80\include to CVI71\include.

Copy any file in the CVI80\toolslib\custctrl\ directory that starts with daqmxioctrl over to the CVI71\toolslib\custctrl\ directory.

Traditional NI-DAQ

Copy the following files from the CVI80\bin directory to the CVI71\bin directory.

easyio.lfp
easyio.lib
dataacq.lfp
dataacq.lib
dataacq.pth

Copy the easyio.h and dataacq.h header files from CVI80\include to CVI71\include.

Related Links:
KnowledgeBase 3S1I1M01: DAQ Libraries Grayed Out Under Library Menu in LabWindows/CVI
KnowledgeBase 3Q2JUMK7: Instrument Driver Disappears Every Time LabWindows/CVI Closes
KnowledgeBase 0U2I817N: VXI Libraries Grayed Out Under Library Menu in LabWindows/CVI
KnowledgeBase 3J8BAEL2: Missing Libraries in the LabWindows/CVI Library Tree

Attachments:

Report Date: 05/04/2005
Last Updated: 10/29/2007
Document ID: 3L39K9XR

Your Feedback!

Poor | Excellent

Yes

Document Quality?

Answered Your Question?

Please Contact NI for all product and support inquiries.