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Why Doesn't the "IVI" Driver I Downloaded From the NI Website Work Interchangeably as Expected?

Primary Software: Instrument Drivers/IVI>>IVI Driver Templates
Primary Software Version: 2.0
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: Instrument Drivers/IVI

Problem: I downloaded an IVI driver from the NI website. The specific driver seems to work fine, but when I try to use the driver through a class driver, I receive errors such as "invalid attribute." Why is the driver called an IVI driver if it does not work interchangeably within one of the classes?

Solution: Even though a driver may have the functionality of an IVI specific driver, it may not have the interchangeable virtual instrument attributes which an IVI class-compliant driver will have. This is because it is the class driver layer that allows the instruments to have the interchangeable functionality. Therefore, a driver can be IVI instrument specific compliant, and not be IVI class-compliant (interchangeable). Some Instrument drivers do not have a class driver specifications which supports them. For example, the IVI driver for the ChromaATE 616XX AC power supply instruments have the IVI specific driver functionality, but cannot currently be used interchangeably without creating a custom class driver for the AC power class.

Currently 8 class driver specifications have been standardized by the IVI Foundation:
  • IviScope
  • IviDmm
  • IviFgen
  • IviDCPwr
  • IviSwitch
  • IviPwrMeter
  • IviSpecAn
  • IviRFSigGen


IVI specific drivers have the following additional features in comparison to a typical driver:
  • State caching eliminates redundant instrument I/O
  • Range checking validates values before they are sent to the instrument
  • Error checking to query instrument error queue
  • Built-in simulation capabilities
  • Multithread safe drivers
  • Standard attribute model


IVI class drivers have the additional features of:
  • Instrument interchangeability
  • Consistent driver architecture


For additional information regarding IVI drivers and specifications, please see the links below.

Related Links: IVI Foundation
IVI Downloads and Additional Information
Getting Started Using National Instruments IVI with LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI

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Report Date: 04/15/2003
Last Updated: 04/16/2008
Document ID: 2WEA3IQJ

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