©
National Instruments Corporation
5-1
cFP-21xx and cFP-BP-x User Manual
5
Accessing cFP-21
xx
Channels
from PC Applications
This chapter describes how to access channels on the cFP-21
xx
from other
software running on a PC after you configure the system in MAX. For
information about configuring the Compact FieldPoint system in MAX,
refer to the
Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for FieldPoint
.
Using the cFP-21
xx
from PC Applications
The primary intended use for the cFP-21
xx
is to run LabVIEW Real-Time,
but you can use the controller with other software on a PC, even while the
controller is running LabVIEW Real-Time. The following sections explain
how to access the channels on the cFP-21
xx
from software running on a PC.
LabVIEW VIs and the cFP-21
xx
When you install the FieldPoint software, a library of FieldPoint VIs is
created if LabVIEW has already been installed on your computer. The
FieldPoint VIs directly access I/O items configured in MAX. For help
using these VIs, refer to the FieldPoint LabVIEW Interface Help accessible
from the LabVIEW help menu, or to the FieldPoint examples in
LabVIEW\examples\FieldPoint
. You can use this same set of VIs to
access the cFP-21
xx
by Ethernet from the host PC or to run an embedded
application. For more information about programming embedded
applications for the cFP-21
xx
, refer to Chapter 4,
.
LabWindows/CVI Functions and the cFP-21
xx
When you install the FieldPoint software, a LabWindows/CVI instrument
driver for FieldPoint is installed if LabWindows/CVI has already been
installed on your computer. This instrument driver includes function panels
to call C functions that directly access I/O items you configured in MAX.
In addition, a set of sample projects is placed in your
LabWindows/
CVI Samples
directory. Using these examples is the best way to get
familiar with these functions. The
FieldPoint LabWindows/CVI Interface
