Chapter 1
Introduction
©
National Instruments Corporation
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LabVIEW and LabWindows Application Software
LabVIEW and LabWindows are innovative program development
software packages for data acquisition and control applications. LabVIEW
uses graphical programming, whereas LabWindows enhances traditional
programming languages. Both packages include extensive libraries for data
acquisition, instrument control, data analysis, and graphical data
presentation.
LabVIEW currently runs on four different platforms—AT/MC/EISA
computers running Microsoft Windows, NEC computers running
Windows, the Macintosh platform, and the Sun SPARCstation platform.
LabVIEW features interactive graphics, a state-of-the-art user interface,
and a powerful graphical programming language. The LabVIEW Data
Acquisition VI Library, a series of VIs for using LabVIEW with National
Instruments DAQ hardware, is included with LabVIEW. The LabVIEW
Data Acquisition VI Libraries are functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ
software, except that the SCXI functions are not included in the LabVIEW
software for Sun.
LabWindows has two versions—LabWindows for DOS is for use on PCs
running DOS, and LabWindows/CVI is for use on PCs running Windows
and for Sun SPARCstations. LabWindows/CVI features interactive
graphics, a state-of-the-art user interface, and uses the ANSI standard
C programming language. The LabWindows Data Acquisition Library,
a series of functions for using LabWindows with National Instruments
DAQ hardware, is included with the NI-DAQ software kit. The
LabWindows Data Acquisition libraries are functionally equivalent to
the NI-DAQ software except that the SCXI functions are not included in
the LabWindows/CVI software for Sun.
Using LabVIEW or LabWindows software will greatly reduce the
development time for your data acquisition and control application.
NI-DAQ Driver Software
The NI-DAQ driver software is included at no charge with all National
Instruments DAQ hardware. NI-DAQ is not packaged with SCXI or
accessory products, except for the SCXI-1200. NI-DAQ has an extensive
library of functions that you can call from your application programming
environment. These functions include routines for analog input
(A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition (high-speed A/D conversion),
analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation, digital I/O,
counter/timer operations, SCXI, RTSI, self calibration, messaging, and
acquiring data to extended memory.