Chapter 1
Generating Functions with the NI 5401
1-10
ni.com
NI-FGEN Instrument Driver
To create your application, you need an industry-standard software driver
such as NI-FGEN to control your instrument. The NI-FGEN driver
includes a set of standard functions for configuring, creating, starting,
and stopping waveform generation. The instrument driver reduces your
program development time and simplifies instrument control by
eliminating the need to learn a complex programming protocol for your
instrument.
NI-FGEN is in a standard instrument driver format that works with
LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and conventional programming languages
such as C, C++, and Visual Basic.
Refer to the NI-FGEN
readme.txt
file for more details on the NI-FGEN
instrument driver. This file can be launched from the
Start»Programs»
National Instruments FGEN
menu.
Note
An
NI-FGEN Instrument Driver Quick Reference Guide
is included in your NI 5401
kit. This reference guide helps you program your NI 5401.
Additional National Instruments Development Tools
The following sections describe several additional tools that you can use to
develop complex applications for your NI 5401. The NI-FGEN instrument
driver exposes the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to these
development environments.
LabVIEW
LabVIEW is a graphical programming language for building
instrumentation systems. With LabVIEW, you quickly create front panel
user interfaces, giving you interactive control of your software system. To
specify the functionality, you assemble block diagrams—a natural design
notation for engineers and scientists. LabVIEW has all of the same
development tools and language capabilities of a standard language such
as C, including looping and case structures, configuration management
tools, and compiled performance.
Note
Use the NI-FGEN instrument driver to program and control your NI 5401 using
LabVIEW.