
Chapter 1
Introduction
© National Instruments Corporation
1-3
SCXI-1124 User Manual
LabWindows
LabVIEW
(PC or Macintosh)
Conventional
Programming
Environment
(PC or Macintosh)
NI-DAQ
Driver Software
Data Acquisition
Boards or
SCXI Hardware
Personal
Computer
Figure 1-1. The Relationship between the Programming Environment,
NI-DAQ, and Your Hardware
The National Instruments PC, AT, and MC Series data acquisition boards are packaged with
NI-DAQ software for PC compatibles. NI-DAQ software for PC compatibles comes with
language interfaces for Professional BASIC, Turbo Pascal, Turbo C, Turbo C++, Borland C++,
and Microsoft C for DOS; and Visual Basic, Turbo Pascal, Microsoft C with SDK, and Borland
C++ for Windows. NI-DAQ software for PC compatibles is on high-density 5.25 in. and 3.5 in.
diskettes. You can use your SCXI-1124, together with other PC, AT, and MC Series data
acquisition boards and SCXI hardware, with NI-DAQ software for PC compatibles.
The National Instruments NB Series data acquisition boards are packaged with NI-DAQ software
for Macintosh. NI-DAQ software for Macintosh comes with language interfaces for MPW C,
THINK C, Pascal, and Microsoft QuickBASIC. Any language that uses Device Manager
Toolbox calls can access NI-DAQ software for Macintosh. You can use your SCXI-1124,
together with other NB Series data acquisition boards and SCXI hardware, with NI-DAQ
software for Macintosh.
Register-Level Programming
The final option for programming any National Instruments data acquisition hardware is to write
register-level software. Writing register-level programming software can be very time
consuming and inefficient, and is not recommended for most users. The only users who should
consider writing register-level software should meet at least one of the following criteria:
•
National Instruments does not support your operating system or programming language.
•
You are an experienced register-level programmer who is more comfortable writing your
own register-level software.