QUICK REFERENCE ™ ™ LabWindows /CVI

1 QUICK REFERENCE LabWindows /CVI System Requirements Personal computer using a Pentium 1 GHz or higher microprocessor Microsoft windows Vista/XP or windows 2000 Service Pack 3 or later 1024 x 768 resolution (or higher) video adapter Minimum of 128 MB of RAM, 256 MB recommended 200 MB free hard disk space Microsoft-compatible mouseNational Instruments LabWindows /CVI is a proven test and measurement ANSI Cdevelopment environment that increases the productivity of engineers and streamlines application development with hardware configurationassistants, comprehensive debugging tools, and interactive execution utilities you canuse to run functions at design time.

2 Use the built-in measurement libraries to rapidlydevelop complex applications such as multithreaded programs and ActiveXserver/client programs. The flexibility of LabWindows /CVI optimizes data acquisition,analysis, and presentation in test and measurement applications. LabWindows /CVILabWindows/CVI meets the changing needs of test engineers with aninteractive development environment designed for virtual easy-to-use development tools, you can quickly create, configure, and display measurements during program design, verification, and automates much of the manual coding and compiling.

3 Product ResourcesNational Instruments provides extensiveproduct resources for new and experiencedLabWindows/CVI ResourcesFor complete technical information, developerexchange opportunities, and the latest newsabout LabWindows /CVI, visit : Technical support Online community Example programs Application notes and white papers Add-on products Training information Product tutorialsExample ProgramsUse the National Instruments Example Finderto browse and search installed examples andexamples on NI Developer Zone. To launch theNI Example Finder from LabWindows /CVI,select Help Find Resources LabWindows /CVI Help Use theLabWindows/CVI Helpto accesscomprehensive information aboutLabWindows/CVI windows , functions,tools, and menus.

4 To launch theLabWindows/CVI HelpfromLabWindows/CVI, select Help Contents. Guide to Documentation Use the Guideto LabWindows /CVI Documentationtopicto find resources that can help youdevelop applications in Guide to LabWindows /CVID ocumentationcontains informationabout context-sensitive help, directionsfor searching installed PDFs, and links toPDFs of the following documents: LabWindows /CVI Release Notes Getting Started with LabWindows /CVI LabWindows /CVI Instrument DriverDevelopers Guide Application notes White papersTo access the Guide to LabWindows /CVID ocumentation, select Guide toDocumentationin the LabWindows /CVIH elptable of User InterfacesDesign graphical user interfaces (GUIs)

5 In the intuitive User Interface from controls designed specifically for ControlsCustomize each GUI control with easy-to-use dialog CodeAutomatically generate an ANSI Cprogram based on the GUI withLabWindows/CVI creates code thatresponds automatically to userevents such as mouse clicks, key presses, and menu Function PanelsUse interactive function panels to generate librarycalls, test the calls, andinsert them into the function panel is agraphical representation of a LabWindows /CVI functionand its parameters. 4 Editing Source CodeComplete your program using the built-in source editor.

6 Use thesource code completion options to view functions, variables,prototypes, and function help within the Source window. You alsocan access input selection dialog boxes for parameters anddeclare parameter variables from within the Source window. 5 Distributing ApplicationsCreate a distribution to package your LabWindows /CVI application and all of itsdependencies so that you can distribute your application to another computer. 7 DebuggingUse LabWindows /CVI debugging tools to catch common programming patented User Protection feature automatically checks for invalid programbehavior.

7 Set breakpoints and use tooltips to pause program execution and viewor modify variable Instruments, NI, , and LabVIEW are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. The mark LabWindows is used under a license fromMicrosoft Corporation. Refer to the Terms of Usesection on more information about National Instruments trademarks. Other product andcompany names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. For patents covering National Instruments products, refer tothe appropriate location: HHeellpp PPaatteennttssin your software, the on your CD, or For copyright notices, conditions, anddisclaimers regarding certain components used in USI (Xerces C++, ICU, HDF5, Citadel 5, b64 library, and Stingray), refer to the 2003 2007 National Instruments Corporation.

8 All rights reserved. Printed in FunctionsClient FunctionsSupport FunctionsTCP Support LibraryThe TCP Support Library contains functions that provide supportfor a platform-independent interface to the reliable, byte-streamoriented, network connection capabilities of LibraryThe ActiveX Library contains functions that create and controlActiveX servers. Use these functions in conjunction withActiveX Controller instrument drivers, which you can generateusing the ActiveX Controller Wizard. Also use the ActiveXLibrary functions with ActiveX server code, which you cangenerate using the Create ActiveX Server built-in instrumentation libraries to interface test applications to the outside world.

9 LabWindows /CVI includes a large set of run-time libraries forinstrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and user interface creation. This chart illustrates the classes in each library. To find specific functions, press <Ctrl-Shift-P> in the Source window. You also can use the Library Tree tobrowse to and search for LibraryThe NI-DAQmx Library contains functions that communicatewith and control data acquisition devices. PanelsUser Interface LibraryThe User Interface Library contains functions that programmatically control the user LibraryThe Utility Library contains functions that perform variousoperations, including using the system timer, managing diskfiles, launching another executable, and using multiple Utility LibraryThe LabWindows /CVI Real-Time Module includes the Real-TimeUtility Library, which contains functions for replicating a real-time(RT)

10 System, configuring timing, creating and configuring tracesessions, and configuring RT LibraryThe GPIB/GPIB Library contains functions thatcommunicate with GPIB instruments, control GPIB boards, andacquire GPIB status information. IVI LibraryThe IVI Library contains functions that program and control IVI drivers. IVI-compliant drivers have a standardinterface, so you can interchange similar instruments without changing your Support LibraryThe UDP Support Library contains functions that providesupport to a platform-independent interface to the unicast,broadcast.