LabWindows output to a LED segment

[djohnston]

Hi, I'm very new to labwindows/cvi (used to altera) and I'm wanting to add in an feature to an already build UIR, to output a variable to a LED segment. I'd preferably like to do it though the parallel port, but I'd like to know if this is ever possible to begin with.

[ryank]

Are you talking about a physical LED, or an LED on your User Interface? If it's an LED on your UI it's very easy (just add an LED and call SetCtrlVal to light it up). If you are talking about a physical LED that you want to light up it's a little touger. You can definitely control the parallel port (using inp and outp or VISA), although you'd need to make sure that your LED matched the electrical specs of the parallel port. Assuming this is what you are trying to do, here are some links which might be handy:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/953A4AB52663089D85256427004778C4?OpenDocument

http://www.fapo.com/1284int.htm

You could also look into a Digital I/O board, these are designed for this type of thing, so it would probably be a lot easier than usin
g the parallel port. There are some that are very inexpensive. Check out
http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/nioc.vp?cid=1102〈=US

Regards,
Ryan K.