Example Code

GZIP compress/uncompress of string using .NET

Code and Documents

Attachment

Overview

This example's functions will compress and decompress a LabVIEW string using the .NET framework.

 

Description

The inputs and outputs are strings, there is no file I/O involved. Applications include large strings transfer over slow connections or storing large strings (XML) in a database BLOB.

For the compression VI:

1. Call the constructor of the MemoryStream Class located in mscorlib 2.0.0.0 >> System.IO >> MemoryStream to create a stream whose backing store is memory
2. Call the constructor of GZipStream Class that provides methods and properties used to compress and decompress streams.
3. Use the GZipStream Invoke methods to write the data to be compressed
4. Use the MemoryStream Invoke Method to retrieve the compressed data

 

For the decompression VI

1. Call the constructor of the MemoryStream Class located in mscorlib 2.0.0.0 >> System.IO >> MemoryStream to create a stream whose backing store is memory
2. Call the constructor of GZipStream Class that provides methods and properties used to compress and decompress streams in Decompress mode
3. Use the GZipStream Invoke methods to read the decompressed data

 

( dotNET Decompress String LV2014 v2.vi added based on technique defined in https://lavag.org/topic/20613-net-decompression-gzip-or-deflate/ )

 

Requirements

LabVIEW 2012 (or compatible)

.Net Framework 3.5 (or compatible)

 

 

Steps to Implement or Execute Code

1. Download the folder "dotNet Compress&Decompress Strings_LV2012_NI Verified"

2. Open the VI "dotNET Compress String"

3. Run the VI

4. Note the compressed string and copy it

5. Open the VI "dotNET Decompress String"

6. Paste the compressed string in GZIP Compressed String

7. Run the VI and note the decompressed string

 

 

Additional Information or References

4/1/2015 - Added LV2014 Versions that use .NET 4.0 Assemblies

 

Block Diagram of Compression VI

BD Compression.PNG

Front Panel of compression VI

FP Compression.PNG

 

Block Diagram of decompression VI

BD Decompression.PNG

 

Front Panel of decompression VI

FP Decompression.PNG

 

 

**This document has been updated to meet the current required format for the NI Code Exchange.**

 


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Example code from the Example Code Exchange in the NI Community is licensed with the MIT license.

Comments
Neil.Pate
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Nice, another one for the toolbox

Cardinal1664
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It seems that the GZIP isn't working with dotnet 4.0.

I have installed Labview 2014 SP 1 with dotnet 4.0 and in the decompressing VI it get this Error:

Invoke Node System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Ein Aufrufziel hat einen Ausnahmefehler verursacht.

          Inner Exception: System.InvalidOperationException: Das Lesen aus dem Komprimierungsstrom wird nicht unterstützt. <append><b>System.InvalidOperationException</b> in Global_Library.lvlib:gZip Decompress String.vi

Does anyone have a Solution for this Error?

Solved:

With the LV2014 VI's it works!!

Thanks

NoName1771
Member
Member
on

The Decompress process doesn't work with LV2014.

The Error is: code 1172

source:

Invoke Node System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Ein Aufrufziel hat einen Ausnahmefehler verursacht.

(A call aim has caused a special mistake.)


    Inner Exception: System.InvalidOperationException: Das Lesen aus dem Komprimierungsstrom wird nicht unterstützt. <append><b>System.InvalidOperationException</b> in dotNET Decompress String.vi->test.vi

(The reading from the compression stream is not supported.)

Does anyone have a Solution for this Error?

System: I use LavVIEW 2014 SP1 64bit in the 14.0.1 Verison

PhillipBrooks
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If you are having a problem with .NET 4.0, please see this forum entry. At the bottom is a DLL wrapper than can help with decompress.

There is an CAR (#493662) for this problem.

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Weird-behaviour-with-NET-constructor-node-and-GZipStream/m-p/2900906...


Now is the right time to use %^<%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%3uZ>T
If you don't hate time zones, you're not a real programmer.

"You are what you don't automate"
Inplaceness is synonymous with insidiousness

NoName1771
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Member
on

I downloaded the GZip_compress_decompress.vi from Sev_K (Message 26 from 27 from the link of comment 4) but now I am getting the Error 1386 :

Error 1386 occurred at Constructor Node in GZip_compress_decompress.vi

LabVIEW: The specified .NET classis not available in LabVIEW.

SOLUTION: The GZip_Lib.dll file was missing, so LabVIEW didn't know where to look.

samsharp99
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If you are looking for a solution that doesn't require .NET and/or works on RT targets - I have written a couple of VIs which you can find here.

PhillipBrooks
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A long standing bug created based on a change in the .NET gzip functionality caused the decompress function to fail.

 

There are other posts on the NI forums that add a fix by using an intermediate DLL. 

 

Based on a post on the LAVAG forums, the bug can be overcome using .NET reflection. https://lavag.org/topic/20613-net-decompression-gzip-or-deflate/

 

The example on LAVAG assumes that the user is using files to compress and uncompress. I adapted the .NET reflection functionality to use a MemoryStream and allow the Decompress function to work without the need for an external DLL.

 

See the attached decompress V2 file


Now is the right time to use %^<%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%3uZ>T
If you don't hate time zones, you're not a real programmer.

"You are what you don't automate"
Inplaceness is synonymous with insidiousness