build application not functioning on stand alone computer

[lopez]

I am having a problem with a build application from Lab View 7.1. The application is not communicating with the Field Point 1000 unit when porting to a stand-alone computer. I have double-checked that all necessary files are included in the build file and that they are in the correct location. The application works OK on the build computer. (Hence something must be wrong when porting it over.) I can run the Automation and Measurement Explorer on the stand-alone computer and test the Field Point unit successfully, thus I know it is hooked up properly. I would appreciate any advice as to what the problem may be.

[Ames]

Lopez,

Depending on what type of errors you are getting as well as how you are opening the IAK file (FP Open VI, FP I/O Point, or FP Express VI) in your application the answer will be different.

The first thing to always ensure is that you have the required things installed on the stand-alone computer:
1. LabVIEW Run-time engine
2. NI FieldPoint
3. Your executable
4. FPLVMgr.dll
5. Your IAK file (exact same you used on the development computer)

When you build your executable in LabVIEW it will create a data folder. In this data folder will be the FPLVMgr.dll, make sure you move this data folder over to the stand-alone computer with your executable. A frequent question is where to put the IAK file. If you used the FP Open VI then the path that was passed into that VI is the path to where you need to place the IAK file on the stand-alone computer. If you used the FP I/O point or the FP Express VI then your IAK file can be placed anywhere, but you need to ensure that your application links to it properly.

With the newer versions of NI FieldPoint you can have different IAK file configurations. The default configuration is "FieldPoint", which is why you generally see FieldPoint/FP @ /FP @ #/. If you used the default configuration in your executable then you need to make sure the default configuration on the stand-alone computer points to your IAK file. You can do this by opening up Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) and then opening up your IAK file and then saving it (even though you haven't made any changes). The important thing to remember is that the linking is only updated when LabVIEW initially launches, so you need to close down all LabVIEW applications and restart them in order to get the new linking setup.

The best way to not have to worry about any of this is to use a FieldPoint I/O Point control rather than a constant or rather than the FP Express VI. Having the FieldPoint I/O Point control then allows the user to browse to the IAK file and modify the configuration easily.

Ames
Applications Engineering
National Instruments