Auto-detect and install required add-on software automatically

[A.Sasaki]

When you open a VI which includes add-on libraries and/or toolkits, LabVIEW will detect them and suggest installing for users!

This will be helpful if the user does not know much about NI software.

[TomOrr0W]

This idea seems to be mostly implemented now with the Load and Save Warning List, as there are warnings for "Driver or toolkit component missing", "Missing LabVIEW Tools Network Add-on", and "Missing NI Module, Toolkit, or Driver".

The only caveats are that it doesn't suggest installing them and that you have to get through the loading dialogs first.

[wiebe@CARYA]

Does it mention which toolkit to install? That seems significant...

[TomOrr0W]

It does indeed mention which toolkit to install, as well as which vis are using it.  See an example below from LabVIEW 2017.

[crossrulz]

More likely will be handling it at the project level (install project dependencies).  I do not like the idea of an "auto install".  There should be a deliberate action to spawn the install.

[TomOrr0W]

I don't see any mention of an "auto install" in the idea text or in the comments.  I agree that the user should deliberately download and install what is missing.

I am trying to suggest that the idea should be marked complete, as the dialog in newer versions of LabVIEW (I am not sure what version the dialog was added in) covers almost everything requested.

The dialog I mention comes up both when loading a project or when loading a vi.  If it doesn't look familiar, press Show Details in the load warning summary.

[wiebe@CARYA]

>It does indeed mention which toolkit to install, as well as which vis are using it.  See an example below from LabVIEW 2017.

I wonder if there's any documentation on how to get that working for custom toolkits? E.g. How can I set this "toolkit" text for my own code?

[TomOrr0W]

It does work for some 3rd-party custom toolkits in the LabVIEW Tools Network, so a method must be available:

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't always specify which specific package is missing, but it points you in the right general direction.

[Sumedha]

Hi - I wanted to provide an update on this with respect to LabVIEW NXG. One improvement we are making in this area with LabVIEW NXG is that we are adding a new document in the project which allows you to automatically inspect your code and capture your project’s software dependencies, both toolkits and drivers. When someone who doesn’t have these NI packages installed on their system opens this document, they will be informed about this and they can click a button to install all the missing packages. 

[Darren]

Functionality available with Load Warning feature that identifies missing drivers and add-ons when loading a project.

[TomOrr0W]

I decided to forward questions on how to get entries into the list on the Tools Network forum:

https://forums.ni.com/t5/Developer-Center-Discussions/Load-and-Save-Warning-List-Questions/m-p/38517...