Can I use CINs and DLLs with LabVIEW Real-Time (RT)?

[Bob_Preis]

I wish to download my application to a real-time target, such as the PCI-7030, which is running the LabVIEW RT Operating System. However, I am not certain whether the LabVIEW RT Operating System will support the external code I have linked to my application with Code Interface Nodes (CINs) and Call Library Functions.

[Bob_Preis]

Technically, you can call a LabVIEW sub-routine with a CIN and/or a DLL with a Call Library Function in the LabVIEW RT Operating System; however, there are some pitfalls. The LabVIEW RT Operating System supports only a subset of the Win32 API. In many cases, if your DLL or CIN works in the Windows environment, it will probably work in the LabVIEW RT Operting System too. If your external code calls functions that are not included in the Win32 subset supported by the LabVIEW RT Operating System, the code will fail.

Also, there are currently no CIN or DLL debugging tools available in LabVIEW or LabVIEW RT, so if the external code does fail, debugging the problem will be extremely difficult. Thus NI does not currently support the use of external code through CINs and D
LLs within the LabVIEW RT Operating System.

The KnowledgeBase has some related material on using the VISA API to program third-party instruments. When LabVIEW RT version 6 is released, we will offer customers a way to program third-party boards that might have otherwise required external code support.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch?SearchView&Query=247CIO4U

[BMac]

LabWindows/CVI 6.0 makes it possible to create DLLs specifically intended for use in LabVIEW Real-Time. To do this, go to Target Settings. Under Run-Time Support, there will be a new option for "LabVIEW Real-Time only". What will happen now is that when you build your DLL it will check that you are not using any unsupported functions. You can then take that DLL and call it from LabVIEW Real-Time.

There are no C debugging tools available right now. NI hopes to have them, but it is NOT in the near future.

[Scaramanger]

Good answer, plenty of very useful information.