Can the runtine engine and an application be run directly from a CD?

[Chana]

Can an application be run directly from a CD without installing the runtime engine and application onto the computer?

[Mads]

It depends on what library functions the application is using and what version of LabVIEW it was built in. In LV 7 and earlier you could just put the run-time files (the ones in Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\LabVIEW Run-Time...(lvrt.dll is the most crucial of the files, a full list can be found here on the developer zone)) in the same folder as the application and it would run without any problems in most cases.  

In 7.1/7.1.1 math functions had to be installed as well if you had used any of those and could be a problem, otherwise it still worked (we do this still with apps that use serpdrv instead of VISA).

With LV8 it is still possible, but the chance of the application depending on some function that you do not get included this way is much higher, I would just test it and see how it goes.

[djs_at_eaton]

I recently made two executable applications with 6.1.  One used VISA serial port drivers, the other used the older SERPDRV routines.  I tried both on a WxP machine using the usual install process.  Only the older routine worked with no bugs.  The VISA driver threw an error at initialization and never recovered.  The applications were simple and identical except for the driver.  The advice is correct.  Always try it out first.

[Mads]

VISA is among the functions that requires installation yes, that's why a lot of programmers often used the old serpdrv instead if they just needed serial communication (I use it in 7.1.1 applications as well, even though it's not really supported).

There is an alternative to serial VISA available here:

http://www.mhst.de/downloads.html

[Neil.Pate]

Mads,

That is a good link!

The page says there is an impending openG package, do you know the license that the current download uses? (i.e. can it be used in a commercial app royalty free)

[Neil.Pate]

Mads, I gave you some stars, but they seem to have disappeared!

Here they are again: *****