I need to display multiple (6) 7-segment digital displays on separate display hardware. I will be displaying these digital values on the Monitor and on the 7 segment digital displays at the same time. Here's an example of a 7 segment digital display I'm talking about: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11441 This hardware has four 7 segment displays and I think it would work. Now my question, is there any other options for in Labview for controlling an external digital display? I was thinking I would use the Labview Arduino Toolkit to address these external displays. Since I've never used the Arduino, I wanted to see if there is an Easier way in Labview to control a 7 Segment Digital display. Thanks, Doug

@nyc_(is_out_of_here) wrote: The only way to get the Arduino to change anything on the fly is for you write a sketch that is listening on the serial port for a command. Not hard to do. http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/473828/Arduino-Csharp-and-Serial-Interface I simplified the sketch to suit my needs. And simplified the C# program as well. You would simply replace the C# with LabVIEW. Or if you want to get fancy you can use wifi or Ethernet by purchasing a shield. Yes, you were correct nyc! The code was already in the example I had, but, I'm new to the Arduino, and Here's the code that works for listening: #include <Wire.h> #include "Adafruit_LEDBackpack.h" #include "Adafruit_GFX.h" Adafruit_AlphaNum4 alpha4 = Adafruit_AlphaNum4(); void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); alpha4.begin(0x72); // pass in the address alpha4.clear(); alpha4.writeDisplay(); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(0, '*'); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(1, '6'); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(2, '1'); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(3, '@'); alpha4.writeDisplay(); } char displaybuffer[4] = {' ', ' ', ' ', ' '}; void loop() { while (! Serial.available()) return; char c = Serial.read(); if (! isprint(c)) return; // only printable! // scroll down display displaybuffer[0] = displaybuffer[1]; displaybuffer[1] = displaybuffer[2]; displaybuffer[2] = displaybuffer[3]; displaybuffer[3] = c; // set every digit to the buffer alpha4.writeDigitAscii(0, displaybuffer[0]); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(1, displaybuffer[1]); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(2, displaybuffer[2]); alpha4.writeDigitAscii(3, displaybuffer[3]); // write it out! alpha4.writeDisplay(); delay(200); } Now, the next step is for the NI Visa code. I opened NI Max, Found the USB COM4, OPEN VISA TEST PANEL, INPUT/OUTPUT, ENTER COMMAND 4321/n, then I clicked WRITE, it worked in NI VISA! I realize this should be very easy, but, how do I get the code from the VISA TEST PANEL to a vi? I gave it a few tries, but, nothing seemed to work when I applied what I saw in NI MAX to a vi. Thanks for all the help and suggestions! It's very close now...How do I write to COM4 using NI VISA routines in a VI? Doug

The only way to get the Arduino to change anything on the fly is for you write a sketch that is listening on the serial port for a command. Not hard to do. http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/473828/Arduino-Csharp-and-Serial-Interface I simplified the sketch to suit my needs. And simplified the C# program as well. You would simply replace the C# with LabVIEW. Or if you want to get fancy you can use wifi or Ethernet by purchasing a shield.

LabVIEW

Easy 7 Segment Digital Display Hardware

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OMG THAT WAS STUPID SIMPLE!

Only needed the VISA WRITE command, see attached vi, too easy.

Now my next step is to pass an address in the VISA WRITE and parse the address out in the Arduino. That will probably be stupid easy and take me another day to figure that out...

Thanks for all the help!

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OK, after playing around more the NI Visa Vis, you first must use VISA CONFIGURE SERIAL PORT once to open the port, then you can WRITE anytime you want to display. Probably a good idea to CLOSE the port after your done too.

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Easy 7 Segment Digital Display Hardware

Re: Easy 7 Segment Digital Display Hardware

Re: Easy 7 Segment Digital Display Hardware