Programatically add Fieldpoint devices and IO

[pallen]

Appologies for the duplicate post.

I'm curious whether or not Fieldpoint devices and IO can be added programatically at runtime. 

I know there are ways to add IO if the devices have already been setup in MAX or your Project.  But is there a way to add new devices without stopping your code and without having to set the devices up in MAX first?

 

[Ben]

I don't have access to the apps where I did this but Datasockets used to work.

Try this link to see if this technology still works.

Ben

[GoCougs]

You can use datasockets, or you can use the Fieldpoint Advanced Palette do manually open, create tag and close each IO channels that you are using.

[pallen · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the reply Ben.

I did see something about using Datasockets for this purpose.   But I also read that they're a lot more overhead and possibly prone to more problems than sticking with the Fieldpoint VIs.  

What I was hoping for was a way to configure new FP channels, modules, and possibly racks; all from the UI of my program.  

It seems though that even though this may be possible, it would likely be more effort (read: $$) than it's worth to the customer.  

I think though that if the devices are setup and saved in MAX first, I can easily read the .iak file and go from there.  

[Ben]

Hi Patrck,

In one of the more recent LV releases, NI is now shipping a Field Point Replication blah blah blah package. It includes functions to clone FP units.

In the early days Datasocket may have been less efficient but I suspect that in all cases other than the serial based FP units, Datasockets are being used "unde the hood".

Ben

[pallen]

Thanks for that tip as well Ben.

I suspected that Datasockets or something similar might be the real "guts" of the communication. 

My situation is that I have code/methods that I'm fairly certain will work as they are either already working on hardware right now, or are known to have worked in the past.  What I don't have is available hardware that I can test new/better methods on right now.  The bulk of my coding has to be done offline.  

We may have another upcoming project though that would put a fieldpoint controller right into my hands for at least a little while.  If this happens, I'll definitely give the datasocket method a whirl.