What do I require to create a VI for my instrument

[Rajakumar]

We have our own designed Voltage & Current force / measure "instrument" that works in conjunction with a PXI based ADC + DAC instrument setup. Together they form test equipment, an ATE for semiconductors testing.

I would like to create a LabView VI driver for our "instrument" so that my customers can work efficiently using on our "instrument" in LabView environment.

I have a few questions where you response will be very helpful

1) What all NI stuff do I need for creating a LabView VI driver for our "instrument"?

2) Which LabView modules / software versions are recommended?

3) Do I need Measurement Studio? If yes, which versions are recommended?

4) Do I need ANY OTHER NI tools / support stuff that I have to "Purchase"?

Your specific reply to above questions will help me to get started, and also will help me to estimate the budget I need for purchasing the NI stuff that I am going to use for this project.

Thanks very much.

Best regards,
D Rajakumar

3MTS, Bangalore

Phone: 91-80-4110-4180

[Dennis_Knutson]

Go to http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/default.htm and check the links under the Learn and Develop sections. All of the tools are there for creating native LabVIEW drivers.

Unless your customers would want an IVI or 'plug and play' driver, then you don't need any other software. For this, you would need to write the driver with LabWindows/CVI. This would be a benefit for anyone not using LabVIEW such as CVI, VB, C++, etc.

To provide support, you should probably provide the driver in at least 7.0 and 8.0 format but you're going to have to judge who your potential customers are and what versions of LabVIEW they currently have. If the DAC/ADC combo requires DAQmx, that automatically eliminates LabVIEW 6.1 or lower.