Can I automate creating a simulated device?

[Chris_c++]

I see that I can create simulated devices in NI MAX. Is it possible to automatically create simulated devices? I want to unit test software as part of an automated deployment process

[Brad_K]

Hi Chris_c++,

You can export a .INI file from MAX that describes the simulated devices and import it: Import and Export a MAX Configuration Through LabVIEW.

I bet your next question is "how can I do that from C++"? It is possible to use the NI System Configuration API from C or C++, but you have to explicitly select CVI support during installation, even if you're not using CVI. The header file and a MSVC-compatible CVI import library should get installed somewhere under %ProgramFiles%\National Instruments\Shared\CVI.

Brad

[Esteban_B]

Let us know how that go.

[Chris_c++]

I am having trouble finding a header with system configuration functions. Can you be more specific?

Thanks,

Chris

[Brad_K · Accepted solution]

Hi Chris,

Sorry, I thought the NI System Configuration >> LabWindows/CVI feature showed up when you install NI-DAQmx (after you select "Custom"), but it doesn't.

Here's what you need to do:

• Download NI System Configuration: http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/2613/lang/en (or select it from the NI Driver DVD)
• Select LabWindows/CVI:
  
• nisyscfg.h should be installed in %ProgramFiles%\National Instruments\Shared\CVI\include .
• nisyscfg.lib should be installed in %ProgramFiles%\National Instruments\Shared\CVI\ExtLib\msvc . Note that it requires linking against user32.lib as well.

Brad

[Chris_c++]

This seems to be a good solution.

Thank you. 

[mael15]

i would like to create a simulated device using c++. i found the cvi api and its documentation, but cannot find a function to create a (simulated) device.

could you point me in the right direction?

thanx!

[Brad_K]

Hi mael15,

You can export a .INI file from MAX that describes the simulated devices and import it using NISysCfgImportConfiguration().

Brad

[mael15]

thanx, but it just does not work:

NISysCfgEnumExpertHandle expertEnumHandle;

NISysCfgSessionHandle sessionHandle; NISysCfgInitializeSession(NULL, NULL, NULL, NISysCfgLocaleGerman, NISysCfgBoolFalse, 0, &expertEnumHandle, &sessionHandle); const char path2[100] = "C:/existing/path/configData.nce";

NISysCfgStatus stat = NISysCfgImportConfiguration(&sessionHandle, path2, NULL, NISysCfgImportMergeItems, NULL);

this gets me a NISysCfg_InvalidArg (-2147024809)

i thought this can only be about the path?

const char path2[100] = "C:\\existing\\path\\configData.nce";

does not work either.

what am i missing?!?

the nce file is working.

[Brad_K]

Hi mael15,

NISysCfgInitializeSession() takes a NISysCfgSessionHandle* and NISysCfgImportConfiguration() takes a NISysCfgSessionHandle, but you're passing &sessionHandle to both. Since NISysCfgSessionHandle is a typedef for void*, using the wrong level of indirection doesn't produce a compiler warning/error. Try passing sessionHandle to NISysCfgImportConfiguration().

Brad