Is it possible to install DAQmx drivers and ansi C support using a merge module?

[MatthewZ]

Our system uses a PCI-6111 board, and we use both .NET and ansi C DAQmx calls to communicate with the board. Specifically, we use the ansi C calls to collect data, and .NET functionality to do other things like setup a signal generator.

Since our system requires that the DAQmx drivers be installed on the computer we ship with our system, is there a merge module that I can incorporate in our installation program that will install the DAQmx drivers and the required support functionality?

I would really rather not have our users run two separate installation programs if possible, and incorporating the DAQmx drivers as a merge module in our installation program would be a painless way for us to do that.

Thanks in advance!

[Matt_A]

Hello MatthewZ,

What version of .NET are you using? For Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 you can find more information in the NI-DAQmx .NET Framework 1.1 Help by going to Start>>All Programs>>National Instruments>>NI-DAQ>>NI-DAQmx .NET Framework 1.1. If you search this document for the term "merge" you will find two articles entitled "Measurement Studio Visual C++ Merge Modules" and "Measurement Studio .NET Merge Modules". These documents discuss the merge modules necessary to support the NI-DAQmx C API and .NET 2003 support for NI-DAQmx respectively. Specifically, the document entitled "Measurement Studio Visual C++ Merge Modules" references NIVcppDAQmxSupport.msm to install support for C++ (through the C API). The document entitled "Measurement Studio .NET Merge Modules" references MStudioDAQmx.msm to install support for .NET 2003.

For Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 you can find more information in the NI-DAQmx .NET Framework 2.0 Help by going to Start>>All Programs>>National Instruments>>NI-DAQ>>NI-DAQmx .NET Framework 2.0. If you search this document for the term "merge" you will find two articles entitled "Measurement Studio Visual C++ Merge Modules" and "Measurement Studio .NET Merge Modules". These documents discuss the merge modules necessary to support the NI-DAQmx C API and .NET 2005 support for NI-DAQmx respectively. Specifically, the document entitled "Measurement Studio Visual C++ Merge Modules" references NIVcppDAQmxSupport.msm to install support for C++ (through the C API). The document entitled "Measurement Studio .NET Merge Modules" references MStudioDAQmx.2005.msm to install support for .NET 2005.

These options reference the specific merge modules for NI-DAQmx support for the C API and .NET. However, if you would like to include the entire NI-DAQmx driver as an installation with your installer you may consider creating a batch file that runs the command line instruction to install NI-DAQmx. To run the NI-DAQmx installer from the command line you would use the following instruction:

<file path to installer as loaded by your installer>\setup /q /acceptlicenses yes /r:n

This command will run the setup program for NI-DAQmx and passes all the arguments necessary to run as a "quiet" installer, which means that it will be transparent to the user. One caveat to running the installer this way is that you should not complete your install process until the command line argument returns. Because this option is transparent to the user, they could reboot their computer or shut down before the install process has completed. Additionally, the "quiet" installer will install the default support for NI-DAQmx, which includes any development environments that are already installed (like LabVIEW or .NET). You will need to be sure to run the installer in the appropriate order to make sure that support for your programs is included. By removing the "/q" from the command line you disable the option to run as a "quiet" installer and run the setup just as if the user and initiated it themselves. That may be another option for you to consider.

[JonathanN]

Hi Matthew,

I just wanted to add on a few little extra side notes to what Matt already mentioned. If you are using any of our .NET assemblies for DAQmx, VISA, GPIB, etc, you will want to create a Setup project in .NET that will grab all the required merge modules and dependencies needed for your application. Check out the Deploying Measurement Studio Applications help topic in the NI Measurement Studio Help along with the Distributing Measurement Studio Applications in Microsoft Visual Studio 2003/2005 KnowledgeBase.  That help topic I mentioned discusses what merge modules and files need to be included in your setup application for your application to run properly on the deployed system. Usually when you check for dependencies via your Setup project, it will detect all these merge modules and files and automatically add them to your project.

Your request to have the ability to include the DAQmx installer in a Visual Studio application is a known issue and my typical response to what options you have is shown in this post. 

Just to let you know that we are considering adding our existing deployment framework (used by LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI and TestStand to include drivers in an installer) to our Measurement Studio package. Thus if you happen to have Measurement Studio, you will then be able to bundle your drivers into the installer.  This idea is just something we are beginning to think about but I just wanted to let you know that your request is being heard.

Best Regards,