LabWindows/CVI is an open development system. You can integrate your own external routines into the LabWindows/CVI development as DLLs, object modules, or libraries. You simply add the external library files to the Project window to use them within your programs.
Pull down on the Edit menu and select Add Files to Project.
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Integrating External Code with LabWindows/CVI
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Because LabWindows/CVI is a 32-bit development environment, the libraries, and object modules that you add to your projects must be 32-bit as well. Under Windows 3.1, you can use libraries and object modules compiled with the WATCOM, Borland, or Symantec 32-bit C compilers within the LabWindows/CVI development environment.
Click on the arrow to continue.
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Integrating Libraries and Object Modules with LabWindows/CVI
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Because DLLs are 16-bit libraries under Windows 3.1, there are conversion issues for integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI. LabWindows/CVI requires "glue" code to call a 16-bit DLL from the 32-bit LabWindows/CVI environment. For many DLLs, LabWindows/CVI creates this glue code automatically, making DLL integration seamless. For more complex DLLs, you may have to make manual changes to the glue code or the DLL code for it to function properly in LabWindows/CVI. Under Windows 95 and Windows NT, both 32-bit operating systems, these integration issues will be simplified and in many cases eliminated.
Click on the arrow to continue.
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Integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI
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You can build function panels for any external C libraries that you want to use in the LabWindows/CVI environment. With function panels, you can generate code, supply online help, and provide an interactive method for experimenting with the functions.
Select the mylib.fp file and click on the OK button to load a sample external library.
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Integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI
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Pull down on the Instrument menu and select My Library.
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Integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI
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As with any other library or instrument driver in LabWindows/CVI, you can build a hierarchical function tree to maneuver through the library and find the appropriate functions.
Click on the Select button to view the function panel for My External Function 1.
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Integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI
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For each function, you can automatically generate function calls, display online help, and execute the function interactively from this function panel. The function panel interface has proven to be a very effective mechanism for our customers to access C libraries and automatically generate code. Many of the add-on toolkits developed by National Instruments and other Alliance members for LabWindows/CVI are delivered with a function panel interface.
Click on the arrow button to continue.
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Integrating DLLs with LabWindows/CVI
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In addition to adding external DLLs or libraries to LabWindows/CVI, you can also easily integrate external applications or programs with your LabWindows/CVI projects. Using the DDE or TCP libraries, you can send data or commands to many different applications locally or across a network. In addition, LabWindows/CVI has built-in functions for launching external executables, help files, or utilities directly from your programs.
In this example, an external help file, graphics editor, and text editor have been integrated to extend the functionality of the application. The program is a simplified GPIB design tool.
Pull-down the Help menu and select Overview to view some general information about the program.
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Interapplication Communication Example
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Notice that a Windows Help file is automatically displayed. With LabWindows/CVI, it is very easy for you to integrate help files to document your programs.
Click on the arrow button to continue.
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Interapplication Communication Example
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Double-click anywhere on the GPIB board image to launch a graphics editor for making changes to the image.
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Editing the Board Image
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Notice that the Windows Paint program is automatically launched with the GPIB board image file automatically loaded. Now you can edit the image.
Click on the arrow button to edit the image. The GPIB board will be redesigned using the new National Instruments TNT4882 GPIB controller chip!
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Editing the Board Image
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Now you can save the new image, and the LabWindows/CVI application will automatically update.
Pull-down the File menu and select Save to return to the LabWindows/CVI application.
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Editing the Board Image
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This application has built-in context-sensitive help. If you are unsure as to the meaning of any of the controls on the user interface, you can right-click to view help information about the particular control.
Right-Click on the Documentation Changes button to learn more about this control.
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Making Documentation Changes
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Again, the Windows Help file is automatically launched. However, this time the Help file is opened to the screen describing the Documentation Changes button.
Click on the arrow button to continue.
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Making Documentation Changes
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Left-click on the Documentation Changes button to launch a simple text editor for tracking design changes for the GPIB board.
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Making Documentation Changes
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The program has automatically launched Windows NotePad for making documentation notes on the GPIB board design.
Click on the arrow button to continue.
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Making Documentation Changes
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This application is a simple example of how you can integrate external utilities to your LabWindows/CVI programs to greatly extend their functionality. Using some very simple functions for launching executables and help files, this program now has a built-in image editor, text editor, and context-sensitive help information.
