Measurement Plug-In SDK for LabVIEW

• Measurement Plug-In SDK for LabVIEW
  • Introduction
  • Software support
  • Installation
  • Developing a LabVIEW measurement
  • Running a LabVIEW measurement
  • Examples
  • Using a measurement in InstrumentStudio
  • Creating a LabVIEW executable for static registration

Introduction

The Measurement Plug-In SDK for LabVIEW packages enable measurement developers to quickly create LabVIEW measurements and run them as a service. NI Measurement Plug-In Support allows users to interact with measurement services with a LabVIEW UI in InstrumentStudio.

Software support

• InstrumentStudio 2024 Q3 or later
• LabVIEW 2021 SP1 or later
  • JKI VI Package Manager 2021 SP1 or later

Installation

1. Install a supported version of InstrumentStudio
2. Install a supported version of LabVIEW
3. Install a supported version of Measurement Plug-In SDK for LabVIEW from VIPM.

Developing a LabVIEW measurement

1. Create and save a new LabVIEW project.

2. From the project window, go to Tools → Plug-In SDKs → Measurements → Create Measurement Plug-in....

   • In the dialog, enter the Measurement Plug-in Name and Measurement Plug-in Description, then click Create Measurement Plug-in.

     

   • This will create a new measurement service library and a UI library.

     

3. Add the measurement details to Get Service Descriptor.vi.

   

4. Add the required configuration parameters to Measurement Configuration.ctl. By default, there are controls showing most of the supported data types.

   

5. Add the required output parameters to Measurement Results.ctl. By default, there are indicators for most of the supported data types.

   

6. Add your measurement logic to Measurement Logic.vi. The VI has an input cluster with the configuration parameters from Measurement Configuration.ctl and an output cluster with the output parameters from Measurement Results.ctl. By default, the measurement logic takes the inputs and writes them to the associated outputs (a loopback measurement).

   

7. Add your user interface to Measurement UI.vi. The control and indicator labels in the user interface must match the Measurement Configuration and Measurement Results labels. If the data types and labels match, then the data from the controls will be sent to the Measurement Logic.vi and the results will be published to the indicators after the measurement is run. By default, the UI file consists of controls and indicators mapped to all of the input and output parameters for the measurement service.
   
   If your user interface has dependencies that are not available in the LabVIEW runtime, you will have to build the UI into a packed library. For example, you will have to build a packed library if your UI contains VIs from vi.lib or if your UI depends on user created subVIs or controls. The packed library should be located in a directory at the same level as Measurement Logic.vi. The measurement template has a build spec for a packed library for the UI demonstrating how to use a packed library user interface.

   

Note:

• Additional information can be found in the to-do sections in the code, which can be viewed using the Bookmark Manager. You can open it from the View → Bookmark Manager menu. In this window, you will find the bookmark term #MeasurementToDo. Double-clicking on the items will take you to the VI locations where changes need to be made for creating your unique measurement service.
• A list of supported datatypes for the Configuration and Output parameters of the measurement can be found in the NI Measurement Plug-In Support manual here

Running a LabVIEW measurement

1. Open your measurement project.

2. Run the Run Service.vi. A new window will appear, which provides basic information about the running service.

   

Examples

The Source\Example Measurements directory contains example measurement services. See the README.md file for more information.

Using a measurement in InstrumentStudio

1. Open InstrumentStudio and click on Manual Layout.

2. Choose the desired measurement and create a panel.

   

3. The layout will be populated with the Measurement UI and the default configuration.

4. Modify the configuration if necessary and click RUN to run the measurement.

   

Creating a LabVIEW executable for static registration

The generated measurement service includes two build specifications: one for the UI and another for the service executable. The UI build specification must be built first in order for the measurement service executable build to succeed. To build them, right-click on the desired build specification and choose 'Build'.