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Introduction, Hardware and software requirements, Hardware – Measurement Computing ULx for NI LabVIEW Quick Start User Manual

Page 3: Software, Operating systems, Install and configure the hardware with instacal

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Quick Start: MCC ULx for NI LabVIEW

Introduction

3

Introduction

MCC ULx for NI LabVIEW is a library of virtual instruments (VIs) used with Measurement Computing
Corporation (MCC) hardware to develop instrumentation, acquisition, and control applications in National
Instruments LabVIEW 8.5 and later. The ULx syntax is consistent with NI LabVIEW DAQmx VIs.

This Quick Start shows you how to create a LabVIEW application that graphs and logs data acquired from a
MCC device. The procedures in this document assume that you are familiar with creating applications with
LabVIEW 8.5 and later.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware

Measurement Computing USB, PCI, Wireless, or WEB-based hardware

Software

 LabVIEW 8.5 or later
 MCC InstaCal installation, calibration, and test utility

InstaCal is included with the MCC DAQ software provided with most Measurement Computing hardware.

Operating systems

Widows 8, Widows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (32-bit or 64-bit)

Install InstaCal and the ULx for NI LabVIEW software

Install InstaCal and the ULx for NI LabVIEW software from the MCC DAQ CD, or download the software
from the "MCC DAQCD" section of the MCC Software/Drivers Downloads page at

www.mccdaq.com/software.aspx

.

ULx VIs are installed by default into C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW \vi.lib\ULx,
where is the LabVIEW version that is installed.

Install and configure the hardware with InstaCal

You must configure MCC hardware with InstaCal before LabVIEW can recognize the device. Note that
Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) is not used to configure MCC hardware for use in LabVIEW.
To install and configure your hardware, complete the following steps:

1. Exit LabVIEW if it is running.

2. Install the MCC hardware that you want to use in LabVIEW.

3. Run InstaCal.

A

Plug and Play Board Detection

dialog box displays the device(s) detected on the system. Select the

device to use in LabVIEW and click

OK

. The device is added to the InstaCal configuration file, and appears

with a board number on the main InstaCal window. Use this number to select the hardware in LabVIEW.
This Quick Start acquires data from the device installed as "Board# 0" in InstaCal.

4. Click the device and select

Install»Configure

to display the

Board Configuration

dialog box. Configure

the hardware and click

OK

to close the dialog box and write device settings to the configuration file.

5. Connect a signal source to the MCC device so that it acquires signals from analog input channel 0.

Refer to the connector pinout in your hardware user's guide for the connector pinout.

LabVIEW reads the InstaCal configuration file. If you need to change any device settings, make sure to close
LabVIEW before configuring the device.