Why Create LabWindows/CVI or IVI Instrument Drivers
Easily add value to your instrument by creating LabWindows/CVI instrument drivers. ANSI C-based instrument drivers empower your customer to simplify instrument control and reduce test program development. Join the more than 150 vendors who create and offer drivers today by leveraging the intuitive LabWindows/CVI Instrument Driver Wizard and gain the following:
- Guaranteed future compatibility and longevity
- Rock-solid ANSI-C, standard interface since 1973
- Independent of proprietary technology changes such as COM and .NET
- Simplified software interface and tools for GUIs
- Empower your customers to quickly connect to your instrument
- FREE customers from learning new programming protocols
- Take advantage of the power of the PC for analysis and presentation
- FREE software support for you customers
- National Instruments provides all technical support for customers with certified LabWindows/CVI instrument drivers
Learn more about the benefits of LabWindows/CVI and IVI drivers to your customers
LabWindows/CVI is a proven ANSI C application development environment (ADE) optimized for test and measurement applications. The environment boasts a long history of innovation and stability which translates longevity of your instruments to your customers. In addition to a simplified programmatic interface for your customers, it is also easy for you to develop the instrument driver in LabWindows/CVI. Integrated directly into the ADE, the LabWindows/CVI Instrument Driver Wizard walks you through intuitive steps to create a robust instrument driver. The wizard automatically creates your instrument driver files and through a series of panels, you are prompted for the type of instrument driver you want to create, general instrument information, the common operations your instrument driver supports, and the commands and expected responses your instrument uses for common instrument driver operations.
When a LabWindows/CVI instrument driver is used as an integral part of a higher-level application, both the value of your instrument and your customer's interface to and experience with the instrument is greatly enhanced.
If you are considering developing a LabWindows/CVI instrument driver, you may want to develop an IVI instrument driver that works in LabWindows/CVI because of the greater functionality in IVI instrument drivers. Interchangeable Virtual Instruments, or IVI, is a new standard for instrument driver software technology. IVI builds upon prior specifications such as VXIplug&play and SCPI, and incorporates new features that address issues such as system performance, development flexibility, and instrument interchangeability. Our developer section in IDNet details how to create IVI instrument drivers.