Language Interface: 32-bit Microsoft Visual C/C++

[ExamplePrograms]

This is the GPIB language interface for Microsoft Visual C/C++ (version 2.0 and higher), a Win32 programming environment for creating 32-bit applications. Download the Msvc.exe file (in the example.zip file, below). This file contains the declaration file DECL-32.H, the language interface file GPIB-32.OBJ, and some sample programs. This download is not necessary when using the latest version of NI-488.2.  NI-488.2 includes files for all supported programming environments.

How to Use the 32-bit Microsoft Visual C/C++ Language Interface:

I. Overview

The 32-bit GPIB language interface for Microsoft Visual C++ contains the following files:
* DECL-32.H: Win32 C/C++ include file
* GPIB-32.OBJ: Win32 Microsoft Visual C++ language interface module The Microsoft Visual C++ language interface and the sample applications are located in the directory called gpibpath\LangInt\C (where  is where the native 32-bit GPIB software for Windows is installed). The sample applications are Console Applications (see below).


II. Items to Include in Your GPIB Application

You must include the following lines at the beginning of your application:
#include "windows.h"
#include "decl-32.h" Next you need to include the GPIB-32.OBJ file in your application's project file along with your application.

[ Note: The required key strokes and menu bar selections needed in order to add a file to a project can vary with different versions of that particular compiler. For information about how to add files, please refer to the manuals and online help that came with your version of the compiler. ]


III. A. Compiling, Linking, and Running from the Microsoft Visual C++ Environment

From within the Visual C++ environment, you can compile, link, and run your application.

To compile the GPIB sample applications, when you create a new project, select Console Application from the Type: list in the New Project Workspace dialog box. Be sure to include the GPIB-32.OBJ file in your project.

[ Note: The required key strokes and menu bar selections needed in order to create, compile, and link a project vary with different versions of that particular compiler. For information about how to compile, link, and run a project, please refer to the manuals and online help that came with your version of the compiler. ]


III. B. Compiling, Linking, and Running from the DOS Command Line

From the DOS command line, type in the following in order to compile and link a Console Application, called yourprog, with the C/C++ language interface, GPIB-32.OBJ:
cl yourprog.c gpib-32.obj To run the newly created executable, type in the name of your application on the DOS command line, like so:

yourprog

IV. Console Application

Microsoft Visual C++ has a compiler option called Console Application. All the GPIB sample programs are of this type. They illustrate how to use the function calls exported by the GPIB driver. It is simple to create Windows applications without knowledge of Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) programming. A Console Application is a Windows program which uses text-based input and output, not a graphical interface. This allows you to quickly create a Windows application by using simple input and output functions like printf and scanf.