LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit Readme

March 2018


This file contains important information about the LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit, including system requirements, installation instructions, and known issues.


System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems

Installation Instructions

Product Security and Critical Updates

New Features and Changes

Known Issues

Using the VI Analyzer Toolkit

Using Spell Check Word List

Accessing the Help

Finding Examples

VI Analyzer Enthusiasts Community Group

Automating the Installation of NI Products

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1

Legal Information


System Requirements

In addition to the system requirements for the LabVIEW Development System, the VI Analyzer Toolkit has the following requirements:


  • LabVIEW 2018 Base, Full, or Professional Development System
  • At least 50 MB of disk space

Note  The LabVIEW 2018 Professional Development System license activates the LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit.


Refer to the LabVIEW Readme for additional system requirements and supported operating systems for LabVIEW 2018.


Supported Operating Systems

The VI Analyzer Toolkit supports the following operating systems:


Windows Windows 10 (version 1709)/8.1 Update 11/7 SP12
Windows Server 2012 R21
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP12

1 NI software installs VC2015 Runtime and .NET 4.6.2. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 require Microsoft updates to support these items. Refer to Microsoft KB2919442 and KB2919355 for more information about how to install these updates.


2 NI software is signed with a SHA-256 certificate. Windows 7 SP1, Windows Embedded Standard 7 SP1, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 require Microsoft updates to support SHA-256. Refer to Microsoft KB3033929 for more information about how to install this security update.


Note  In 2016 the LabVIEW VI Analyzer Toolkit dropped support for Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and installations of Windows 7 without any service packs. The LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit will not install or run on an unsupported OS. You cannot deploy or distribute applications that use the LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit to an unsupported OS. Additionally, after installing the LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit, you cannot use any installers built on this computer with any version of LabVIEW, LabWindows™/CVI™, NI TestStand™, or Measurement Studio on an unsupported OS.


For more information about the changes to our OS support for 2016, refer to KB 79UC78LS, Why Does my LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Measurement Studio, or TestStand Built Installer Fail on Windows XP/Vista and Server 2003?.


Note  Support for Windows 32-bit operating systems may require disabling physical address extension (PAE). To learn how this might affect your system and what actions you might need to take, visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code PAESupport.


macOS macOS 10.12 or 10.13
Linux openSUSE LEAP 42.2
openSUSE LEAP 42.3
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop + Workstation 6.x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop + Workstation 7.x
CentOS 7

Note  The LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit for Linux is available in 64-bit only.


Installation Instructions

(Windows)


You can install all of your LabVIEW products—including the VI Analyzer Toolkit—using the LabVIEW 2018 Platform media.


To request additional LabVIEW Platform media, refer to the NI website.


Note  If you purchased this product with an NI Software Suite or NI Product Bundle, use the installation media that shipped with your purchase to install this product.


(macOS, Linux)


The VI Analyzer Toolkit installs with the LabVIEW Professional Development System. Refer to the LabVIEW Media Readme for macOS/Linux for instructions on how to install the LabVIEW Professional Development System.


If you use the LabVIEW Full Development System, complete the following steps to install the VI Analyzer Toolkit.


Note  You must have the LabVIEW 2018 Professional Development System license to activate the LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit.


(macOS)


  1. Insert the LabVIEW VI Analyzer Toolkit media for macOS/Linux and open NI LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit 64-bit.pkg located under the macOS subdirectory.
  2. Select Continue to run a program to determine if the VI Analyzer Toolkit can be installed on your system.
  3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen and continue to the Installation Type screen.
  4. In the Installation Type screen, select Change Install Location to select the location where a compatible version of LabVIEW is installed. Otherwise, the installation will not complete.
  5. After you select the installation location, continue to follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

(Linux)


  1. Log into the system as root.
  2. Insert the LabVIEW VI Analyzer Toolkit media for macOS/Linux and mount the installation media. On some systems, the media mounts automatically.
  3. On the mounted media, find the VI Analyzer Toolkit installer in the Linux directory.
  4. To run the installation script, enter the following command:

    sh ./INSTALL

    To uninstall the VI Analyzer Toolkit on Linux, enter the following command:

    sh ./UNINSTALL

Product Security and Critical Updates

Visit ni.com/security to view and subscribe to receive security notifications about NI products. Visit ni.com/critical-updates for information about critical updates from NI.


New Features and Changes

The LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit introduces the following new features and changes.

VI Analyzer Toolkit Tests

The VI Analyzer Toolkit includes the following new tests:


Block Diagram Tests

  • For Loop Error Handling—Returns a failure for a For Loop that does not implement proper error handling to account for zero iterations. 

General Tests

  • Auto Error Handling Enabled—Returns a failure for any VI with Automatic Error Handling enabled. 
  • Control VI Type—Returns a failure if the Control VI Type does not match the user-specified type.

The VI Analyzer Toolkit no longer includes the following tests:


Block Diagram Tests

  • Node Density
  • Typedef Cluster Constants

General Tests

  • Connected Pane Terminals

Ignoring Test Failures

You can ignore test failures for VIs and block diagram objects. When you ignore one or more tests for a particular object or a VI, the VI Analyzer will not return a failure for that object or VI for the specified test(s).


To ignore a failure for an entire VI, create a free label on the block diagram of the VI and add the hashtag #via_ignore [test] to create a bookmark. The VI Analyzer ignores results from the VI Analyzer test you specify in [test]. You can specify multiple test names in the free label to ignore multiple tests. To ignore a failure for a block diagram object, attach the free label with the #via_ignore bookmark to the object whose failure you want to ignore.


Support for Human-Readable Configuration Files

The VI Analyzer Toolkit supports human-readable, XML-based configuration files (.viancfg). You cannot password-protect .viancfg configuration files. The VI Analyzer Toolkit supports loading legacy .cfg files, but you cannot save files in the .cfg format.


Enhancements to VI Analyzer VIs

The VI Analyzer VIs have the following changes:


  • VIAn Get Analysis Status VI—This VI includes the Abort Analysis input, which specifies whether to abort the analysis process when it is in progress.
  • VIAn Save Configuration File VI—This VI no longer includes the Configuration File Password input.
  • VIAn Add Password VI—This VI is no longer available. The VI Analyzer Toolkit does not support adding passwords to the VI Analyzer task password cache for password-protected VIs.

Known Issues

You can access the software and documentation known issues list online. Refer to the NI website for an up-to-date list of known issues in LabVIEW 2018 VI Analyzer Toolkit.


Using the VI Analyzer Toolkit

After you install the VI Analyzer Toolkit, select Tools»VI Analyzer»Analyze VIs in LabVIEW to run the VI Analyzer. You also can use the VI Analyzer VIs, located on the Functions palette. Refer to the LabVIEW Help and the LabVIEW VI Analyzer Toolkit User Guide for more information about using the VI Analyzer Toolkit.


Using Spell Check Word List

For a list of the copyrights, conditions, and disclaimers regarding the word list used in the automatically generated inflection database, refer to the AGID_4.0_notice.pdf and AGID_4.0_license.pdf files in the Licenses directory on the VI Analyzer Toolkit installation media.


Accessing the Help

Refer to the LabVIEW Help, accessible by selecting Help»LabVIEW Help from LabVIEW, for information about the VI Analyzer Toolkit.


Finding Examples

Select Help»Find Examples from LabVIEW to launch the NI Example Finder. LabVIEW examples for the VI Analyzer Toolkit are located in the labview\examples\VI Analyzer Toolkit directory. You can modify an example VI to fit an application, or you can copy and paste from one or more examples into a VI that you create.


VI Analyzer Enthusiasts Community Group

Visit ni.com/info and enter the Info Code ex8j59 to discuss the VI Analyzer Toolkit with other users.


Automating the Installation of NI Products

You can automate the installation of most NI products using command-line arguments to suppress some or all of the installer user interface and dialog boxes.


If the NI product you are installing uses Microsoft .NET 4.6.2, the .NET installer may run before any NI software installs and may require a reboot before the installation of NI software begins. To avoid a .NET reboot, install .NET 4.6.2 separately before you install NI software.


For more information about automating the installation of NI products, refer to the following KnowledgeBase articles:


Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 10

Microsoft Windows 10 is the latest version of the Windows operating system and features significant changes compared to previous versions. Windows 10 introduces several new capabilities and also combines features from both Windows 7 and Windows 8. For more information about NI support for Windows 10, visit ni.com/windows10.


Using NI Software with Microsoft Windows 8.1

When you install NI software on Microsoft Windows 8.1, you will notice a few additional tiles in the Apps view, including shortcuts to NI application software products such as NI LabVIEW, Measurement & Automation Explorer (NI MAX), and NI Launcher. For more information about NI support for Windows 8.1, visit ni.com/windows8.



Legal Information

Copyright


© 2003–2018 National Instruments. All rights reserved.


Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.


NI respects the intellectual property of others, and we ask our users to do the same. NI software is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. Where NI software may be used to reproduce software or other materials belonging to others, you may use NI software only to reproduce materials that you may reproduce in accordance with the terms of any applicable license or other legal restriction.


End-User License Agreements and Third-Party Legal Notices


You can find end-user license agreements (EULAs) and third-party legal notices in the following locations after installation:


  • Notices are located in the <National Instruments>\_Legal Information and <National Instruments> directories.
  • EULAs are located in the <National Instruments>\Shared\MDF\Legal\license directory.
  • Review <National Instruments>\_Legal Information.txt for information on including legal information in installers built with NI products.

U.S. Government Restricted Rights


If you are an agency, department, or other entity of the United States Government ("Government"), the use, duplication, reproduction, release, modification, disclosure or transfer of the technical data included in this manual is governed by the Restricted Rights provisions under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.227-14 for civilian agencies and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Section 252.227-7014 and 252.227-7015 for military agencies.


IVI Foundation Copyright Notice


Content from the IVI specifications reproduced with permission from the IVI Foundation.


The IVI Foundation and its member companies make no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The IVI Foundation and its member companies shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.


Trademarks


Refer to the NI Trademarks and Logo Guidelines at ni.com/trademarks for information on NI trademarks. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.


Patents


For patents covering the NI products/technology, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your media, or the NI Patent Notice at ni.com/patents.


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