To debug an RT application, first use the LabVIEW debugging tools to detect errors and step through the flow of execution to locate the error source. Then, use the Profile Performance and Memory window or the Real-Time Trace Viewer to test the execution timing and memory usage of the application.

LabVIEW Debugging Tools

Use the LabVIEW debugging tools, such as execution highlighting and single-stepping, while the host computer is connected to an RT target to step through LabVIEW code.

Note Do not use the LabVIEW debugging tools to debug execution timing because debugging tools affect the timing of an application.

The only feature not supported by the Real-Time Module is the Call list pull-down menu, which appears in the toolbar of a subVI block diagram window while single-stepping.

Note You must place a checkmark in the Allow debugging checkbox of the Execution page of the VI Properties dialog box to use the LabVIEW debugging tools to debug a VI.

Profile Performance and Memory Window

The Profile Performance and Memory window is a powerful tool for statistically analyzing how an application uses execution time and memory. You can use the Profile Performance and Memory window to display performance information for all VIs and subVIs in memory. This information can help you optimize the performance of your VIs by identifying potential bottlenecks. Select Tools»Profile»Performance and Memory to display the Profile Performance and Memory window.

You must place a checkmark in the Profile memory usage checkbox before starting a profiling session. Collecting information about VI memory use adds a significant amount of overhead to VI execution, which affects the accuracy of any timing statistics gathered during the profiling session. Therefore, perform memory profiling separate from time profiling to return an accurate profile.

During a profiling session, you can take a snapshot of the available data and save it to an ASCII spreadsheet file. The timing measurements accumulate each time you run a VI.

Note Many of the options in the Profile Performance and Memory window become available only after you begin a profiling session.

NI Distributed System Manager

The NI Distributed System Manager displays details about VIs running on an RT target and provides a dynamic display of the memory and CPU resources for the target. You can stop VIs and start idle VIs on the RT target using NI Distributed System Manager. To launch the NI Distributed System Manager from LabVIEW, select Tools»Distributed System Manager.

Debug Application or Shared Library Dialog Box

Use the Debug Application or Shared Library dialog box to debug stand-alone real-time applications running on an RT target.

Note You must place a checkmark in the Enable debugging checkbox located on the Advanced page of the Real-Time Application Properties dialog box before you build the stand-alone real-time application for debugging.