Complete the following steps to create an Switch Executive virtual device:

  1. Launch MAX with Switch Executive.
  2. Expand Devices and Interfaces.
  3. Right-click Switch Executive Virtual Devices and select Create New. The Create New dialog box opens.
  4. Type a name in the Virtual Device Name textbox or accept the predefined Virtual Device Name. The name you select is the name used to refer to the virtual device in the API.
    Note Some characters are reserved and cannot be used in virtual device names.
  5. Select a switch device or multiple switch devices from the Available Switches listbox and click to add each switch to the Switches to Add listbox.
    Note The list of names displayed in the Available Switches listbox comes from NI-DAQmx configurations for NI-SWITCH devices and IVI configurations for third-party switches. NI-SWITCH devices automatically display in the Available Switches listbox. Refer to Using Third-Party Switches to create a driver session and logical name for third-party switches to display in the Available Switches listbox.

    If you cannot locate a device, check your NI-DAQmx and IVI configurations in MAX. If you are using NI switches, you must configure the hardware in MAX as described in the Switches Getting Started Guide.

  6. (Optional) Click Configure if you are using switches to configure the settings of those switches.
  7. (Optional) Click Auto Create IVI Devices to create default IVI configurations for all switches detected in your system.
  8. Click Next. A dialog box displays the status of the virtual device creation.
  9. Click Finish when the virtual device creation is complete. MAX automatically browses to the Switch Executive virtual device that you created.
    Note If any errors occur during this process (such as an IVI device not being accessible), the virtual device is still created, but the IVI switches that caused the errors are not added. You can manually add them later.

Refer to Adding IVI Switches to continue configuring your Switch Executive virtual device.