Convert LabVIEW VIs or simulation subsystems into compiled models for use with the Model Interface API and Linux Real-Time OS targets.

Prerequisite Software

To compile models in LabVIEW, you must install the following software components:

  • The LabVIEW Model Support feature
  • The LabVIEW Application Builder, which is included with the LabVIEW Professional Development System. If you use the LabVIEW Base Development System or Full Development System, you can purchase the Application Builder separately.
Note To convert simulation subsystems, you must have the Control Design and Simulation Module installed on your system.

Generating a Compiled Model

To generate a compiled .lvmodel or .lvmodelso you can use with the Model Interface API, complete the following steps:
Note You must install additional software to enable LabVIEW models for targets that run a Linux Real-Time OS (.lvmodelso files).
  1. Create a VI or simulation subsystem that performs the actions you want from your simulation model.
  2. Configure the connector pane for your VI or subsystem.
  3. Save the VI or subsystem.
  4. In LabVIEW, select Tools » VeriStand » Generate Model from VI to display the Generate Model from VI dialog box.
    Note The LabVIEW Model Interface Toolkit shares several components with the VeriStand, such as tools for compiling models.
  5. In the Source VI Path field, enter the path where you saved the source file.
  6. In the Destination Folder field, enter the path where you want to save the generated model.
  7. If your source file is a simulation subsystem, click the Next button and complete the following steps:
    1. Specify a value for the model time step (sec), which is the interval between the times the ODE Solver evaluates the model and updates the model output, in seconds. For your compiled model to run in real-time, the model time step (sec) value must equal the controller period multiplied by the Decimation model, or the Decimation model divided by the Target Rate:

      Model time step (sec) = Controller Period x Decimation

      or

      Model time step (sec) = Decimation/Target Rate

      Where

      Controller Period = 1/Target Rate

    2. Specify the Target Rate on the Controller Configuration tab of the System Explorer window.
    3. Specify the Decimation on the Model Configuration tab of the System Explorer window.
      Note The equation only applies to compiled models you generate from simulation subsystems, because there is no simulated time in a standard VI.
    4. Specify the ODE Solver.
  8. Click the Build button. The Generate Model from VI dialog box displays the progress of the model generation.
    Note If you experience errors when converting a VI or if the model does not contain the inports, outports, and parameters you expect, see the Preparing VIs to Be Converted to a Compiled Model section.

Moving the Model and Support Files

If you deploy the compiled .lvmodel or .lvmodelso to an RT target, LabVIEW copies required .dlls to the target automatically. However, if you manually copy the .lvmodel or .lvmodelso file to a new location, such as a different host system, you must also move any LabVIEW .dlls, such as NILVSim.dll for a simulation subsystem. The files are stored in a subdirectory named data in the destination folder where LabVIEW generates the compiled model.