Getting Started with the Plug-In Creation Toolkit

Refer to the following topics to learn how to use the Plug-In Creation Toolkit.

Installing Required Software for Plug-Ins

Refer to the Data Record AD Plug-In Creation Toolkit 1.0 Readme for detailed installation instructions and requirements.
  1. Install the Plug-In Creation Toolkit from the Data Record AD GitHub Repository at https://www.ni.com/r/datarecord-devguide.
  2. Install any toolkits or drivers required by your sensors.
  3. Install VI Package Manager.
  4. Install the following packages from VI Package Manager:
    • OpenG File Library
    • JSONText
    • Caraya Unit Test Framework

Creating an I/O Plug-In from a Template

  1. Launch LabVIEW.
  2. Select File » Create Project.
  3. Select ADAS » ADAS IO Plugin Template.

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  4. Enter a name and target directory path for the new plug-in.
  5. Click Finish.
    LabVIEW creates a project for your plug-in.

Customizing Plug-Ins

To locate possible actions you can take to customize your plug-in, complete the following steps:
  1. Open the LabVIEW project for your plug-in.
  2. Select View » Bookmark Manager.
  3. Select Group by Bookmark.
  4. Examine each #CodeRecommended bookmark to locate areas of the code where you can customize the behavior of the plug-in.

Debugging and Testing I/O Plug-Ins

Each plug-in comes with an included default test case as part of the I/O plug-in template.

You should test each plug-in individually, if possible, but certain plug-ins must be paired with others before they will perform behavior that you can test. Refer to the Data Record AD GitHub Repository at https://www.ni.com/r/datarecord-devguide to learn more about writing functional test cases to test relevant plug-ins together.

Building I/O Plug-Ins

By default, the I/O plug-ins for your system are stored in the following file location: %Public%\Documents\National Instruments\ADAS\Plugins\IOPlugins. To build a plug-in from the I/O plug-in template, complete the following steps:
  1. (Optional) Edit the plug-in properties to perform tasks such as adding source file dependencies, modifying pre- and post-build actions, or adjusting destinations.
    1. Double-click the build specification for your plug-in to open the Properties dialog box.
      Figure 2. Example Plug-In Build Specification

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      Figure 3. Plug-In Properties Dialog Box With Build Actions Selected

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    2. Select the category you want to edit from the left-hand panel.
    3. Adjust settings for that category as applicable.
    4. Select OK to save your changes.
  2. Right-click Build Specifications in the plug-in Project Explorer window.

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  3. Select Build All to produce the PPL and XML files in the default directory.
  4. Select Done.

Distributing I/O Plug-Ins

You can export plug-ins directly from one computer to another on your network. To export a configuration to another machine, complete the following steps:
  1. Locate the folder containing the plug-in files.
  2. Choose from one of the following options:
    • Copy and paste the plug-in folder onto a USB drive to transfer it to the target machine.
    • Transfer the files directly to the target machine through Windows remote file sharing.
  3. Save the plug-in folder on the target machine in your desired location.
    Data Record AD loads plug-in files from %Public%\Documents\National Instruments\ADAS\Plugins\IOPlugins.

Publishing Data to UI Topics Using I/O Plug-Ins

The Data Record AD User Interface enables you to publish data to UI topics through I/O plug-ins over the built-in gRPC interface. Alternatively, you can use TCP/IP, SystemLink, or another method enabled by your integrator.

Refer to for more information.