NI-DAQmx for Windows Documentation Locations

Overview

This article explains where to find NI-DAQmx readme, help, getting started and other documentation when NI-DAQmx is installed on a Microsoft Windows operating system.

Contents

To view the NI-DAQmx, LabVIEW, or other NI help, you must install the NI-DAQmx Driver on your computer. This also installs the help following  documents.

The following sections list the documentation resources available with all APIs, LabVIEW, NI-DAQmx, LabWindows™/CVI™, and SignalExpress:

 

All NI-DAQmx API Documentation

 

The following table lists the documentation resources available with NI-DAQmx for Windows. Paths shown are for NI-DAQmx versions 8.9.5 and later.
DocumentContentLocation
NI-DAQmx ReadmeIncludes information about NI-DAQmx and Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy). Describes how to choose the API to use, new features, and a list of known issues, supported devices, and devices not supported. Also provides details about system requirements.Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»DAQ Getting Started Guide or (Windows 8) NI Launcher
Read Me First: NI-DAQ and DAQ Device Installation GuideDescribes how to install the NI-DAQmx driver software for Windows and your data acquisition (DAQ) device.

This file, DAQInstallGuide.pdf, is on the software media at the root level.

Read Me First: NI-DAQmx and DAQ Device Installation Guide

DAQ Getting Started GuideDescribes how to confirm your NI data acquisition (DAQ) device is recognized and operating properly, and how to get started using your device in an application.

Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»DAQ Getting Started Guide or (Windows 8) NI Launcher

or

DAQ Getting Started Guide

SCXI Quick Start GuideInstructs users to install DAQ software and hardware using the DAQ Getting Started Guide before installing SCXI device(s). Steps include how to unpack and install SCXI hardware, and how to confirm the chassis and devices are operating properly.

Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»SCXI Quick Start Guide or (Windows 8) NI Launcher

or

SCXI Quick Start Guide

Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for NI-DAQmxContains information on configuring and testing NI-DAQmx-supported devices using MAX for NI-DAQmx, and special considerations for operating systems.In MAX, select Help»Help Topics» NI-DAQmx»MAX Help for NI-DAQmx
Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for RTSIContains information on configuring and testing NI-RTSI-supported devices using MAX.In MAX, select Help»MAX Help. In the Contents tab, select MAX»Installed Products»NI-RTSI.
NI-DAQmx Device Terminals HelpContains pin assignments for NI-DAQmx-supported devices, including signal conditioning devices. Merges with NI-DAQmx Help and MAX Help for NI-DAQmxIn MAX, right-click your device under Devices and Interfaces»Device Pinouts
Device Documents accessible from MAXPDFs of the user manuals and specifications for NI-DAQmx-supported devices.In MAX, right-click your device and select Help»Online Device Documentation to open ni.com/manuals to the current documents for the selected device.
DAQ Assistant HelpInstructions for using the DAQ Assistant to configure common measurement tasks, channels, and scales. Includes measurement overviews and context help for controls. Also links to NI-DAQmx Help for more information.In MAX, select Help»Help Topics» NI-DAQmx»DAQ Assistant
Device Document Browser or Device Documentation folderContains PDFs of the user manuals and specifications for the devices supported by each release of NI-DAQmx.For 9.7 and earlier, DeviceDocs.exe is on the software media and provides a table of contents for the DeviceDocumentation folder. For later releases, the PDFs are in the DeviceDocumentation folder on the software media.


LabVIEW NI-DAQmx Documentation

 

The following table lists the documentation resources available with NI-DAQmx for Windows. Paths shown are for NI-DAQmx versions 8.9.5 and later, and LabVIEW 2009 and later.
DocumentContentLocation
Taking an NI-DAQmx Measurement in LabVIEWInstructions for using the DAQ Assistant in LabVIEW to configure a task, test and save it, and generate code.

In the LabVIEW Help, expand Getting Started with LabVIEW»Getting Started with DAQ»Taking an NI-DAQmx Measurement in LabVIEW


Using the DAQ Assistant to Automatically Generate LabVIEW Code

Using NI-DAQmx with a LabVIEW ProjectSmall help file that explains how to use LabVIEW Project with NI-DAQmx. Merges into the LabVIEW Help.In the LabVIEW Help, expand Fundamentals»Working with Projects and Targets»How-To»Using NI-DAQmx with a LabVIEW Project
DAQmx - Data Acquisition VIs and FunctionsVI reference for NI-DAQmx VIs. Also includes Using NI-DAQmx Name Controls, DAQ Assistant Express VI, Supported Properties by Device, and context help for controls.In the LabVIEW Help, expand VI and Function Reference»Measurement I/O VIs and Functions»DAQmx - Data Acquisition VIs and Functions
Supported Properties by Device in the LabVIEW HelpLists the NI-DAQmx properties valid for specific devices.In the LabVIEW Help, expand VI and Function Reference»Measurement I/O VIs and Functions»DAQmx - Data Acquisition VIs and Functions»Additional Information»Supported Properties by Device
NI-DAQmx Properties for LabVIEWDescribes NI-DAQmx properties and their values in LabVIEW.In the LabVIEW Help, expand Property and Method Reference»NI-DAQmx Properties
Taking Common MeasurementsDescribes a wide variety of measurements, from acceleration to voltage, with programming flowcharts and example locations.In the LabVIEW Help, expand Taking Measurements»How-To»Taking Common Measurements
Measurement FundamentalsGeneral, device-independent and API-independent information related to taking measurements.

In the LabVIEW Help, expand Taking Measurements»Measurement Fundamentals

or

Measurement Fundamentals

NI-DAQmx Key ConceptsConceptual information about the way NI-DAQmx API is implemented, such as content on channels, tasks, timing, triggering, and routing.In the LabVIEW Help, expand Taking Measurements»NI-DAQmx Key Concepts
NI-DAQmx Device ConsiderationsIncludes device-specific information such as timing, triggering, physical channels, and calibration.In the LabVIEW Help, expand Taking Measurements»NI-DAQmx Device Considerations

 


General NI-DAQmx Documentation

You can access the NI-DAQmx Help two ways:

1) Navigate to Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx Help or (Windows 8) NI Launcher.

or

2) In Measurement & Automation Explorer, left-click Help and navigate to Help Topics»NI-DAQmx»NI-DAQmx Help.

Figure 1: Accessing NI-DAQmx Help through NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX).

 

 

The following table lists the documentation resources available with NI-DAQmx for Windows. Paths shown are for NI-DAQmx versions 8.9.5 and later.
DocumentContentLocation
NI-DAQmx HelpExplains how to get started in your OS and ADE; provides an NI-DAQmx overview; includes information about programming the most common measurement tasks with references to examples in CVI/C, C++, .NET.

Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx Help or (Windows 8) NI Launcher


Getting Started with NI-DAQmx: NI-DAQmx Documentation

NI-DAQmx Key ConceptsConceptual information about the way NI-DAQmx API is implemented, such as content on channels, tasks, timing, triggering, and routing.In NI-DAQmx Help, expand NI-DAQmx Help»Key Concepts
Measurement FundamentalsGeneral, device-independent and API-independent information related to taking measurements.

In NI-DAQmx Help, expand NI-DAQmx Help»Measurement Fundamentals

or

Measurement Fundamentals

Common ApplicationsDescribes a wide variety of measurements, from acceleration to voltage, with programming flowcharts and example locations.In NI-DAQmx Help, expand NI-DAQmx Help»Common Applications
NI-DAQmx Device ConsiderationsIncludes device-specific information such as timing, triggering, physical channels, and calibration.In NI-DAQmx Help, expand NI-DAQmx Help»NI-DAQmx Device Considerations
NI-DAQmx C Function ReferenceC Function reference for NI-DAQmx; includes books for NI-DAQmx C Properties and Supported Properties by Device.

Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»Text-Based Code Support»NI-DAQmx C Reference Help or (Windows 8) NI Launcher

or

NI-DAQmx C Reference Help


LabWindows/CVI NI-DAQmx Documentation

 

The following table lists the documentation resources available with NI-DAQmx for Windows and LabWindows/CVI.
DocumentContentLocation
Taking an NI-DAQmx Measurement in LabWindows/CVIInstructions for using the DAQ Assistant in LabWindows/CVI to configure a task, test and save it, and generate code.

In LabWindows/CVI, select Help»Contents»Using LabWindows/CVI»Data Acquisition»Taking an NI-DAQmx Measurement in LabWindows/CVI

or

Using the DAQ Assistant in LabWindows/CVI

NI-DAQmx LibraryIncludes books for NI-DAQmx C Function Reference, NI-DAQmx Properties for LabWindows/CVI, and Supported Properties by Device.In LabWindows/CVI, select Help»Contents»Library Reference»NI-DAQmx Library
Other NI-DAQmx Help informationNI-DAQmx Key Concepts, Common Applications, Measurement Fundamentals, and Device Considerations relevant to LabWindows/CVI DAQ applications are in the NI-DAQmx Help.Start»All Programs»National Instruments»NI-DAQ»NI-DAQmx Help or (Windows 8) NI Launcher


NI SignalExpress NI-DAQmx Documentation

 

The following table lists the documentation resources available with NI-DAQmx for Windows and SignalExpress.
DocumentContentLocation
Taking an NI-DAQmx Measurement in SignalExpressInstructions for how to take an NI-DAQmx measurement in SignalExpress 2.x or later using the DAQmx Acquire Step. Includes how to log this data to disk and how to play back the recorded data.In NI SignalExpress, select Help»DAQ Assistant in SignalExpress Help


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