1. How to use LabVIEW
Ihor Korolov
February 2011

2. Contents What is LabVIEW? How does LabVIEW work? Block diagram
Front panel
Palettes
Data flow programming. Functions.
LabVIEW Programming Structures (Formula, Case structure …)
What is a subVI? Using a VI as a subVI.
How to use LabVIEW with data acquisition (DAQ) software
Measurements and automation explorer (MAX)
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

3. What is LabVIEW?
LabVIEW – Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench
is a graphical (visual) programming from National istruments (NI).
The purpose is automating the usage of processing and measuring equipment in any laboratory setup.
Originally released for the Apple Macintosh in 1986, the graphical language at the heart of LabVIEW is called "G".
C language
Dataflow programming language
uses icons instead of lines of text to create programs
The graphical approach of LabVIEW allows non-programmers to build programs by dragging and dropping virtual representations of lab equipment with which they are already familiar.
Cross-platform
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

4. LabVIEW Professional Development System
Price
Desktop PC
LabVIEW Professional Development System
Laptop
PDA
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

5. LabVIEW www.ni.com I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
PXI Modular Instrumentation
Desktop PC
Laptop PC
PDA
High-Speed
Digitizers
High-Resolution
Digitizers and DMMs
Multifunction
Data Acquisition
Dynamic
Signal Acquisition
Instrument
Control
Digital I/O
Counter/
Timers
Machine
Vision
Motion
Control
Distributed I/O and
Embedded Control
Signal Conditioning
and Switching
Unit Under Test
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

6. How does LabVIEW work?
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

7. How does LabVIEW work?
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

8. How does LabVIEW work? Front panel Block Diagram Ctrl+E
Block diagram toolbar
Continuous run
Clean Up diagram
Pause
Run
Stop
Reorder objects
Debugging features
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

9. LabVIEW Front panel How does LabVIEW work?
Used to display Controls or Indicators
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

10. - Actual program - Invisible to user
How does LabVIEW work?
LabVIEW Block Diagram
- Actual program Invisible to user
- Read left to right
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example LP

11. How does LabVIEW work? Palettes
Front panel
Block Diagram
Controls palette
Tools palette
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

12. Automatic Selection Tool
How does LabVIEW work? Tools palette
Floating Palette
Used to operate and modify front panel and block diagram objects.
Automatic Selection Tool
Scrolling Tool
Breakpoint Tool
Probe Tool
Color Copy Tool
Coloring Tool
Operating Tool
Positioning/Resizing Tool
Labeling Tool
Wiring Tool
Shortcut Menu Tool
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

13. Data flow programming
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

14. Data flow programming
If you put a control (or indicator) on the front panel
LabVIEW automatically creates a corresponding
control (or indicator) terminal on theBlock Diagram
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example FP TB

15. Data flow programming. Functions.
View as icon
“Add” function
Click and Ctrl+H
wire
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example2,3

16. Data flow programming. Functions.
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

17. Some of basic wires used in block diagrams
Data flow programming. Wires
Some of basic wires used in block diagrams
Data type
Color
Floating-point
orange
Integer
blue
Boolean
green
String
Pink/purple
Dynamic
Dark blue
Broken wires
The wire connects more than one data source
You have connected two terminals of different types
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

18. Data flow programming. Functions
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

19. Data flow programming. Functions
Polymorphism
Array Arithmetic Operations
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

20. Programming structures
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

21. For loop LabVIEW Programming Structures From 0 to N-1 Right click
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example For Loop

22. While loop LabVIEW Programming Structures Auto-indexed tunnel
Loop tunnel
Shift register
Timed While loop
Repeats the sub diagram inside the loop until the conditional terminal receives a particular Boolean value
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example WhileL

23. Case structure LabVIEW Programming Structures
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

24. Flat sequence structure
LabVIEW Programming Structures
Flat sequence structure 1 2 3
Stacked sequence structure 4
Sequence structures are used to ensure a subdiagram executes after or before another subdiagram 3 2 1
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

25. LabVIEW Programming Structures
Local variables
Global variables
Use global variables to access and pass data among several VIs
Use local variables to read or write to one of the controls or indicators on the front panel of a VI.
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

26. LabVIEW: Wait statements
Wait (ms) function
Wait Until Next ms Multiple function
Pre-loop
code
Loop code
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

27. Waveform Graph – Plot an array of numbers against their indices
LabVIEW: Graphs
Waveform Graph – Plot an array of numbers against their indices
XY Graph – Plot one array against another
Digital Waveform Graph – Plot bits from binary data
Graph properties
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example Graph

28. Write/Read LabVIEW Measurements file
LabVIEW: File I/O
Write to a File
Read from a File
Write/Read LabVIEW Measurements file
Writing to LVM file
Reading from LVM file
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example File I/O

29. SubVI
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

30. What is a subVI? Using a VI as a subVI.
A SubVi is a stand VI that can be called by other VI and it is similar to an individual function.
Advantages
Modular
Easier to debug
Don’t have to recreate code
Require less memory
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

31. What is a subVI? Using a VI as a subVI.
How to create a subVI?
A SubVi is a stand VI that can be called by other VI and it is similar to an individual function.
Create/Edit the Icon
Create the Connector
Assign Terminals to controls and indicators
Add description (optional)
Save the VI
Insert the VI into a Top Level VI
1 Create/Edit the Icon
Right-click on the icon in
the block diagram or front
panel
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

32. What is a subVI? Using a VI as a subVI.
2 Create the Connector
Right click on the icon pane (front panel only)
3 Assign Terminals to controls and indicators r
4 Documentation (VI properties)
5. Save the VI
6. Insert the VI into a Top Level VI
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example

33. Data acquisition
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

34. Sensors How to use LabVIEW with DAQ software Data acquisition (DAQ)
Fundamental task of a DAQ system is to measure or generate real-world physical signals
Data acquisition (DAQ)
Connecting Signals
Simple DAQ application
DAQ device
Sensors
Terminal Block
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

35. Measurements and automation explorer (MAX)
MAX is the primary configuration and testing utility that is available for the DAQ device
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) provides access to all your NI DAQ, GPIB, IMAQ, IVI, Motion, VISA, and VXI devices. Here can configure your NI hardware and software, add new channels, interfaces, and virtual instruments, execute system diagnostics, and view the devices and instruments connected to your system.
Configuration tree
Configuration View
Task list
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
MAX

36. Specific VIs for performing: Analog Input Analog Output Digital I/O
How to use LabVIEW with DAQ software
Traditional NI-DAQ
Specific VIs for performing:
Analog Input
Analog Output
Digital I/O
Counter operations
NI-DAQmx
Next generation driver:
VIs for performing a task
One set of VIs for all measurement types
DAQ assistant
Measurement type can be:
Analog Input
Analog Output
Counter Input
Counter Output
Digital I/O
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

37. How to use LabVIEW with DAQ software
Ni USB 6501
DAQ assistant
Quickly and easily program the DAQ device
Creates a local task
Most applications can use the DAQ Assistant
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW
Example DAQ

38. How to use LabVIEW ? Tips and tricks
( )
GPIB Communication and Configuration
Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA)
Serial Port Communication
Instrument Drivers (How to create and use *.dll in LabVIEW)
Application control (property node and invoke node)
How to execute a system command
Remote panel connection manager and Web publishing tool …
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW

39. Köszönöm for your attention!
I. Korolov: How to use LabVIEW