Optional Programming Environments - National Instruments PC/104-GPIB Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

Optional Programming Environments

PC/104-GPIB for Windows 95
The GPIB software, along with the PC/104-GPIB, transforms a PC/104
system into a GPIB Talker/Listener/Controller with complete
communications and bus management capability. The GPIB software
includes the following components:
• Device driver
• Diagnostic test utility
• Configuration utility
• Interactive control program
• Utilities for software development
• Language interface libraries for Microsoft Visual C/C++ 2.0 or
later, Borland C/C++ 4.0 or later, and Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0
or later
• Example programs that use NI-488 functions and NI-488.2 routines
Refer to Appendix C, Specifications, for information about the GPIB
software transfer rates.
Your kit includes the GPIB software for Windows 95. In addition, you
can order the LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW software from National
Instruments. LabWindows/CVI and LabVIEW include instrument
driver libraries that make it easier to communicate with your GPIB
instruments.
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C development environment
for building test and measurement and instrument control systems. It
includes interactive code-generation tools and a graphical editor for
building custom user interfaces. It also includes built-in libraries for
IEEE 488.2, VXI, RS-232 control, and plug-in data acquisition. When
you order LabWindows/CVI, you also get hundreds of complete
instrument drivers, which are modular, source-code programs that
handle the communication with your instrument so that you do not have
to learn the programming details.
LabVIEW is a complete programming environment that departs from
the sequential nature of traditional programming languages and features
a graphical programming environment. It includes all the tools needed
for instrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.
LabVIEW also includes an extensive instrument driver library.
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