Chapter 1 Introduction©National Instruments Corporation1-3PCI-MIO E Series User ManualSoftware Programming ChoicesYou have several options to choose from when programming yourNational Instruments DAQ and SCXI hardware. You can use NationalInstruments application software, NI-DAQ, or register-levelprogramming.National Instruments Application SoftwareComponentWorks contains tools for data acquisition and instrumentcontrol built on NI-DAQ driver software. ComponentWorks provides ahigher-level programming interface for building virtual instrumentsthrough standard OLE controls and DLLs. With ComponentWorks, youcan use all of the configuration tools, resource management utilities,and interactive control utilities included with NI-DAQ.LabVIEW features interactive graphics, a state-of-the-art userinterface, and a powerful graphical programming language. TheLabVIEW Data Acquisition VI Library, a series of VIs for usingLabVIEW with National Instruments DAQ hardware, is included withLabVIEW. The LabVIEW Data Acquisition VI Library is functionallyequivalent to NI-DAQ software.LabWindows/CVI features interactive graphics, state-of-the-art userinterface, and uses the ANSI standard C programming language. TheLabWindows/CVI Data Acquisition Library, a series of functions forusing LabWindows/CVI with National Instruments DAQ hardware, isincluded with the NI-DAQ software kit. The LabWindows/CVI DataAcquisition Library is functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ software.VirtualBench features virtual instruments that combine DAQ products,software, and your computer to create a stand-alone instrument with theadded benefit of the processing, display, and storage capabilities ofyour computer. VirtualBench instruments load and save waveform datato disk in the same forms that can be used in popular spreadsheetprograms and word processors.Using ComponentWorks, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, orVirtualBench software will greatly reduce the development time foryour data acquisition and control application.
