Chapter 1 IntroductionNational Instruments Corporation1-3VXI-MIO Series User ManualLabVIEW 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 the NI-DAQ software.LabWindows/CVI features interactive graphics, a 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 VIs that combine DAQ products, software, andyour computer to create a standalone instrument with the added benefitof the processing, display, and storage capabilities of your computer.VirtualBench instruments load and save waveform data to disk in thesame forms that can be used in popular spreadsheet programs and wordprocessors. VirtualBench features report generation and printingcapabilities.Using ComponentWorks, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, orVirtualBench software will greatly reduce the development time foryour data acquisition and control application.NI-DAQ Driver SoftwareThe NI-DAQ driver software is included at no charge with all NationalInstruments DAQ hardware. NI-DAQ is not packaged with signalconditioning or accessory products. NI-DAQ has an extensive library offunctions that you can call from your application programmingenvironment. These functions include routines for analog input (A/Dconversion), buffered data acquisition (high-speed A/D conversion),analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation (timed D/Aconversion), digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI, triggering,calibration, messaging, and acquiring data to extended memory.NI-DAQ has both high-level DAQ I/O functions for maximum ease ofuse and low-level DAQ I/O functions for maximum flexibility andperformance. Examples of high-level functions are streaming data todisk or acquiring a certain number of data points. An example of alow-level function is writing directly to registers on the DAQ device.NI-DAQ does not sacrifice the performance of National Instruments
