Introduction Chapter 1
SCXI-1120 User Manual 1-2 © National Instruments Corporation
What Your Kit Should Contain
The contents of the SCXI-1120 kit (part number 776572-20) are listed as follows.
Kit Component Part Number
SCXI-1120 module 181695-01
SCXI-1120 User Manual 320425-01
If your kit is missing any of the components, contact National Instruments.
Optional Software
This manual contains complete instructions for directly programming the SCXI-1120. You can
order separate software packages for controlling the SCXI-1120 from National Instruments.
When you combine the PC, AT, and MC data acquisition boards with the SCXI-1120, you can
use LabVIEW for Windows or LabWindows for DOS. LabVIEW and LabWindows are
innovative program development software packages for data acquisition and control applications.
LabVIEW uses graphical programming, whereas LabWindows enhances Microsoft C and
QuickBASIC. Both packages include extensive libraries for data acquisition, instrument control,
data analysis, and graphical data presentation.
Your National Instruments data acquisition board is shipped with the NI-DAQ software.
NI-DAQ has a library of functions that can be called from your application programming
environment. These functions include routines for analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data
acquisition (high speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation,
digital I/O, counter/timer, SCXI, RTSI, and self-calibration. NI-DAQ maintains a consistent
software interface among its different versions so you can switch between platforms with
minimal modifications to your code.
You can also use the SCXI-1120, together with the PC, AT, and MC data acquisition boards,
with NI-DAQ software for DOS/Windows/LabWindows. NI-DAQ software for
DOS/Windows/LabWindows comes with language interfaces for Professional BASIC, Turbo
Pascal, Turbo C, Turbo C++, Borland C++, and Microsoft C for DOS; and Visual Basic, Turbo
Pascal, Microsoft C with SDK, and Borland C++ for Windows. NI-DAQ software for
DOS/Windows/LabWindows is on high-density 5.25 in. and 3.5 in. diskettes.
You can use the SCXI-1120, together with the NB Series data acquisition boards, with
LabVIEW, a software system that features interactive graphics, a state-of-the-art user interface,
and a powerful graphical programming language. The LabVIEW Data Acquisition VI Library, a
series of VIs for using LabVIEW with National Instruments boards, is included with LabVIEW.
The LabVIEW Data Acquisition VI Library is functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ software
for Macintosh.