Chapter 1     Introduction
 
  National Instruments Corporation 1-3 VXI-MIO Series User Manual
 LabVIEW 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 DAQ hardware, is included with 
LabVIEW. The LabVIEW Data Acquisition VI Library is functionally 
equivalent to the NI-DAQ software.
LabWindows/CVI features interactive graphics, a state-of-the-art user 
interface, and uses the ANSI standard C programming language. The  
LabWindows/CVI Data Acquisition Library, a series of functions for 
using LabWindows/CVI with National Instruments DAQ hardware, is 
included with the NI-DAQ software kit. The LabWindows/CVI Data 
Acquisition Library is functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ software.
VirtualBench features VIs that combine DAQ products, software, and 
your computer to create a standalone instrument with the added benefit 
of the processing, display, and storage capabilities of your computer. 
VirtualBench instruments load and save waveform data to disk in the 
same forms that can be used in popular spreadsheet programs and word 
processors. VirtualBench features report generation and printing 
capabilities.
Using ComponentWorks, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, or 
VirtualBench software will greatly reduce the development time for 
your data acquisition and control application.
 NI-DAQ Driver Software The NI-DAQ driver software is included at no charge with all National 
Instruments DAQ hardware. NI-DAQ is not packaged with signal 
conditioning or accessory products. NI-DAQ has an extensive library of 
functions that you can call 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 (timed D/A 
conversion), 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 of 
use and low-level DAQ I/O functions for maximum flexibility and 
performance. Examples of high-level functions are streaming data to 
disk or acquiring a certain number of data points. An example of a 
low-level function is writing directly to registers on the DAQ device. 
NI-DAQ does not sacrifice the performance of National Instruments