TCIC User’s Manual
39

8. LabVIEW Sample

The LabVIEW sample was created with LabVIEW 6.1 using the VCP
(Virtual COM Port) driver.

Figure #1 shows the screen that the LabVIEW sample produces,

that is, virtual thermometers of all the eight channels, and a graph

of one of these channels (user selectable).

Here is an explanation of the LabVIEW sample & how it might be used:
The included sample LabVIEW ‘vi’ file enables users of LabVIEW to
quickly start acquiring data from the TCIC.
If a LabVIEW application is to be used simply to acquire data from the
TCIC, then it is recommended that the TCIC-Monitor is used to configure
the TCIC prior to communication with LabVIEW. For the LabVIEW
sample, the TCIC-Monitor should be used to setup the TCIC for 8

thermocouple

(i.e., not mV) inputs.
The LabVIEW sample is setup for serial communication with the TCIC.
This can be either via USB (using Virtual COM Port drivers supplied with
the TCIC) or through direct RS232 or RS485 COM ports.
If USB communication is being used, then the TCIC USB drivers must be
installed prior to using LabVIEW; also the TCIC must be attached and
powered before LabVIEW is started, otherwise LabVIEW will not see the
USB virtual COM port.
The sample ‘vi’ requires that the correct COM port is selected prior to
running the application: use NI’s Measurement and Automation Explorer
(often abbreviated to “MAX”) to search for attached devices. This utility
is available when the LabVIEW system is present. Figure #2 is a
screenshot of MAX, where the TCIC appears as COM7, as it does on the
LabVIEW sample screen also (refer to the top of figure #1).
The LabVIEW sample is provided ‘as is’ and is only intended as a starting
point to developing TCIC LabVIEW applications. The other parts of the
User’s Manual (particularly section 4) provide a more comprehensive
guide to the features and command set of the TCIC that may be
accessed by a user’s application.