National Instruments Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Measure
®
Data Acquisition
User Manual
August 1996 Edition
Part Number 321004B-01
© Copyright 1995,1996 National Instruments Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Internet Support
measure.support@natinst.com
Email: National Instruments Home Page: FTP Site:
ftp.natinst.com
Bulletin Board Support
http://www.natinst.com
BBS United States: (512) 794-5422 or (800) 327-3077 BBS United Kingdom: 01635 551422 BBS France: 1 48 65 15 59
FaxBack Support
(512) 418-1111
Telephone Support (U.S.)
Tel: (512) 795-8248 Fax: (512) 794-5678
International Offices
Australia 03 9 879 9422, Austria 0662 45 79 90 0, Belgium 02 757 00 20, Canada (Ontario) 519 622 9310, Canada (Quebec) 514 694 8521, Denmark 45 76 26 00, Finland 90 527 2321, France 1 48 14 24 24, Germany 089 741 31 30, Hong Kong 2645 3186, Italy 02 413091, Japan 03 5472 2970, Korea 02 596 7456, Mexico 95 800 010 0793, Netherlands 0348 433466, Norway 32 84 84 00, Singapore 2265886, Spain 91 640 0085, Sweden 08 730 49 70, Switzerland 056 200 51 51, Taiwan 02 377 1200, U.K. 01635 523545
National Instruments Corporate Headquarters
6504 Bridge Point ParkwayAustin, TX 78730-5039 Tel: (512) 794-0100

Important Information

Warranty

The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by warranty.
National Instruments believes that the information in this manual is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.

Copyright

E
XCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE RECOVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF DATA ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF
the form of action, whether in contract or tort, including negligence. Any action against National Instruments must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the National Instruments installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside reasonable control.
Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.
, N
ATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY
,
PROFITS, USE OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
. This limitation of the liability of National Instruments will apply regardless of
. N
. C
N
ATIONAL INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES
ATIONAL INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO
USTOMER’S RIGHT TO

Trademarks

Measure® and NI-DAQTM are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
WARNING REGARDING MEDICAL AND CLINICAL USE
OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS
National Instruments products are not designed with components and testing intended to ensure a level of reliability suitable for use in treatment and diagnosis of humans. Applications of National Instruments products involving medical or clinical treatment can create a potential for accidental injury caused by product failure, or by errors on the part of the user or application designer. Any use or application of National Instruments products for or involving medical or clinical treatment must be performed by properly trained and qualified medical personnel, and all traditional medical safeguards, equipment, and procedures that are appropriate in the particular situation to prevent serious injury or death should always continue to be used when National Instruments products are being used. National Instruments products are NOT intended to be a substitute for any form of established process, procedure, or equipment used to monitor or safeguard human health and safety in medical or clinical treatment.
About This Manual
Organization of This Manual Conventions Used in This Manual Customer Communication xi
Chapter 1
Introduction
Using Measure with Your DAQ Device DAQ Device Overview Installing Measure
Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In
Uninstalling Measure
Chapter 2
Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Selecting a Data Acquisition Task Configuring an Analog Input Task Configuring an Analog Output Task Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu Saving Tasks Managing Tasks in a Workbook
Chapter 3
Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
SCXI Operating Modes
SCXI Analog Input Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis SCXI Analog Output
© National Instruments Corporation v Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Table of Contents
Chapter 4
Analog Input Reference
DAQ Device Overview Analog Input Configuration Overview
Analog Input Scan List
Channels High Limit Low Limit
Scan Information
Number of scans Scale to volts
Timing Settings
Scans/second External scan clock
Display
At cell In Columns
In Rows Trigger Reference Mode Reference Advanced Timing Settings
Chapter 5
Analog Output Reference
Analog Output Configuration Overview Advanced Configuration
Chapter 6
Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA
Function Reference
DAQ GetDAQErrorMessage
Appendix A
DAQ Hardware Capabilities
SCXI Information MIO and AI Device Hardware Capabilities
Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices Hardware Capabilities SCXI Module Hardware Capabilities Analog Output Only Devices Hardware Capabilities
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual vi © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B
Error Codes
Appendix C
Trouble Shooting
Appendix D
Customer Communication
Glossary
Index

Figures

Figure 1-1. Add-Ins Dialog Box
Figure 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Figure 2-2. Analog Input Configuration Figure 2-3. Task Description Dialog Box Figure 2-4. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Figure 2-5. Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box Figure 2-6. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Figure 2-7. Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu Figure 2-8. The DAQ Menu Figure 2-9. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Table of Contents
Figure 3-1. Selecting the Add>> button
Figure 4-1. Analog Input Configuration Dialog Box Figure 4-2. Scan Clock and Channel Clock Figure 4-3. Round Robin Scanning Figure 4-4. Hardware Digital Trigger Dialog Box Figure 4-5. Analog Input Mode Dialog Box Figure 4-6. Advanced Timing Settings Option
Figure 5-1. Analog Output Configuration Figure 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
© National Instruments Corporation vii Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Table of Contents

Tables

Table 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Options
Table 3-1. SCXI Channel Strings Syntax
Table 4-1. Examples of Valid Channel Strings Table 4-2. Analog Input Configuration Buttons/Options Table 4-3. Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger Table 4-4. Choices for Analog Input Mode Dialog Box Table 4-5. Choices for Advanced Timing Table 5-1. Analog Output Configuration Reference Table 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Options
Table A-1. Analog Input Configuration Programmability—MIO and AI Devices Table A-2. Analog Input Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices (Part 1) Table A-3. Analog Input Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices (Part 2) Table A-4. Analog Output Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices Table A-5. Analog Input Configuration Programmability—Lab,
1200 Series, Portable Devices Table A-6. Analog Input Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 1) Table A-7. Analog Input Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 2) Table A-8. Analog Output Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices Table A-9. Analog Input Characteristics—SCXI Modules Table A-10. Terminal Block Selection Guide—SCXI Modules Table A-11. Analog Output Characteristics—Analog Output Only Devices
Table B-1. Data Acquisition Error Codes
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual viii © National Instruments Corporation
The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual describes how to use the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In with National Instruments data acquisition boards to acquire data into Microsoft Excel. You should be familiar with the operation of Microsoft Excel, your computer, your computer’s operating system, and your data acquisition (DAQ) board.

Organization of This Manual

The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual is organized as follows.
Chapter 1, Introduction, helps you install the Measure Data Acquisition (DAQ) Add-In. You should have installed and configured your DAQ hardware already.
Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, contains a tutorial for the following basic functions: Selecting a data acquisition task, configuring an analog input task, configuring an analog output task, adding tasks to the DAQ menu, saving tasks, and managing tasks in a workbook.
Chapter 3, Using SCXI with Measure DAQ, describes how to use the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In in Excel with your Signal Conditioning Extension for Instrumentation (SCXI) equipment.
Chapter 4, Analog Input Reference, introduces some basic concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for analog input configuration, hardware digital triggering, analog input modes, and advanced timing. You should be familiar with the hardware characteristics of your data acquisition device.
Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference, introduces some concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for basic and advanced Analog Output Configuration.
© National Instruments Corporation ix Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
About This Manual
Chapter 6, Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA, describes how to run tasks from within Visual Basic for Applications.
Appendix A, DAQ Hardware Capabilities, contains SCXI information and tables that summarize the analog I/O capabilities of National Instruments data acquisition devices you might use with Measure for Windows.
Appendix B, Error Codes, describes the errors that can occur while using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
Appendix C, Troubleshooting, describes solutions to problems that you might encounter using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
Appendix D, Customer Communication, contains forms you can use to request help from National Instruments or to comment on our products and manuals.
The Glossary contains an alphabetical list and descriptions of terms used in this manual, including abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes, mnemonics, and symbols.
The Index contains an alphabetical list of key terms and topics in this manual, including the page where you can find each one.

Conventions Used in This Manual

The following conventions are used in this manual.
bold Bold text denotes a parameter, or the introduction of menus, menu
items, or dialog box buttons or options.
italic Italic text denotes emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction to a
key concept.
bold italic Bold italic text denotes a note, caution, or warning.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual x © National Instruments Corporation
About This Manual
monospace
» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items, and dialog box
Note:
Text in this font denotes text or characters that are to be literally input from the keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, variables, filenames, and extensions, and for statements and comments taken from program code.
options to a final action. The sequence
Files»Page Setup»Options»Substitute Fonts
directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, select Options, and finally select the Substitute Fonts option from the last dialog box.
This icon to the left of bold italicized text denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

Customer Communication

National Instruments wants to receive your comments on our products and manuals. We are interested in the applications you develop with our products, and we want to help if you have problems with them. To make it easy for you to contact us, this manual contains comment and configuration forms for you to complete. These forms are in Appendix D, Customer Communication, at the end of this manual.

Related Documentation

The following document contains information that you may find helpful as you read this manual:
NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles
© National Instruments Corporation xi Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Introduction
This chapter helps you install the Measure Data Acquisition (DAQ) Add-In. You should have installed and configured your DAQ hardware already. If you have not done so, please refer to the NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles that came with your device for instructions on installation and configuration.

Using Measure with Your DAQ Device

Measure is designed to work with many different National Instruments DAQ devices. Before you can use Measure, you must install and configure your DAQ device and the NI-DAQ driver software that came with your DAQ device. NI-DAQ is the low-level driver software that controls your DAQ device. Measure is a higher-level software development tool that communicates to your DAQ device through NI-DAQ. Refer to the documentation that comes with your DAQ device to learn how to install it properly.
Once you install your DAQ device, you must install and configure your NI-DAQ driver software.
You use the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility ( up your DAQ device. For some DAQ devices, such as the E Series boards, you do not have to configure many settings. For other devices, you might be required to set jumpers or switches on your device to configure it to work in your system. Refer to the documentation that came with your DAQ device to install your NI-DAQ driver software and run
© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
WDAQCONF.EXE.
WDAQCONF.EXE
) to set
Chapter 1 Introduction

DAQ Device Overview

Measure is an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface for acquiring data with a wide range of National Instruments DAQ devices. Because Measure works with so many different devices, the functionality and performance of the software often varies based on the particular DAQ device you use. Although Measure senses the type of DAQ device you are using, you might select options in the task configuration that are not supported by your particular device. Measure notifies you when such a conflict occurs when you close the configuration window, or when you test the task you have defined. Make sure to test each task once you define it.
The following pages contain a tutorial to show you how to use Measure. Refer to the Managing Tasks in a Workbook section in Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, for detailed information on the analog input and output settings you can configure with Measure.

Installing Measure

1. Insert the Measure for Windows diskette into a 3½ inch floppy drive.
2. Select Start»Run from the taskbar in Windows 95 or File»Run from the Program Manager in other versions of Windows.
3. Type
4. Select a location for the setup program to install Measure for
5. Deselect any Add-Ins that you do not want to install.
6. Select OK.
The setup program copies the program files and on-line help files to the directory that you choose and creates a program group. Setup also automatically configures Excel to load the DAQ Add-In when you launch Excel.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 1-2 © National Instruments Corporation
A:\SETUP
select OK.
Windows.
in the box labeled Command Line, and then

Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In

To add the DAQ Add-In manually, complete the following steps.
1. Select Tools»Add-Ins.
2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, search the Add-Ins Available list box for the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry. Click in the checkbox next to the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry. If you cannot find the entry, click the Browse button and look for
DAQ.XLA
To remove the DAQ Add-In manually, deselect the checkbox next to it, shown in Figure 1-1. The next time you launch Excel, Excel will not load the DAQ Add-In automatically.
in the directory where you installed Measure.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Figure 1-1
. Add-Ins Dialog Box

Uninstalling Measure

To uninstall Measure, remove both the Serial Add-In and the Data Acquisition Add-In from the Add-Ins list in Excel. Double-click the Uninstall icon in the Measure folder to remove Measure from your computer.
© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Getting Started with
Data Acquisition Tasks
After you install and configure your hardware and install the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In, you are ready to acquire data. This chapter contains a tutorial for each of the following basic functions.
Selecting a Data Acquisition task
Configuring an Analog Input task
Configuring an Analog Output task
Adding tasks to the DAQ menu
• Saving tasks
Managing tasks in a workbook
You only need to read the sections for the functions that you use in your application.

Selecting a Data Acquisition Task

This section contains step-by-step instructions for configuring analog input and output tasks with Measure. To configure tasks, complete the following steps.
1. Launch Excel.
2. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Task to display the DAQ Tasks dialog box, shown in Figure 2-1.
© National Instruments Corporation 2-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Figure 2-1
. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
The DAQ Tasks dialog box manages the I/O operations, or tasks, that you define with Measure. From this dialog box, you can create new tasks, edit existing tasks, and run I/O tasks interactively to test their operation.
3. Select a DAQ device from the Data acquisition device drop-down listbox at the top of the dialog box. The list of devices available in the drop-down listbox is taken from the devices that you have configured. If you have not run the configuration utility yet, refer to the documentation that came with your DAQ hardware.
4. Click on the AI button under the heading Create a task to display the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, shown in figure 2-2.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Figure 2-2.
Analog Input Configuration

Configuring an Analog Input Task

From the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, you can specify all the parameters for an analog input operation. In the following steps, you create a simple analog input task. Refer to Chapter 4, Analog Input Reference, for more detailed information about the different options for analog input.
1. The Analog Input Scan List at the top of the dialog box is where you specify the input channels on your DAQ device from which you would like to acquire data. For each input channel you add to the scan list, you must specify a high and low voltage limit for the signals that you read. Measure puts default values for your device in the high and low limit fields. Measure uses these limits to configure the gain settings on your DAQ device for maximum measurement accuracy.
Type 0 in the Channel field and click on the Add>> button to place the channel into your scan list.
2. In the Scan Information section of the dialog box, you specify how many scans of your channel list are to be acquired. A scan is a single measurement from each channel in your scan list. In this
© National Instruments Corporation 2-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
example in which there is only one channel specified, the number of scans is equal to the number of points acquired from channel 0. If you were to specify two channels in your channel list, 100 scans would result in 200 points of data acquired (100 from each channel).
100
Type
in the Number of Scans field.
3. The Scan Rate section of the dialog box is where you specify how fast you would like to acquire the data. The default setting of 1000 scans per second means that you acquire a single point from each channel in your channel list 1000 times per second.
1000
Type
in the Scans/second field.
4. The Display section of the dialog box is where you specify the cells on your worksheet to contain the acquired data. You manually can type in a spreadsheet address, such as can highlight the input field and use your mouse to select an area on the spreadsheet to place your acquired data. Measure begins with the upper-left most cell in the range that you supply and places the data in rows or columns from that point in the worksheet.
$A$1
Type
to place the 100 elements of data in the first column of
your worksheet.
5. Type the name
Read Channel 0
$A$1
, or you
in the Task Name field.
6. Click on the Description button to add a description for your task under development, shown in Figure 2-3. Type
points of data from channel 0
Acquire 100
in the Task
Description dialog box, and click on the OK button. Now you have finished specifying your first Measure analog input
task.
Figure 2-3.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Task Description Dialog Box
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
7. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box, shown in Figure 2-4. Notice that you now have a task named
Read Channel 0
description for this new task appears in the dialog box as well.
in your task list. Notice also that the
Figure 2-4.
8. Click on the Run button to execute the task. When the task completes, there are 100 datapoints in column A of your worksheet.
DAQ Tasks Dialog Box

Configuring an Analog Output Task

If your DAQ device has analog output channels, you can use Measure to generate analog output signals based on values in your spreadsheet. Analog output tasks operate exactly opposite of analog input tasks. You specify an area on your worksheet that contains data values, and Measure converts these values to voltages and outputs them through an analog output channel of your DAQ device. For more information on analog output tasks, refer to Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference.
© National Instruments Corporation 2-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
1. From the DAQ Task dialog box, select AO from the Create a task section of the dialog box to display the Analog Output Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 2-5.
Figure 2-5.
Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
2. Type 0 in the Channel input field.
3. Type
$A$1:$A$10
in the Data cells input field. You manually can type this range, or highlight the input field and drag particular areas of your worksheet to specify a cell range. This parameter specifies which cell values are used as analog output values.
4. Click on the Add button.
5. Type 10 in the Number of iterations input field. The number of iterations determines how many times Measure outputs the values specified in the cell range. You can type a value of 0 in this field for continuous output of the values.
6. Type
1000
in the Updates per second input field. As in acquiring data, you must specify an update rate to determine how fast the data outputs through the analog output channel.
7. Type
8. Click on the Description button, and type
Output 10 iterations
in the Task Name input field.
Output 10
iterations of data on analog output Channel 0
for the description of your analog output task. Click on the OK button.
9. Now you have finished configuring your first Measure analog
output task. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-6 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
dialog box. Notice that your new analog output task appears in the task list, shown in Figure 2-6.
Figure 2-6.
10. Highlight the
Run button to execute the analog output task. Make sure you have valid voltage data in cells A1:A10 before running the task.
DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Output 10 iterations
task and click on the

Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu

Now that the two tasks are configured and tested from the DAQ Tasks dialog box, you may want to make them more accessible from your spreadsheet. With Measure, you can easily add these tasks to the DAQ menu.
1. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Tasks.
2. Click on the Edit Menu button to display the Edit DAQ Menu
dialog box, shown in Figure 2-7.
© National Instruments Corporation 2-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Saving Tasks

Figure 2-7.
Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
3. Highlight each of the tasks in the window on the right and click on
the Add button to add them to the DAQ menu.
4. Click on the OK button to return to the Configure DAQ Tasks menu. Click on the OK button to return to the Excel worksheet.
5. Pull down the DAQ menu. Notice that two new entries now appear in the DAQ menu, shown in Figure 2-8. Now you can select these tasks and execute them from the worksheet without going into the Measure dialog boxes.
Figure 2-8.
The DAQ Menu
Each of your tasks are stored in your workbook automatically when you click on the OK button in the DAQ Tasks dialog box. If you configure a new task, but click on the Cancel button from the DAQ Tasks dialog box, Measure does not store your new task in your workbook.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-8 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Your tasks are saved as part of the Excel workbook. Each time you launch Excel and open a workbook that contains Measure tasks, they appear in the task list of the DAQ tasks dialog box.

Managing Tasks in a Workbook

This section describes how to use the DAQ Tasks dialog box, shown in Figure 2-9, to manage the tasks in a workbook. You can open this dialog box by selecting DAQ»ConfigureDAQTasks from the menu bar.
Figure 2-9
© National Instruments Corporation 2-9 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Table 2-1 contains a list of the DAQ Tasks dialog box options with descriptions of their use.
Table 2-1.
DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Options
Option/Button Description
Data acquisition device Select the National Instrument data acquisition device for which you
want to create a task. Measure scans your NI-DAQ configuration for installed devices and lists only those devices that Measure supports.
Data acquisition tasks Measure lists all the tasks that you have created for a data acquisition
device. Select a task if you wish to run, edit, or delete it.
Task Description Measure displays the description of the selected task. You can assign a
description to a task when you create or edit it.
Edit Menu Add or delete tasks from the DAQ menu. AI Create an Analog Input task for the selected data acquisition device. AO Create an Analog Output task for the selected data acquisition device. Run Run the selected data acquisition task. Edit Edit the selected data acquisition task. Delete Delete the selected data acquisition task. OK Store in the active workbook all the changes that you made (creation of
tasks, changes to existing tasks, deletions of tasks, additions or deletions to the DAQ menu).
Cancel Ignore all the changes that you made (creation of tasks, changes to
existing tasks, deletions of tasks, additions or deletions to the DAQ menu).
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-10 © National Instruments Corporation
Using SCXI
with Measure DAQ
This chapter describes how to use the Measure data acquisition (DAQ) Add-in in Excel with your Signal Conditioning Extension for Instrumentation (SCXI) equipment.
SCXI is a set of modules and terminal blocks used as a signal condition front-end for your data acquisition devices. These modules perform tasks such as multiplexing large numbers of signals, amplifying low­level signals, providing isolation between your data acquisition devices and transducers, and so on.
To use your SCXI modules with Measure, first you must configure all your DAQ hardware using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility
WDAQCONF.EXE
( device number to each of your DAQ devices and define the connections to your SCXI modules. In most cases, your DAQ device is a plug-in board in your computer although it also can be a PC Card (PCMCIA) format DAQCard or a SCXI-1200 module. You use the DAQ devices for the actual A/D conversions of your analog input signals, and for controlling SCXI modules. Each SCXI module is controlled by one DAQ device, and is assigned as such in the configuration utility. If you have any questions about the configuration utility, consult the NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles.
). In the configuration utility, you must assign a
Once you have configured the SCXI system, using the Measure DAQ Add-In is very similar to using a simple DAQ device. The only difference in the operation is the use of the channel string in the scan list to specify the channels on specific SCXI modules you want to acquire. All other parameters of the DAQ Add-In operate the same.

SCXI Operating Modes

You can operate SCXI modules in two different modes-multiplexed and parallel. In the multiplexed mode, all analog input channels for each SCXI module are multiplexed (routed) onto one input channel of
© National Instruments Corporation 3-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 3 Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
your data acquisition device. The multiplexed mode is the default and recommended mode to use with SCXI. In the parallel mode, each SCXI module is directly connected to one data acquisition device and each analog input channel on a SCXI module is connected to a separate analog input channel on the data acquisition device. Not all data acquisition devices or SCXI modules support the parallel mode. Consult your data acquisition hardware user manual for more information.

SCXI Analog Input

To configure channels on a SCXI analog input module in the DAQ task configuration, first select the DAQ device in the main DAQ Tasks dialog box to which the SCXI module is directly or indirectly connected. Then, select the AI button to create an AI task or the Edit button to modify an existing AI task. In the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, specify the SCXI channel(s) you want to acquire in the Channels field by entering a channel string. This channel string provides information about the DAQ device channel, SCXI chassis number, SCXI module number, and SCXI channel number. The channel string has the following format:
ob0!scx!mdy!z
In the SCXI channel string, x represents the chassis number, y the module number, and z the channel number.
ob0
in the SCXI channel string indicates which onboard channel (on
’ the DAQ device) to use to acquire the data. In the SCXI multiplexed mode (default mode), all SCXI channels from one SCXI chassis are multiplexed onto one onboard channel. Usually, this is channel 0 (
ob0
in the SCXI string), unless you are using more than one SCXI chassis; in which case each additional chassis uses the next onboard channel (i.e. Chassis 2 uses onboard channel 1, and so on).
scx
represents the chassis number where x is replaced by the actual
’ number (e.g.
sc1
). The chassis are numbered starting with 1 and the
chassis number is assigned in the NI-DAQ configuration utility.
mdy
represents the module number where y is replaced with the
’ actual number (e.g.
md2
). The modules are numbered 1 through
n
on
each SCXI chassis with module 1 being in the left-most slot of the
n
SCXI chassis and module
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 3-2 © National Instruments Corporation
in the right-most slot.
in the SCXI channel string represents the actual channel number
‘z’ (e.g. 3). Channels on the SCXI modules are numbered starting at zero. You specify a range of channels on your SCXI modules by listing the first and last channel separated with a colon (e.g.
You only use the SCXI channel string when the SCXI is operating in multiplexed mode and channels are multiplexed onto one or more channels of the data acquisition device. In parallel mode, specify the channel of your data acquisition device to acquire. Each channel on your DAQ device is mapped in hardware to one channel on a SCXI module in parallel mode.

Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis

In the scan list of your DAQ AI task, you can specify channels from multiple SCXI modules or chassis by adding multiple entries to the scan list. Repeat the Add operation for each SCXI module. However, you can specify only one group of consecutive channels per SCXI module in the scan list. You must specify consecutive channels in an incremental order (e.g.
ob0!sc1!md2!10:19
channel setting would be listed as follows. The two lines in the scan list on the right are added separately by twice filling in the channel field on the left and clicking on the Figure 3-1.
Chapter 3 Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
).
0:5
ob0!sc1!md1!0:5,
). In the Measure DAQ Task Dialog Box, the
button, as shown in
Add>>
© National Instruments Corporation 3-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 3 Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
Figure 3-1
. Selecting the
Add>>
button
Table 3-1 lists other possible combinations for SCXI channel strings.
Table 3-1
. SCXI Channel Strings Syntax
String Syntax Description
ob0!sc1!md2!5
Channel 5 on module 2 of SCXI chassis 1 is read through onboard channel 0.
ob0!sc1!md2!0:7 ob0!sc1!md4!5:12
Channels 0-7 on module 2 and channels 5-12 on module 4 of chassis 1 are read through onboard channel 0.
ob0!sc1!md3!3:4 ob1!sc2!md1!20:24
Channels 3 and 4 of module 3 of chassis 1 are read through onboard channel 0, and channels 20-24 of module 1 on chassis 2 are read through onboard channel 1.
In the parallel mode, each analog input SCXI module is connected directly to a DAQ device and you must specify the channels of your DAQ device in the channel list, not the SCXI channel string.
Note: The SCXI-1200 does not support the parallel mode with other SCXI
modules.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 3-4 © National Instruments Corporation

SCXI Analog Output

Chapter 3 Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
The current version of Measure does not support the use of analog output (AO) channels on the SCXI-1124 module. You can use the analog output channels of the SCXI-1200 module by selecting the device number and the AO channel number as you would with any other DAQ device.
© National Instruments Corporation 3-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Analog Input Reference
This chapter introduces some basic concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for analog input configuration, hardware digital triggering, analog input modes, and advanced timing. You should be familiar with the hardware capabilities of your data acquisition device.

DAQ Device Overview

Measure works with a wide variety of National Instrument DAQ devices. This chapter provides a technical overview and reference information about using Measure for analog input operations. Many of the parameters that you can set up with Measure vary depending on your DAQ device. For example, DAQ devices vary in acquisition speed which affects how fast you can acquire data using Measure. In addition, some DAQ devices have more extensive triggering capabilities than other DAQ devices. Measure does not disable any of its options according to the selected DAQ device. When selecting options which are not supported by a particular DAQ device, you get an error message during configuration or testing. Refer to the documentation included with your DAQ hardware to learn more about the particular capabilities of your DAQ device.
© National Instruments Corporation 4-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference

Analog Input Configuration Overview

Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Tasks and then press the AI button to open the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 4-1. The sections below describe the fields within the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, and Table 4-2 explains the remaining options at the bottom of the Analog Input Configuration dialog box.
Figure 4-1.
Analog Input Configuration Dialog Box

Analog Input Scan List

To configure an acquisition, first you must select the channels that you want to scan by entering a channel string in the Channels field. A scan is one acquisition or reading from each channel in the Analog Input Scan List. The scan list can have multiple entries of one or more channels. Each entry has its own set of high and low limits which determines the gains on the channels in the entry.

Channels

Specify channels to add to the scan list. A channel string can consist of a single channel, a list of channels delimited by commas, a range of channels denoted by the first and last channel of the range separated by a colon, or any combination of the previous three types of syntax. The order that you specify the channels in your channel string from
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 4-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
left-to-right is the order that Measure scans the channels. The following is a table of valid channel strings.
Table 4-1.
Examples of Valid Channel Strings
Valid Channel Strings Channels in the Scan List
99 3,1 3,1 4:7 4,5,6,7
9,4:7,3,1 9,4,5,6,7,3,1
0,1 (using one AMUX board) 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 on the AMUX board
0 (using two AMUX boards) 0,1,2,3 on the first AMUX board and 0,1,2,3 on the
second AMUX board
ob0!sc1!md1!0:3
0,1,2,3 on the SCXI module in the first slot of the first chassis
0b0!sc1!md3!0:4,
ob0!sc!md4!7
01,2,3,4 on the SCXI module in the third slot of the first chassis and 7 on the SCXI module in the fourth slot of the first chassis
ob0!sc1!md2!20:22,
ob1!sc2!md3!5:8
20,21,22 on the SCXI module in the second slot of the first chassis and 5,6,7,8 on the SCXI module in the third slot of the second chassis
For more information about using SCXI, refer to Chapter 3, Using SCXI with Measure DAQ.
Note:
Some devices, such as the 1200-Series, have a fixed scanning order. If you are using a device that has a fixed scanning order and you want to scan multiple channels, you must list the channels in the scan list in descending order with the last channel in the scan list being channel 0 (for example, 3,2,1,0). If you are using such a device in differential mode, you must use the even-numbered channels (for example, 6,4,2,0).

High Limit

Enter the upper voltage limit for the channels in the channel string. This voltage is the maximum voltage that is measured at any of the analog input channels that you specify in the channel string. You may add more than one channel string to your scan list and each channel string may have a different set of high and low limits. When you create an AI task, Measure enters the default value for the device.
© National Instruments Corporation 4-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference

Low Limit

Enter the lower voltage limit for the channels in the channel string. This voltage is the minimum voltage that is measured at any of the analog input channels that are specified in the channel string. You may add more than one channel string to your scan list and each channel string may have a different set of high and low limits. When you create an AI task, Measure enters the default value for your device.
Note:
Not all devices can have scan lists in which different channels can have
different high and low limit settings.

Scan Information

Timing Settings

The following options apply to all the channels in the scan list.

Number of scans

Specify the number of scans for the acquisition. The number of scans is the number of data acquisitions or readings to acquire from each channel.

Scale to volts

Select this option if you want Measure to display the acquired data in volts. Otherwise, Measure displays the data as the binary values read from the analog-to-digital converter (ADC).
You can think of a scan as a snapshot of the voltages present on your channels at one time. The scan rate determines how many scans per second Measure executes, which means that Measure samples each channel at the scan rate you choose. If you set your scan rate to 10 scans per second, you are taking 10 snapshots each second of all the channels in you scan list. If channel 2 is in your scan list, you sample channel 2 ten times per second. You can think of your scan rate as your sampling rate per channel.
In reality, your device does not take a snapshot of all your channels instantaneously, unless it has the capability to do simultaneous sampling. Rather, for each scan (as timed by the scan clock), the device proceeds from one channel in the scan list to the next depending on the channel clock rate. The faster the channel clock rate, the more closely
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 4-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
in time the channels are sampled within each scan. The reciprocal of the channel clock rate is called the interchannel delay, or channel interval, shown in Figure 4-2.
0123 0123 0123
channel interval
Figure 4-2
. Scan Clock and Channel Clock
scan interval
Measure automatically calculates the smallest, safe interchannel delay for your given configuration and device. If you select a scan rate that requires an interchannel delay smaller than the safest interchannel delay, Measure returns a warning and uses round-robin scanning. Round-robin scanning means that the interval between the last channel in one scan and the first channel of the following scan is the same as the interval between any two channels in the middle of the scan, shown in Figure 4-3.
0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
channel
interval
Figure 4-3
. Round Robin Scanning

Scans/second

Enter a scan rate for the acquisition in this field.

External scan clock

Select this option if you want to use an external signal for generating the scan rate. Measure uses the signal on an I/O line on the connector of your DAQ device for generating the scan clock.
Note:
© National Instruments Corporation 4-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
For MIO-E Series devices, the external scan clock signal is connected to the
PFI7 pin. For most other devices, the external scan clock signal is connected
to the OUT2 line. See the user manual for your DAQ device for more
information.
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference

Display

When determining where to display the acquired data, Measure uses three pieces of information you specify.
Address of the upper-left cell in the range you select
Orientation of the channels you select (in rows or in columns)
Number of channels in the scan list For example, if your scan list has four channels and the upper-left cell
of the range has the address A5 and you specify In columns for the orientation, Measure displays the first scan of data in cells A5:D5, the second in A6:D6 and so on. The acquired data from the first channel in your scan list is displayed in the column headed by cell A5, the acquired data from the second channel in your scan list is displayed in the column headed by cell B5, and so on.

At cell

Specify the target range of the acquired data. Either explicitly type the cell address, or highlight the text in this field and select a cell on any worksheet in the workbook. Measure automatically records the address of your selection in this field.

In Columns

Select this option if you want to display your data in a channel per column orientation.

In Rows

Select this option if you want to display your data in a channel per row orientation.
Table 4-2 contains a list of the choices for the Analog Input Configuration dialog box with descriptions of their use.
Table 4-2.
Option/Button Description
Task Name When you create a new AI task, Measure suggests a unique name for
your new task. You can specify a name that is unique to the currently active workbook for this task.
Trigger Most data acquisition devices have a hardware digital trigger
Click this button to configure a digital trigger for your device.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 4-6 © National Instruments Corporation
Analog Input Configuration Buttons/Options
0-5V
.
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
Mode Change the analog input mode from the setting that you specify when
you run the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility, Measure automatically selects the option that reflects the current setting for your device.
Description Enter a short description of your task. Measure displays a description
of a task below the task list in the DAQ Tasks dialog box. Also, if you add your task to the DAQ menu, Measure displays the task description in the Excel status bar at the bottom of its window when you select the task in the menu.
OK Verify configuration and add a new task or update an existing task in
the data acquisition tasks lists. Return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.
Cancel Ignore changes and return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.
WDAQCONF.EXE

Trigger Reference

On most DAQ Series devices, you can configure a digital trigger that starts an acquisition, that stops an acquisition, or both. To set up a hardware trigger, select Analog Input Configuration»Trigger to open the Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, shown in Figure 4-4.
.
Figure 4-4.
Table 4-3 contains a list of Hardware Digital Trigger choices with descriptions of their use.
© National Instruments Corporation 4-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Hardware Digital Trigger Dialog Box
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
Table 4-3
Choices for Hardware Digital
. Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger
Description
Trigger
Start acquisition on trigger Select this option if you want to start your acquisition on
the rising edge of the
PFI0/EXTTRIG/STARTTRIG
(depending on the board you are using) input on the connector. Otherwise, Measure starts the acquisition with a software trigger.
Acquire until trigger Select this option if you want to stop your acquisition on
the rising edge of the
PFI1/EXTTRIG/STOPTRIG
(depending on the board you are using) signal on the connector. Otherwise, the acquisition ends after Measure acquires all the scans.
scans after trigger Specify the number of scans to acquire after the stop
trigger occurs.
Timeout (seconds) Specify a timeout value in seconds. If you want Measure
to calculate a timeout value for you, enter -1. If you specify an external scan clock and a timeout value of
-1
, Measure configures a timeout of one second.

Mode Reference

The Analog Input Mode applies to all the channels in your scan list. Select Analog Input Configuration»Mode to open the Analog Input Mode dialog box, shown in Figure 4-5.
Figure 4-5.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 4-8 © National Instruments Corporation
Analog Input Mode Dialog Box
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
Table 4-4 contains a list Analog Input Mode choices with descriptions of their use.
Table 4-4
. Choices for Analog Input Mode Dialog Box
Choices for Analog Input Mode Description
Differential Channels Select this option if you want each channel to use two
analog channel input lines. One line connects to the positive input of the device amplifier, and the other connects to the negative input of the amplifier. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.
Referenced Single-Ended Channels Select this option if you want each channel to use one
analog input channel line, which connects to the positive input of the amplifier. The negative input of the amplifier is internally tied to analog input ground
AIGND
. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.
Non-Referenced Single-Ended Channels
Select this option if you want each channel to use one analog input channel line, which connects to the positive input of the amplifier. The negative input of the amplifier connects to the analog input sense
AISENSE
input. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.
Note:
The Analog Input Mode on some devices is not configurable within Measure. If you have such a device, you must exit Measure and change the mode using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility. If you have a device with jumpers, you must exit Measure, power down your computer, change the jumpers, and run the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (
WDAQCONF.EXE
) to configure the new setting. Refer to the NI-DAQ User Manual that came with your device for more information.
© National Instruments Corporation 4-9 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference

Advanced Timing Settings

Most of the time, you do not have to configure the advanced timing settings because Measure automatically selects reasonable values for you. In some cases, however, you might want to select an interchannel delay or even use an external channel clock. You can configure these settings through the Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, shown in Figure 4-6.
Figure 4-6
. Advanced Timing Settings Option
Table 4-5 contains a list of the Advanced timing settings with descriptions of their use.
Table 4-5
. Choices for Advanced Timing
Choice for Advanced Timing Description
Let NI-DAQ choose an interchannel delay
NI-DAQ calculates an interchannel delay for you, based on your hardware, the limit settings for the task, and the scan rate for the task.
Specify interchannel delay (µS) Measure uses the interchannel delay you specify in
microseconds.
Use external channel clock Measure configures your DAQ device to use an external
channel clock.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 4-10 © National Instruments Corporation
Analog Output Reference
This chapter introduces some concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for basic and advanced Analog Output Configuration. You should be familiar with the hardware capabilities of your data acquisition device.

Analog Output Configuration Overview

To configure an analog output task, first you must select the channels on which you want to generate your signals. Refer to Table 5-1 for detailed information.
Figure 5-1
© National Instruments Corporation 5-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
. Analog Output Configuration
Chapter 5 Analog Output Reference
Table 5-1.
Analog Output Configuration Reference
Option Description
Channel Specify the analog output channel on which to generate a signal. You
may only specify one channel at a time.
Data cells Specify the source range of the voltage values to write to the digital-to-
analog converter (DAC) for the channel. Either explicitly type the cell address, or highlight the text in this field and then select a row of cells or a column of cells on any worksheet in the workbook. Measure
automatically records the address of your selection in this field. Add>> Click this button after specifying a channel and a data cells range. Remove Click this button to remove any channels or source ranges that you
selected in the list box. Number of iterations Specify the number of times Measure should iterate through the
waveform that you specified for a channel. If you specify 0 for the
number of iterations, Measure indefinitely iterates through the
waveform until you run another signal generation task on that same
device or until you exit Excel. Updates per second Specify the rate at which Measure writes the voltage values to the
DAC. If you specified more than one channel in your channel list, all
channels will have the same update rate. Task Name When you create a new AO task, Measure suggests a unique name for
your new task. You can change the name in the Task name edit box;
However, the name must be unique to the active workbook. Description Click on this button to enter a short description of your task. Measure
displays a description of a task below the task list in the DAQ Tasks
dialog box. Also, if you add your task to the DAQ menu, Measure
displays the task description in the Excel status bar at the bottom of its
window when you select the task from the menu. Advanced Click on this button to configure more of the advanced properties for
the analog output task. OK Verify configuration and add a new task or update an existing task in
the data acquisition tasks lists. Return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box. Cancel Ignore changes and return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 5-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 5 Analog Output Reference
Note:
If you want to generate waveforms on more than one channel, each channel must be added separately to the channel list. Also, Measure requires that all channels have the same number of voltage values to generate. If the range of data for one channel is larger than for another channel in the scan list, the shorter range of data is padded with the value 0 when Measure generates the waveforms.

Advanced Configuration

For most of your tasks, you do not need to use the Advanced Analog Output Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 5-2. With this dialog box, you may change the output range of your device by specifying new high and low limits or you may specify a current channel type, if your device supports it. Refer to Table 5-2 for detailed information.
Figure 5-2.
© National Instruments Corporation 5-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Advanced Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
Chapter 5 Analog Output Reference
Table 5-2.
Advanced Analog Output Configuration Options
Option Description
High Limit (volts) The high limit is equal to your reference voltage and is the maximum
voltage the DAC can produce. If you have an AT-AO-6/10 board and
your Channel Type is current, you can calculate the maximum possible
current with the following equation.
Imax = Vref + 2.5/0.625 mA
The following list contains the default settings for high limit. If you
want to use a high limit that differs from the ones given in this list, you
must supply an external voltage reference on the
EXTREF
pin of the connector and select the External Voltage Reference option. Most devices: 10.0 V Lab/1200 Series: -5.0 V or 10.0 V
Low Limit (volts) The low limit is either 0.0 Volts or a value equal to, but opposite in
sign, to the upper limit.
External Voltage
Reference
Select this option if you want to supply an external voltage reference
EXTREF
on the
pin of the connector.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 5-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Using Measure Data
Acquisition Tasks with VBA
This chapter describes how to run tasks from within Visual Basic for Applications. There are two ways to execute DAQ Add-In functions in a VBA module.
1. Indirectly, you can use
returnValue=Application.Run(“FuncName”, arg1) Application.Run “FuncName”, arg1
2. Directly, after you add a reference to the DAQ Add-In. To add a reference to the
DAQ Add-In, select Tools»References and select the checkbox next to the Data Acquisition Add-In.
returnValue = FuncName(arg1) FuncName arg1

Function Reference

The DAQ Add-In has one function that you can call to run a task that has been configured already and one function to translate an error code to an error description.
Application.Run
DAQ
Runs the task named
Syntax
Function DAQ(TaskName as String, [NewTargetRange as String], [ReferenceStyle as Variant]) as Integer
© National Instruments Corporation 6-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
TaskName
.
Chapter 6 Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA
Parameters
Option Description
TaskName The name of a task in the active workbook. NewTargetRange The address of a range on a worksheet that receives the acquired data.
If you fail to specify a worksheet explicitly in the address of this macro, Measure assumes that the range is on the active worksheet. If no worksheet is active, Measure returns an error. If this parameter is missing, Measure uses the previously configured range
ReferenceStyle Use either xlA1 or xlR1C1 to indicate the type of range address being
passed into NewTargetRange. If this parameter is missing, then Excel’s current reference type is assumed.
Return Value
Returns 0 if successful, otherwise returns an error code. See Appendix B, Error Codes for more information.
Example
‘Referenced not added to DAQ Add-In; use indirect method Sub RunMyTask()
Dim iErr As Integer iErr = Appliction.Run(“DAQ”, “AI1”) If iErr <> 0 Then
MsgBox Application.Run(“GetDAQErrorMessage”, iErr)
End If
End Sub
‘Referenced added to DAQ Add-In; use direct method Sub RunMyTask()
Dim iErr As Integer iErr = DAQ(“AI1”) If iErr <> 0 Then
MsgBox GetDAQErrorMessage(iErr)
End If
End Sub
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 6-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 6 Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA

GetDAQErrorMessage

Finds and returns a description of an error code returned by the DAQ function.
Syntax
Function GetDAQErrorMessage(ErrorCode As Integer) As String
Parameters
Option Description
ErrorCode A non-zero number returned by the DAQ function that indicates an
error.
Return Value
A short description of the error code.
Example
See the previous example for the DAQ function.
© National Instruments Corporation 6-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
DAQ Hardware Capabilities
This appendix contains SCXI information, and tables that summarize the analog I/O capabilities of National Instruments data acquisition (DAQ) devices you might use with Measure for Windows. The devices in this appendix are grouped into categories. The DAQ device categories for these tables include the following.
MIO and AI Devices
Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices
SCXI Modules
Analog Output Only Devices

SCXI Information

You cannot use the SCXI Analog Output Module (SCXI-1124) with Measure.
Measure works with all Data Acquisition devices supported by NI­DAQ except EISA-A2000, AT-A2150, and AT-DSP 2200.

MIO and AI Device Hardware Capabilities

Table A-1.
Device Gain Range Polarity SE/DIFF coupling
All MIO-E Series Devices All AI-E Series Devices
AT-MIO-16F-5 By Channel By Group By Group By Group DC AT-MIO-64F-5
AT-MIO-16X
© National Instruments Corporation A-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Analog Input Configuration ProgrammabilityMIO and AI Devices
By Channel By Channel By Channel By Channel DC
By Channel By Channel By Channel By Channel DC
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
AT-MIO-16/16D By Channel By Device By Device By Device DC
Note: “By device” means you select the value of a parameter with hardware jumpers, and
the selection affects any group of channels on the device. “By group” means you program the selection through software, and the selection affects all the channels used at the same time. “By channel” means you program the selection with hardware jumpers or through software on a per channel basis. When a specific value for a parameter is shown, that parameter value is fixed.
Table A-2.
Device Number of
Analog Input CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices (Part 1)
Resolution Gains1Range (V)1Input FIFO
Channels
AT-MIO-16E-1 AT-MIO-16E-2 AT-MIO-16E-10 AT-MIO-16DE-10 NEC-MIO-16E-4 NEC-AI-16E-4
AT-MIO-64E-3 64SE, 32DI 12 bits
NEC-MIO-16XE-50 NEC-AI-16XE-50 AT-MIO-16XE-50 DAQPad-MIO-16XE-50 PCI-MIO-16XE-50
AT-MIO-16F-5 AT-MIO-64F-5
AT-MIO-16X 16SE, 8DI 16
16SE, 8DI 12 bits
16SE, 8DI 16 bits
16SE, 8DI 64SE, 32DI
12 bits
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
1, 2,10, 100
0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
Scanning
(words)
±5, 0 to 10 512; E-1:
8,192; E-2 and E4: 2,048
±5, 0 to 10 2,048 Up to 512
±10, 0 to 10 512 Up to 512
±5, ±10, 0 to1016F-5: 256;
64F-5: 512
±10, 0 to 10 512 Up to 512
Up to 512
Up to 512
2
AT-MIO-16(L) AT-MIO-16(H) AT-MIO-16D(L) AT-MIO-16D(H)
1 You can determine the limit settings of your device by dividing the range by the desired gain.
2 Scanning = channels, in any order.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual A-2 © National Instruments Corporation
16SE, 8DI 12 (L) 1, 10,
100, 500; (H): 1, 2, 4, 8
±5, ±10, 0 to1016 (L,H);
512 (DL, DH)
Up to 16
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
Table A-3.
Device Triggers
AT-MIO-16E-1 AT-MIO-16E-2 AT-MIO-64E-3 AT-MIO-16E-10
Analog Input CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices (Part 2)
1
Pre, Post E-1: 1 M,
E-2 and E-3: 500 k, E-4: 250 k,
E-10 and DE-10: 100 k AT-MIO-16DE-10 NEC-AI-16E-4 NEC-MIO-16E-4
SB-MIO-16E-4 Pre, Post 250 k All MIO-16XE-50 Devices
Pre, Post 20 k
NEC-AI-16XE-50 AT-MIO-16F-5
Pre, Post 200 k
AT-MIO-64F-5 AT-MIO-16X
Pre, Post 100 k
AT-MIO-16/16D
1 Pre=Pretrigger, Post=Posttrigger.
Table A-4.
Analog Output CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices
Max Sampling Rate (S/s)
Device Channel
All MIO-16E Devices AT-MIO-16DE-10 AT-MIO-64 E-3
Numbers
0, 1 12-bit double buffered
(E-1, E-2, 64E-3, and E-4: 2 K FIFO)
DAC Type
Output Limits (V) Waveform Grouping
0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref,
0, 1, or 0 and 1 0 to Vref (only ±10 on XE-50 devices)
AT-MIO-16XE-50 DAQPad-MIO-16XE­50 PCI-MIO-16XE-50
AT-MIO-16F-5 AT-MIO-64F-5
AT-MIO-16X 0, 1 16-bit double buffered
AT-MIO-16/16D 0, 1 12-bit double buffered 0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref,
0, 1 12-bit double buffered
(64F-5: 2 K FIFO)
(2 K FIFO)
0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref, 0 to Vref
±10, 0 to 10, ±Vref, 0 to Vref
0, 1, or 0 and 1
0, 1, or 0 and 1
0, 1, or 0 and 1 0 to Vref
© National Instruments Corporation A-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices Hardware Capabilities

Table A-5.
Device Gain Range Polarity SE/DIFF coupling
Lab-PC+ By group By group By device By device DC
Analog Input Configuration ProgrammabilityLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices
SCXI-1200 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200 PCI-1200
DAQCard-500 1 Only 1 range available Bipolar SE DC DAQCard-700 1 By group Bipolar By group DC PC-LPM-16 1 By device Bipolar SE DC
Note:
“By device” means you select the value of a parameter with hardware jumpers, and
By group By group By group By group DC
the selection affects any group of channels on the device. “By group” means you program the selection through software, and the selection affects all the channels used at the same time. “By channel” means you program the selection with hardware jumpers or through software on a per channel basis. When a specific value for a parameter is shown, that parameter value is fixed.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual A-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
Table A-6.
Device Number of
Lab-PC+ SCXI-1200
Analog Input CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 1)
Resolution
Channels
(bits)
8SE, 4DI 12 1, 2, 5, 10 20, 50,
Gains
1
Range (V)
±5, 0 to 10
100 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200 PCI-1200
DAQCard-500 8SE 12 1 DAQCard-700 16SE, 8DI 12 1 PC-LPM-16 16SE 12 1
±5 ±10, ±5, ±2.5 ±5, ±2.5,
0 to 10, 0 to 5
1 You can determine the limit settings of your device by dividing the range by the desired gain.
Table A-7.
Device Scanning Triggers Max Sampling
Lab-PC+ SCXI-1200 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200
Analog Input CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 2)
Any single channel; for multiple channels, N through
Pretrigger, and posttrigger with digital trigger
0, where N=7
1
2,048; Lab-PC: 512
16 512 16
Input FIFO
(samples)
Rate (S/s)
100 k; Lab-PC+: 83 k
DAQCard-500 Any single channel; for
50 k multiple channels, N through 0, where N=7
DAQCard-700 Any single channel; for
100 k multiple channels, N through 0, where N=15
PC-LPM-16 Any single channel; for
50 k multiple channels, N through 0, where N=15
© National Instruments Corporation A-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
Table A-8.
Analog Output CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices
Device Channel #s DAC Type Output Limits (V) Waveform
Lab-PC+
0, 1 12-bit double-buffered 0 to 10, ±5 0, 1, or 0 and 1 SCXI-1200 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200 PCI-1200

SCXI Module Hardware Capabilities

Module Number of
Channels
SCXI-1100 32 DI
Table A-9.
Input
Voltage
Range (V)
±10
Analog Input CharacteristicsSCXI Modules
1
Gains
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000
1
(SW/M)
1
Filter
lowpass filter (or no filter) with 10 kHz or 4 Hz cutoff frequency
1
(JS/M)
Grouping
Excitation Channels
1
Mode
Support
multiplexed
SCXI-1102 32 DI
±10
1, 100 (SW/C)11 Hz lowpass
multiplexed
on each channel
SCXI-1120 SCXI-1121
8 DI (SCXI-
1120) 4 DI (SCXI-
±5
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000
1
(JS/C)
lowpass filter with 10 kHz or 4 Hz cutoff frequency
1
(JS/C)
SCXI-1121 only: 4 voltage or current excitation channels (JS/C)
multiplexed or parallel
1
1121)
1 channels
±10
±10
0.01, 0.02, 0.05,
0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000
1
(SW/M) 1, 10, 100, 200,
500
1
(DS/C)
lowpass filter with 4kHz or 4 Hz cutoff frequency
8 voltage or current excitation channels in
multiplexed
4-wire scanning mode
none multiplexed
or parallel
SCXI-1122 16 DI or 8
DI and 8 excitation
SW/M
SCXI-1140 8 DI,
sample and hold
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual A-6 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
SCXI-1141 8 DI
1 DS/C = dip switch-selectable per channel, JS/C = jumper-selectable per channel, JS/M = jumper-selectable per
module, SW/C = software-selectable per channel, SW/M = software-selectable per module
2 The SCXI-1141 has an automatic filter setting. NI-DAQ sets the filter frequency based on the scan rates used with
the module.
±5
Table A-10.
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
1
(SW/C)
Terminal Block Selection GuideSCXI Modules
elliptic lowpass filter with 10Hz to 25KHz cutoff frequency
(disabled on a per channel basis)
2 (SW/M)1
multiplexed
or parallel
SCXI Module Terminal Blocks Cold-Junction
Compensation Sensor
(CJC)
SCXI-1100 SCXI-1102
SCXI-1120 SCXI-1121
SCXI-1303 SCXI-1300
SCXI-1320 SCXI-1321 SCXI-1327 SCXI-1328
Thermistor IC Sensor
1
IC Sensor IC Sensor Thermistor
Thermistor SCXI-1122 SCXI-1322 Thermistor SCXI-1140 SCXI-1301
SCXI-1304
— SCXI-1141 SCXI-1304 — SCXI-1180 SCXI-1302
with NB1 cable
SCXI-1181 SCXI-1300
SCXI-1301
IC Sensor
— SCXI-1200 SCXI-1302
CB-50 with NB1 cable——
1
SCXI-1121 only
© National Instruments Corporation A-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Analog Output Only Devices Hardware Capabilities

Table A-11.
Analog Output CharacteristicsAnalog Output Only Devices
Device Channel #s DAC Type Output
AT-AO-6 AT-AO-10
PC-AO-2DC (Plug and Play)
DAQCard-AO-2DC 0, 1 0 to 10V, ±5V,
*AT-AO-10 only
0 through 5, 6 through 9*
0, 1 0 to 10V, ±5V,
12-bit double­buffered with 1 K FIFO for update clock 1 channels
Limits (V)
±10V, ±Vref1, 0 to 10, 0 to Vref1, 4 to 20 mA, 4 to
+
VrefmA125
.
0 625
.
0-20mA sink software-selectable
0-10mA sink software-selectable
Waveform Grouping Transfer Method
For update clock 1 channels are any one channel N or set of channel pairs: 0-N; for update clock 2 channels are 2-N, same rules as above: N=6, N=10*
Update clock 1 channels: DMA, interrupts; update clock 2 channels: interrupts
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual A-8 © National Instruments Corporation
Error Codes
This appendix describes the errors that can occur while using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
Error
Code
-10001
-10002
-10003
-10004
-10005
-10006
-10007
-10008
-10009
Table B-1
Error Description
syntaxErr
semanticsErr
invalidValueErr
valueConflictErr
DSPbadDeviceErr badLineErr badChanErr
badGroupErr badCounterErr
. Data Acquisition Error Codes
An error was detected in the input string; the arrangement or ordering of the characters in the string was not consistent with the expected ordering.
An error was detected in the input string; the syntax of the string was correct, but certain values specified in the string were inconsistent with other values specified in the string.
The value of a numeric parameter is invalid.
The value of a numeric parameter is inconsistent with another one, and therefore the combination is invalid.
The device is invalid. The line is invalid. Possible reasons for this error are as
follows.
A channel is out-of-range for the
device type or input configuration.
The combination of channels is not
allowed.
The scan order must be reversed
(0 last). The group is invalid. The counter is invalid.
© National Instruments Corporation B-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10010
-10011
-10012
-10013
-10014
-10015
-10016
-10017
-10018
-10019
-10020
-10021
-10022
-10023
-10024
-10025
badCountErr
badIntervalErr
badRangeErr
badErrorCodeErr
groupTooLargeErr badTimeLimitErr badReadCountErr badReadModeErr badReadOffsetErr badClkFrequencyErr badTimebaseErr badLimitsErr
badWriteCountErr
badWriteModeErr
badWriteOffsetErr
limitsOutOfRange
The count is too large or too small for the specified counter, or the given I/O transfer count is not appropriate for the current buffer or channel configuration.
The analog input scan rate is too fast for the number of channels and the channel clock rate, or the given clock rate is not supported by the associated counter channel or I/O channel.
The analog input or analog output voltage range is invalid for the specified channel.
The driver returned an unrecognized or unlisted error code.
The group size is too large for the device. The time limit is invalid. The read count is invalid. The read mode is invalid. The offset is unreachable. The frequency is invalid. The timebase is invalid. The limits are beyond the range of the
device. Possible reasons for this error are as
follows.
Your data array contains incomplete
update.
You are trying to write past the end
of the internal buffer.
Your output operation is continuous
and the length of your array is not a multiple of one-half the internal buffer size.
The write mode is out-of-range or is not allowed.
Adding the write offset to the write mark places the write mark outside the internal buffer.
The requested input limits exceed the device's capability or configuration. Alternative limits were selected.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10026
-10027
-10028
-10029
-10030
-10031
-10032
-10033
-10034
-10080
-10081
-10082
-10083
-10084
-10085
-10086
-10087
-10088
-10089
badBufferSpec
badDAQEventErr
badFilterCutoffErr
obsoleteFunctionError
badBaudRateError
badChassisIDError
badModuleSlotError
invalidWinHandleError
noSuchMessageError
badGainErr badPretrigCountErr badPosttrigCountErr badTrigModeErr badTrigCountErr badTrigRangeErr
badExtRefErr badTrigTypeErr badTrigLevelErr badTotalCountErr
The requested number of buffers or the buffer size is not allowed; e.g., Lab-PC buffer limit is 64K samples, or the device does not support multiple buffers.
For DAQEvents 0 and 1, general value A must be greater than zero and less than the internal buffer size. If DMA is used for DAQEvent 1, general value A must divide the internal buffer size evenly, with no remainder. If you use TIO-10 for DAQEvent 4, general value A must be one or two.
The cutoff frequency specified is not valid for this device.
The function you are calling is no longer supported in this version of the driver.
The specified baud rate for communicating with the serial port is not valid on this platform.
The specified SCXI chassis does not correspond to a configured SCXI chassis.
The SCXI module slot that was specified is invalid or corresponds to an empty slot.
The window handle passed to the function is invalid.
No configured message matches the one you tried to delete.
The gain is invalid. The pretrigger sample count is invalid. The post-trigger sample count is invalid. The trigger mode is invalid. The trigger count is invalid. The trigger range or trigger hysteresis
window is invalid. The external reference is invalid. The trigger type is invalid. The trigger level is invalid. The total count is inconsistent with the
buffer size and pretrigger scan count or
© National Instruments Corporation B-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10090
-10091
-10092
-10093
-10100
-10120
-10121
-10122
-10123
-10124
-10125
-10200
-10201
-10240
-10241
-10242
-10243
badRPGErr
badIterationsErr
lowScanIntervalError
fifoModeError
badPortWidthErr
gpctrBadApplicationError gpctrBadCtrNumberError gpctrBadParamValueError gpctrBadParamIDError gpctrBadEntityIDError gpctrBadActionError EEPROMreadError EEPROMwriteError noDriverErr
oldDriverErr
functionNotFoundErr
DSPconfigFileErr
with the device type. The individual range, polarity, and gain
settings are valid, but the combination is not allowed.
You have attempted to use an invalid setting for the iterations parameter. The iterations value must be 0 or greater. Your device may be limited to only two values, zero and one.
Some devices require a time gap between the last sample in a scan and the start of the next scan. The scan interval you have specified does not provide a large enough gap for the device. See the SCAN_Start function in the language interface API for an explanation.
FIFO mode waveform generation cannot be used because at least one condition is not satisfied.
The requested digital port width is not a multiple of the hardware port width.
Invalid application used. Invalid counterNumber used. Invalid paramValue used. Invalid paramID used. Invalid entityID used. Invalid action used. Unable to read data from EEPROM. Unable to write data to EEPROM. The driver interface could not locate or
open the driver. One of the driver files or the
configuration utility is out-of-date. The specified function is not located in
the driver. The driver could not locate or open the
configuration file, or the format of the configuration file is not compatible with the currently installed driver.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10244
-10245
-10246
-10247
-10248
-10249
-10250
-10251
-10252
-10253
deviceInitErr
osInitErr
communicationsErr
DSPcmosConfigErr
dupAddressErr
intConfigErr
dupIntErr
dmaConfigErr
dupDMAErr
jumperlessBoardErr
The driver encountered a hardware­initialization error while attempting to configure the specified device.
The driver encountered an operating­system error while attempting to perform an operation, or the operating system does not support an operation performed by the driver.
The driver is unable to communicate with the specified external device.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows.
The CMOS configuration-memory
for the device is empty or invalid.
The configuration specified does not
agree with the current configuration of the device.
The EISA system configuration is
invalid.
The base addresses for two or more devices are the same; consequently, the driver is unable to access the specified device.
The interrupt configuration is incorrect given the capabilities of the computer or device.
The interrupt levels for two or more devices are the same.
The DMA configuration is incorrect given the capabilities of the computer/DMA controller or device.
The DMA channels for two or more devices are the same.
The driver is unable to find one or more jumperless devices that you have configured using
WDAQCONF.EXE.
© National Instruments Corporation B-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10254
-10256
-10257
-10258
-10259
-10260
-10340
-10341
-10342
-10343
-10360
DAQCardConfErr
dmaChannel1Error
baseAddressError
dmaChannel1Error
dmaChannel2Error
dmaChannel3Error
noConnectErr
badConnectErr
multConnectErr
SCXIConfigErr
DSPInitErr
The DAQCard cannot be configured because 1) the correct version of the card and socket services software is not installed, 2) the card in the PCMCIA socket is not a DAQCard, or 3) the base address and/or interrupt level requested are not available according to the card and socket services resource manager. Try different settings or use AutoAssign in the NI-DAQ configuration utility.
Bad DMA channel 1 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad base address specified in the configuration utility.
Bad DMA channel 1 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad DMA channel 2 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad DMA channel 3 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
No RTSI signal/line is connected, or the specified signal and the specified line are not connected.
The RTSI signal/line cannot be connected as specified.
The specified RTSI signal is already being driven by a RTSI line, or the specified RTSI line is already being driven by a RTSI signal.
The specified SCXI configuration parameters are invalid, or the function cannot be executed with the current SCXI configuration.
The DSP driver was unable to load the kernel for its operating system.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-6 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10370
-10400
-10401
-10402
-10403
-10404
-10405
-10406
-10407
-10408
-10409
-10410
-10411
-10412
badScanListErr
userOwnedRsrcErr
DSPunknownDeviceErr
deviceNotFoundErr
DSPdeviceSupportErr
noLineAvailErr noChanAvailErr noGroupAvailErr lineBusyErr chanBusyErr groupBusyErr relatedLCGBusyErr
counterBusyErr noGroupAssignErr
Possible reasons for this error are as follows.
The scan list is invalid; for example,
you are mixing AMUX-64T channels and onboard channels.
You are scanning SCXI channels out
of order.
The driver attempts to achieve
complicated gain distributions over SCXI channels on the same module by manipulating the scan list, and returns this error message if it fails.
The specified resource is owned by the user and cannot be accessed or modified by the driver.
The specified device is not a National Instruments product, or the driver does not support the device (e.g., the driver was released before the device was supported).
No device is located in the specified slot or at the specified address.
The specified device does not support the requested action (the driver recognizes the device, but the action is inappropriate for the device).
No line is available. No channel is available. No group is available. The specified line is in use. The specified channel is in use. The specified group is in use. A related line, channel, or group is in
use. If the driver configures the specified line, channel, or group, the configuration, data, or handshaking lines for the related line, channel, or group are disturbed.
The specified counter is in use. No group is assigned, or the specified
line or channel cannot be assigned to a
© National Instruments Corporation B-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10413
-10414
-10416
-10417
groupAssignErr
reservedPinErr
DSPDataPathBusyError
SCXIModuleNotSupportedErr or
-10344
-10345
-10346
-10347
-10348
-10349
chassisSynchedError
chassisMemAllocError
badPacketError
chassisCommunicationError
waitingForReprogError
SCXIModuleTypeConflictErr or
-10440
sysOwnedRsrcErr
group. A group is already assigned, or the
specified line or channel is already assigned to a group.
The selected signal requires a pin that is reserved and configured only by NI-DAQ. You cannot configure this pin yourself.
Either DAQ or WFM can use a PC memory buffer, but not both at the same time.
At least one of the SCXI modules specified is not supported for the operation.
The Remote SCXI unit is not synchronized with the host. Reset the chassis again to resynchronize it with the host.
The required amount of memory cannot be allocated on the Remote SCXI unit for the specified operation.
The packet received by the Remote SCXI unit is invalid. Check your serial port cable connections.
There was an error in sending a packet to the remote chassis. Check your serial port cable connections.
The Remote SCXI unit is in reprogramming mode and is waiting for reprogramming commands from the host (NI-DAQ Configuration Utility).
The module ID read from the SCXI module conflicts with the configured module type.
The specified resource is owned by the driver and cannot be accessed or modified by the user.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-8 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10441
-10442
-10443
-10444
-10445
-10446
-10447
-10448
-10449
-10450
memConfigErr
memDisabledErr
memAlignmentErr
DSPmemFullErr
memLockErr
memPageErr
memPageLockErr
stackMemErr
cacheMemErr
physicalMemErr
No memory is configured to support the current data-transfer mode, or the configured memory does not support the current data-transfer mode. (If block transfers are in use, the memory must be capable of performing block transfers.)
The specified memory is disabled or is unavailable given the current addressing mode.
The transfer buffer is not aligned properly for the current data-transfer mode; e.g., the buffer is at an odd address, is not aligned to a 32-bit boundary, is not aligned to a 512­bit boundary, and so on. Alternatively, this error can occur if the driver is unable to align the buffer because the buffer is too small.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows.
No more system memory is available
on the heap.
No more memory is available on the
device.
You have insufficient disk space
available.
The transfer buffer cannot be locked into physical memory.
The transfer buffer contains a page break; system resources may require reprogramming when the page break is encountered.
The operating environment is unable to grant a page lock.
The driver is unable to continue parsing a string input due to stack limitations.
A cache-related error occurred, or caching is not supported in the current mode.
A hardware error occurred in physical memory, or no memory is located at the specified address.
© National Instruments Corporation B-9 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10451
-10452
-10453
-10454
-10455
-10456
-10457
-10458
-10459
-10460
-10480
-10481
-10560
-10600
-10601
virtualMemErr
noIntAvailErr intInUseErr
noDMACErr
noDMAAvailErr DMAInUseErr
badDMAGroupErr
diskFullError DSPDLLInterfaceErr
interfaceInteractionErr
muxMemFullError
bufferNotInterleavedError
invalidDSPhandleErr noSetupErr
multSetupErr
The driver is unable to make the transfer buffer contiguous in virtual memory and therefore cannot lock it into physical memory. Thus, the buffer cannot be used for DMA transfers.
No interrupt level is available for use. The specified interrupt level is already in
use by another device. No DMA controller is available in the
system. No DMA channel is available for use. The specified DMA channel is already in
use by another device. The DMA cannot be configured for the
specified group because it is too small, too large, or misaligned. Consult your device user manual to determine group ramifications with respect to DMA.
The storage disk you specified is full. The DLL could not be called because of an
interface error. You have mixed Vis from the DAQ library
and the _DAQ compatibility library (LabVIEW 2.2 Vis). You may switch between the two libraries only by running the DAQ VI Device Reset before calling the _DAQ compatibility Vis, or by running the compatibility VI Board Reset before calling DAQ Vis.
The scan list is too large to fit into the mux­gain memory of the device.
You cannot use DMA to transfer data from two buffers. You may be able to use interrupts.
The DSP handle input is not valid. A setup operation has not been performed
the specified resources. The specified resources have already been
configured by a setup operation.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-10 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10602
-10603
-10604
-10605
-10606
-10607
-10608
-10609
-10610
-10611
-10612
-10613
-10614
-10615
noWriteErr
groupWriteErr
activeWriteErr
endWriteErr
notArmedErr armedErr noTransferInProgErr
transferInProgErr
transferPauseErr
badDirOnSomeLinesErr
badLineDirErr
badChanDirErr
badGroupDirErr
masterClkErr
No output data has been written into the transfer buffer.
The output data associated with a group must be for a single channel or must be for consecutive channels.
Once data generation has started, only the transfer buffers originally written to can be updated. If DMA is active and a single transfer buffer contains interleaved channel-data, you must provide new data for all output channels currently using the DMA channel.
No data was written to the transfer buffer because the final data block has already been loaded.
The specified resource is not armed. The specified resource is already armed. No transfer is in progress for the
specified resource. A transfer is already in progress for the
specified resource. A single output channel in a group
cannot be paused if the output data for the group is interleaved.
Some of the lines in the specified channel are not configured for the transfer direction specified. For a write transfer, some lines are configured for input. For a read transfer, some lines are configured for output.
The specified line does not support the specified transfer direction.
The specified channel does not support the specified transfer direction.
The specified group does not support the specified transfer direction.
The clock configuration for the clock master is invalid.
© National Instruments Corporation B-11 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10616
-10617
-10618
-10619
-10620
-10621
-10622
-10623
-10624
-10625
-10626
-10627
-10628
-10629
-10630
-10631
slaveClkErr
noClkSrcErr
badClkSrcErr
multClkSrcErr
noTrigErr
badTrigErr
preTrigErr
postTrigErr delayTrigErr
masterTrigErr
slaveTrigErr
noTrigDrvErr
multTrigDrvErr
invalidOpModeErr
invalidReadErr
noInfiniteModeErr
The clock configuration for the clock slave is invalid.
No source signal has been assigned to the clock resource.
The specified source signal cannot be assigned to the clock resource.
A source signal has already been assigned to the clock resource.
No trigger signal has been assigned to the trigger resource.
The specified trigger signal cannot be assigned to the trigger resource.
The pretrigger mode is not supported or is not available in the current configuration, or no pretrigger source has been assigned.
No posttrigger source has been assigned. The delayed trigger mode is not
supported or is not available in the current configuration, or no delay source has been assigned.
The trigger configuration for the trigger master is invalid.
The trigger configuration for the trigger slave is invalid.
No signal has been assigned to the trigger resource.
A signal has already been assigned to the trigger resource.
The specified operating mode is invalid, or the resources have not been configured for the specified operating mode.
An attempt was made to read 0-bytes from the transfer buffer, or an attempt was made to read past the end of the transfer buffer.
Continuous input or output transfers are not allowed in the current operating mode.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-12 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10632
-10633
-10634
-10635
-10636
-10637
-10680
-10681
-10682
-10683
-10684
-10685
-10686
-10687
someInputsIgnoredErr
invalidRegenModeErr
noContTransferInProgressE rror
invalidSCXIOpModeError
noContWithSynchError
bufferAlreadyConfigError
badChanGainErr
badChanRangeErr
badChanPolarityErr
badChanCouplingErr
badChanInputModeErr
clkExceedsBrdsMaxConvRate
scanListInvalidErr
bufferInvalidErr
Certain inputs were ignored because they were not relevant in the current operating mode.
The specified analog output regeneration mode is not allowed for this device.
No continuous (double buffered) transfer is in progress for the specified resource.
Either the SCXI operating mode specified in a configuration call is invalid, or a module is in the wrong operating mode to execute the function call.
You cannot start a continuous (double­buffered) operation with a synchronous function call.
Attempted to configure a buffer after the buffer had already been configured. You can configure a buffer only once.
All channels of this device must have the same gain.
All channels of this device must have the same range.
All channels of this device must have the same polarity.
All channels of this device must have the same coupling.
All channels of this device must have the same input mode.
The clock rate exceeded the device’s recommended maximum rate.
A configuration change has invalidated the scan list.
A configuration change has invalidated the allocated buffer.
© National Instruments Corporation B-13 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10688
-10689
-10690
-10691
-10692
-10693
-10694
-10695
-10696
-10697
-10698
-10699
-10700
noTrigEnabledErr
digitalTrigBErr
digitalTrigAandBErr
extConvRestrictionErr
chanClockDisabledErr
extScanClockErr
unsafeSamplingFreqErr
DMAnotAllowedErr
multiRateModeErr
rateNotSupportedErr
timebaseConflictErr
polarityConflictErr
signalConflictErr
The number of total scans and pretrigger scans implies that a triggered start is intended, but triggering is not enabled.
Digital trigger B is illegal for the number of total scans and pretrigger scans specified.
This device does not allow digital triggers A and B to be enabled at the same time.
This device does not allow an external sample clock with an external scan clock, start trigger, or stop trigger.
The acquisition cannot be started because the channel clock is disabled.
You cannot use an external scan clock when performing a single scan of a single channel.
The sample frequency exceeds the safe maximum rate for the hardware, gains, and filters used.
You have set up an operation that requires the use of interrupts. DMA is not allowed.
Multi-rate scanning cannot be used with the AMUX-64, SCXI, or pretriggered acquisitions.
Unable to convert your timebase/interval pair to match the actual hardware capabilities of this device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and sample clock timebases for this device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and sample clock source polarities for this operation and device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and convert clock signal sources for this operation and device.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-14 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10701
-10702
-10710
-10720
-10740
-10780
-10781
-10782
-10783
-10800
-10801
-10802
-10803
-10804
noLaterUpdateError
prePostTriggerError
noHandshakeModeError
noEventCtrError
SCXITrackHoldErr
sc2040InputModeErr
outputTypeMustBeVoltageEr ror
sc2040HoldModeError
calConstPolarityConflictE rror
timeOutErr
calibrationErr
dataNotAvailErr
transferStoppedErr
earlyStopErr
The call had no effect because the specified channel had not been set for later internal update.
Pretriggering and posttriggering cannot be used simultaneously on the Lab and 1200 series devices.
The specified port has not been configured for handshaking.
The specified counter is not configured for event-counting operation.
A signal has already been assigned to the SCXI track-and-hold trigger line, or a control call was inappropriate because the specified module was not configured for one-channel operation.
When you have an SC2040 attached to your device, all analog input channels must be configured for differential input mode.
The polarity of the output channel cannot be bipolar when outputting currents.
The specified operation cannot be performed with the SC-2040 configured in hold mode.
Calibration constants in the load area have a different polarity from the current configuration. Therefore, you should load constants from factory.
The operation could not complete within the time limit.
An error occurred during the calibration process.
The requested amount of data has not yet been acquired.
The transfer has been stopped to prevent regeneration of output data.
The transfer stopped prior to reaching the end of the transfer buffer.
© National Instruments Corporation B-15 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10805
-10806
-10807
-10808
-10809
-10810
-10811
-10840
-10841
-10842
-10843
overRunErr
noTrigFoundErr
earlyTrigErr
LPTCommunicationErr
gateSignalErr
internalDriverError
internalKernelError
softwareErr
firmwareErr
hardwareErr
underFlowErr
The clock source for the input task is faster than the maximum clock rate the device supports. If you allow the driver to calculate the analog input channel clock rate, the driver bases the clock rate on the device type. For this reason, you should check the configuration utility to make certain that you have the correct device type.
No trigger value was found in the input transfer buffer.
The trigger occurred before acquiring sufficient pretrigger data.
An error occurred in the parallel port communication with the SCXI-1200.
Attempted to start a pulse width measurement with the pulse in the phase to be measured (e.g., high phase for high-level gating).
An unexpected error occurred inside the driver when performing this given operation.
An unexpected error occurred inside the kernel of the device while performing this operation.
The contents or the location of the driver file was changed between accesses to the driver.
The firmware does not support the specified operation, or the firmware operation could not complete due to a data-integrity problem.
The hardware is not responding to the specified operation, or the response from the hardware is not consistent with the functionality of the hardware.
Because of system limitations, the driver could not write data to the device fast enough to keep up with the device throughput.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-16 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-10844
-10845
-10846
-10847
-10848
-10849
-10850
-10851
-10852
-10853
-10854
-10855
-10856
underWriteErr
overFlowErr
overWriteErr
dmaChainingErr
noDMACountAvailErr
OpenFileError
closeFileErr fileSeekErr readFileErr writeFileErr miscFileErr osUnsupportedError
osError
New data was not written to the output transfer buffer before the driver attempted to transfer data to the device.
Because of system limitations, the driver could not read data from the device fast enough to keep up with the device throughput. The onboard device memory reported an overflow error.
The driver wrote new data into the input transfer buffer before the previously acquired data was read.
New buffer information was not available at the time of the DMA chaining interrupt; DMA transfers will terminate at the end of the currently active transfer buffer.
The driver could not obtain a valid reading from the transfer-count register in the DMA controller.
The configuration file or DSP kernel file could not be opened.
Unable to close a file. Unable to seek within a file. Unable to read from a file. Unable to write to a file. An error occurred accessing a file. NI-DAQ does not support the current
operation on this particular version of the operating system.
An unexpected error occurred from the operating system while performing the given operation.
© National Instruments Corporation B-17 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B Error Codes
-10880
-10881
-10882
-10883
-10884
-10920
-10940
-10941
-10942
-2001
-2002
-2003
updateRateChangeErr
partialTransferCompleteError
daqPollDataLossError
wfmPollDataLossError
pretrigReorderError
gpctrDataLossErr
chassisResponseTimeoutError
reprogrammingFailedError
invalidResetSignatureError
ERR_TASK_NOT_FOUND ERR_WORKSHEET_DOES_NOT_EXIST
ERR_RANGE_IS_NOT_VALID
A change to the update rate is not possible at this time because 1) when waveform generation is in progress, you cannot change the interval timebase or 2) when you make several changes in a row, you must give each change enough time to take effect before requesting further changes.
You cannot perform another transfer after a successful partial transfer.
The data collected on the Remote SCXI unit was overwritten before it could be transferred to the buffer in the host. Try using a slower data acquisition rate if possible.
New data could not be transferred to the waveform buffer of the Remote SCXI unit to keep up with the waveform update rate. Try using a slower waveform update rate if possible.
Could not rearrange data after a pretrigger acquisition completed.
One or more data points may have been lost during buffered GPCTR operations due to speed limitations of your system.
No response was received from the Remote SCXI unit within the specified time limit.
Reprogramming the Remote SCXI unit was unsuccessful. Please try again.
An invalid reset signature was sent from the host to the Remote SCXI unit.
Unable to find task. The worksheet that is specified in the
task's configuration does not exist. The range that is specified in the task's
configuration is not valid.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual B-18 © National Instruments Corporation
Appendix B Error Codes
-2101
iERR_AO_MULTIPLE_CHANS_ PER_STRING
An analog output channel string represents multiple analog output channels. Measure requires that each analog output channel string contain only one analog output channel.
© National Instruments Corporation B-19 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Troubleshooting
This appendix describes solutions to problems that you might encounter using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
Problem: No DAQ menu appears. Solution: From the Tools»Add-Ins. Click on the
Problem: The list of data acquisition devices is empty. Solution: Verify with the NI-DAQ Configuration
Browse button and look for
the directory where you installed Measure. Once you find it, select it and click on the OK button. If a dialog box appears with the message
‘DAQ.XLA’?
will see a Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry in the list box and the checkbox next to it will be checked. Click on the OK button.
Utility ( properly installed and configured your device. Verify that your device is supported by Measure. Refer to Appendix B, DAQ
Hardware Capabilities.
Replace existing
click on the Yes button. You
WDAQCONF.EXE)
DAQ.XLA
that you have
in
© National Instruments Corporation C-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix C Troubleshooting
Problem: You are using Windows 3.1 or Windows for
Workgroups 3.11 and you get a dialog box entitled Measure with the message,
Error -10243 The driver could not locate or open the configuration file, or the format of the configuration file is not compatible with the currently installed driver.
Solution: Delete the
WDAQCONF.CFG
file in your Windows directory. Then reconfigure your hardware using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility. If the problem persists, contact National Instruments for an updated version of the NI-DAQ driver.
Problem: You get a dialog box entitled Measure with
a message that begins
Fatal error.
Solution: Congratulations! It is likely that you have
found a deficiency in our code! Please write down the information in the dialog box as well as the actions that you took preceding the error. Try to reproduce the error. Then, call National Instruments technical support.
Problem: After you remove the Measure Data
Acquisition Add-In in the Add-Ins dialog box, a dialog box entitled Microsoft Excel appears with the message
Cannot
access ‘DAQ.XLA’.
Solution: Click on the Cancel button. This behavior,
which occurs because of Microsoft Excel or the OLE libraries, is harmless and you can safely ignore it.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual C-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Customer Communication
Click here to comment on this document via the
National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
For your convenience, this appendix contains forms to help you gather the information necessary to help us solve technical problems you might have as well as a form you can use to comment on the product documentation. Filling out a copy of the Technical Support Form before contacting National Instruments helps us help you better and faster.
National Instruments provides comprehensive technical assistance around the world. In the U.S. and Canada, applications engineers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (central time). In other countries, contact the nearest branch office. You may fax questions to us at any time.
Electronic Services
Bulletin Board Support
National Instruments has BBS and FTP sites dedicated for 24-hour support with a collection of files and documents to answer most common customer questions. From these sites, you can also download the latest instrument drivers, updates, and example programs. For recorded instructions on how to use the bulletin board and FTP services and for BBS automated information, call (512) 795-6990. You can access these services at:
United States: (512) 794-5422 or (800) 327-3077
Up to 14,400 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
United Kingdom: 01635 551422
Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
France: 1 48 65 15 59
Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
FTP Support
To access our FTP site, log on to our Internet host, your Internet address, such as and documents are located in the /
joesmith@anywhere.com
support
directories.
© National Instruments Corporation D-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
ftp.natinst.com
, as your password. The support files
, as anonymous and use
Appendix D Customer Communication
Click here to comment on this document via the
National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
FaxBack Support
FaxBack is a 24-hour information retrieval system containing a library of documents on a wide range of technical information. You can access FaxBack from a touch-tone telephone at the following numbers:
(512) 418-1111
E-Mail Support (currently U.S. only)
You can submit technical support questions to the appropriate applications engineering team through e-mail at the Internet addresses listed below. Remember to include your name, address, and phone number so we can contact you with solutions and suggestions.
measure.support@natinst.com
Fax and Telephone Support
National Instruments has branch offices all over the world. Use the list below to find the technical support number for your country. If there is no National Instruments office in your country, contact the source from which you purchased your software to obtain support.
Telephone Fax
Australia 03 9 879 9422 03 9 879 9179 Austria 0662 45 79 90 0 0662 45 79 90 19 Belgium 02 757 00 20 02 757 03 11 Canada (Ontario) 519 622 9310 Canada (Quebec) 514 694 8521 514 694 4399 Denmark 45 76 26 00 45 76 26 02 Finland 90 527 2321 90 502 2930 France 1 48 14 24 24 1 48 14 24 14 Germany 089 741 31 30 089 714 60 35 Hong Kong 2645 3186 2686 8505 Italy 02 413091 02 41309215 Japan 03 5472 2970 03 5472 2977 Korea 02 596 7456 02 596 7455 Mexico 95 800 010 0793 5 520 3282 Netherlands 0348 433466 0348 430673 Norway 32 84 84 00 32 84 86 00 Singapore 2265886 2265887 Spain 91 640 0085 91 640 0533 Sweden 08 730 49 70 08 730 43 70 Switzerland 056 200 51 51 056 200 51 55 Taiwan 02 377 1200 02 737 4644 U.K. 01635 523545 01635 523154
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual D-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Technical Support Form
Click here to comment on this document via
the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Photocopy this form and update it each time you make changes to your software or hardware, and use the completed copy of this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form accurately before contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications engineers answer your questions more efficiently.
If you are using any National Instruments hardware or software products related to this problem, include the configuration forms from their user manuals. Include additional pages if necessary.
Name Company Address
Fax ( ) Phone ( ) Computer brand Model Processor Operating system: Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows NT 3.1,
Windows NT 3.5, Windows 95, other (include version number) Version of Excel (look at Excel’s About box): 5.0, 5.0c, other Clock Speed MHz RAM MB Display adapter Mouse yes no Other adapters installed Hard disk capacity MB Brand Instruments used National Instruments hardware product model Revision Configuration National Instruments software product Version Configuration The problem is
List any error messages
The following steps will reproduce the problem
Hardware and Software Configuration Form
Click here to comment on this document via the
National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Record the settings and revisions of your hardware and software on the line to the right of each item. Complete a new copy of this form each time you revise your software or hardware configuration, and use this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form accurately before contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications engineers answer your questions more efficiently.
National Instruments Products
Data Acquisition Hardware Revision ________________________________________________ Interrupt Level of Hardware _______________________________________________________ DMA Channels of Hardware ______________________________________________________ Base I/O Address of Hardware _____________________________________________________ NI-DAQ Version _______________________________________________________________
Other Products
Computer Make and Model _______________________________________________________ Microprocessor _________________________________________________________________ Clock Frequency ________________________________________________________________ Type of Video Board Installed _____________________________________________________ Operating System _______________________________________________________________ Operating System Version ________________________________________________________ Operating System Mode __________________________________________________________ Programming Language __________________________________________________________ Programming Language Version ___________________________________________________ Other Boards in System __________________________________________________________ Base I/O Address of Other Boards __________________________________________________ DMA Channels of Other Boards ___________________________________________________ Interrupt Level of Other Boards ____________________________________________________
For each instrument you are using:
Click here to comment on this document via the
National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Name of instrument ______________________________________________________________ Manufacturer of instrument________________________________________________________ Parity: None, Even, Odd, Mark, Space Baud rate ______________________________________________________________________ Stop bits_______________________________________________________________________ Data bits_______________________________________________________________________
Flow control: Hardware, Software, None Version of Measure: (look at the about box)___________________________________________
Documentation Comment Form
Click here to comment on this document
via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
National Instruments encourages you to comment on the documentation supplied with our products. This information helps us provide quality products to meet your needs.
Title:
Edition Date:
Part Number:
Please comment on the completeness, clarity, and organization of the manual.
If you find errors in the manual, please record the page numbers and describe the errors.
Thank you for your help. Name Title Company Address
Phone ( )
Measure® Data Acquisition User Manual
August 1996 321004B-01
Mail to:
Technical Publications National Instruments Corporation National Instruments Corporation 6504 Bridge Point Parkway (512) 794-5678 Austin, TX 78730-5039
Fax to:
Technical Publications
Prefix Meaning Value
p­n­µ-
m-
k-
M-
pico-
nano-
micro-
milli-
kilo-
mega-
10
10 10 10
10 10
-12
-9
-6
-3 3 6
Numbers/Symbols
1D One-dimensional. 2D Two-dimensional.
A
A/D Analog-to-digital. ADC Analog-to-digital converter. An electronic device, often an
integrated circuit, that converts an analog voltage to a digital number.
ADC resolution The resolution of the ADC, which is measured in bits. An ADC
with 16 bits has a higher resolution, and thus a higher degree of accuracy than a 12-bit ADC.
AI Analog input.
© National Instruments Corporation G-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Glossary
Analog Input The specification of the analog input channels, input Configuration limits, input mode, and scan rate that Measure will use to
acquire a waveform.
Analog Output The specification of the analog output channels, output Configuration limits, data points, and update rate that Measure will use to
generate a waveform.
analog trigger A trigger that occurs at a user-selected point on an incoming
analog signal. Triggering can be set to occur at a specified level on either an increasing or a decreasing signal (positive or negative slope). Analog triggering can be implemented either in software or in hardware. When implemented in software (Measure), all data is collected, transferred into system memory, and analyzed for the trigger condition. When analog triggering is implemented in hardware, no data is transferred to system
memory until the trigger condition has occurred. AO Analog output. array Ordered, indexed set of data elements of the same type. Asynchronous A method of data communications in which information is
transmitted one character at a time. A start bit precedes each
character and a stop bit follows each character. The start bit
signals the beginning of the character transmission and the stop
bit indicates its completion. The Serial Add-In uses
asynchronous communications in its data exchanges.
B
bipolar A signal range that includes both positive and negative values–
for example, -5 to 5 V. buffer Temporary storage for acquired or generated data. Byte The standard method of representing numbers or characters in a
computers. Eight binary digits (bits) make up a byte.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual G-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
C
channel Pin or wire lead to which you apply or from which you read the
analog or digital signal. Analog signals can be single-ended or
differential. For digital signals, you group channels to form
ports. Ports usually consist of either four or eight digital
channels. channel clock The clock controlling the time interval between individual
channel sampling within a scan. Boards with simultaneous
sampling do not have this clock. clock Hardware component that controls timing for reading from or
writing to groups. conversion device Device that transforms a signal from one form to another. For
example, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for analog input,
digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for analog output, digital
input or output ports, and counter/timers are conversion devices. coupling The manner in which a signal is connected from one location to
another.
D
D/A Digital-to-analog. DAC Digital-to-analog converter. An electronic device, often an
integrated circuit, that converts a digital number into a
corresponding analog voltage or current. data acquisition Process of acquiring data, typically from A/D or digital input
plug-in boards. device A plug-in data acquisition board that can contain multiple
channels and conversion devices. device number The slot number or board ID number assigned to the board when
you configured it. DIFF Differential. A differential input is an analog input consisting of
two terminals, both of which are isolated from computer ground
and whose difference you measure.
© National Instruments Corporation G-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Glossary
DMA Direct memory access. A method by which data you can transfer
data to computer memory from a device or memory on the bus
(or from computer memory to a device) while the processor does
something else. DMA is the fastest method of transferring data
to or from computer memory. driver Software that controls a specific hardware device, such as a data
acquisition board.
E
EISA Extended Industry Standard Architecture. external trigger A voltage pulse from an external source that triggers an event
such as A/D conversion.
F
FIFO A first-in-first-out memory buffer. In a FIFO, the first data
stored is the first data sent to the acceptor.
G
gain The factor by which a signal is amplified, sometimes expressed
in decibels.
I
input limits The upper and lower voltage inputs for a channel. You must use
a pair of numbers to express the input limits. The VIs can infer
the input limits from the input range, input polarity, and input
gain(s). Similarly, if you wire the input limits, range, and
polarity, the VIs can infer the onboard gains when you do not
use SCXI. input range The difference between the maximum and minimum voltages an
analog input channel can measure at a gain of 1. The input range
is a scalar value, not a pair of numbers. By itself the input range
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual G-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
does not uniquely determine the upper and lower voltage limits.
An input range of 10 V could mean an upper limit of +10 V and
a lower of 0 V or an upper limit of +5 V and a lower limit of
-5 V.
The combination of input range, polarity, and gain determines
the input limits of an analog input channel. For some boards,
jumpers set the input range and polarity, while you can program
them for other boards. Most boards have programmable gains.
When you use SCXI modules, you also need their gains to
determine the input limits. interrupt A signal indicating that the central processing unit should
suspend its current task to service a designated activity. I/O Input/output. The transfer of data to or from a computer system
involving communications channels, operator interface devices,
and/or data acquisition and control interfaces. ISA Industry Standard Architecture.
K
Kwords 1,024 words of memory.
M
MB megabytes of memory multiplexer A set of semiconductor or electromechanical switches with a
common output that can select one of a number of input signals
and that you commonly use to increase the number of signals
measured by one ADC.
N
NRSE Nonreferenced single-ended.
O
onboard channels Channels provided by the plug-in data acquisition board.
© National Instruments Corporation G-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Glossary
output limits The upper and lower voltage or current outputs for an analog
output channel. The output limits determine the polarity and
voltage reference settings for a board.
P
PGIA Programmable gain instrumentation amplifier. postriggering The technique you use on a data acquisition board to acquire a
programmed number of samples after trigger conditions are met. pretriggering The technique you use on a data acquisition board to keep a
continuous buffer filled with data, so that when the trigger
conditions are met, the sample includes the data leading up to
the trigger condition.
R
Range A group of rows and columns on a spreadsheet. RMS Root mean square. RSE Referenced single-ended.
S
scan One reading from each channel or port in an analog or digital
input group. scan clock The clock controlling the time interval between scans. On
boards with interval scanning support (for example, the
AT-MIO-16F-5), this clock gates the channel clock on and off.
On boards with simultaneous sampling (for example, the
EISA-A2000), this clock clocks the track-and-hold circuitry. scan rate The number of scans per second. For example, at a scan rate of
10Hz, Measure samples each channel in a group 10 times per
second. scan width The number of channels in the channel list or number of ports in
the port list you use to configure an analog or digital input
group.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual G-6 © National Instruments Corporation
SCXI Signal Conditioning eXtensions for Instrumentation. The
National Instruments product line for conditional low-level
signals within an external chassis near sensors, so only
high-level signals in a noisy environment are sent to data
acquisition boards. sec Seconds single-ended inputs Analog inputs that you measure with respect to a common
ground. software trigger A programmed event that triggers an event such as data
acquisition. Synchronous A method of data communications in which a prearranged
number of bits are transferred per second. Synchronization
occurs before and after the transmission of blocks of data, rather
than before and after every character. There are no start bits or
stop bits, as there are in asynchronous communications. All
transmitted bits represent information or are parity bits. See
Asynchronous.
Glossary
T
trigger A condition for starting or stopping clocks.
U
unipolar A signal range that is always positive—for example, 0 to 10 V. update The output equivalent of a scan. One update is one write to each
channel or port in the group. Updates apply to both analog
output and digital output groups. update rate The number of output updates per second. update width The number of channels in the channel list or number of ports in
the port list you use to configure an analog or digital output
group.
© National Instruments Corporation G-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Glossary
V
V volts. Visual Basic for The programming language built into Microsoft
Applications (VBA) Excel. V
ref
Voltage reference.
W
waveform Multiple voltage readings taken at a specific sampling rate.
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual G-8 © National Instruments Corporation
A
Acquire until trigger option, Hardware
Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-7
Add button
Analog Input Configuration dialog box,
2-3, 3-4
Analog Output Configuration dialog box,
5-1 adding DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 adding tasks to DAQ menu, 2-7 to 2-8 Advanced Analog Output configuration
dialog box, 5-3 to 5-4 illustration, 5-3 options (table), 5-4
Advanced button, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 5-1
Advanced Timing Settings dialog box
illustration, 4-10 options (table), 4-10
AI option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-2, 2-10 analog input, SCXI modules, 3-2 to 3-4
channel strings syntax (table), 3-4 multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3
to 3-4
analog input characteristics
Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices
(table), A-5 MIO and AI devices (table), A-2 to A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6
analog input configuration. See also Analog
Input Configuration dialog box. advanced timing settings, 4-10 display, 4-6
mode reference, 4-8 to 4-9 scan information, 4-4 selecting channels for scanning, 4-2 to 4-3 task configuration, 2-3 to 2-5 timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8
Analog Input Configuration dialog box
Analog Input Scan List, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-4 At Cell, 4-6 Cancel, 4-7 Channels, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-3 Description, 2-4, 4-7 Display section, 2-4, 4-6 to 4-7 External scan clock, 4-5 Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-7
to 4-8 High limit, 4-3 illustration, 4-2 In Columns, 4-6 In Rows, 4-6 Low Limit, 4-4 Mode, 4-7 multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3
to 3-4 Number of scans, 4-4 OK, 4-7 Scale to volts, 4-4 Scan Information section, 2-3 to 2-4, 4-4
to 4-5 Scan Rate section, 2-4, 4-4 to 4-5 Scans/second, 2-4, 4-5 Task Name, 2-4, 4-6 Trigger, 4-6
© National Instruments Corporation I-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Index
analog input configuration programmability
Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices
(table), A-4
MIO and AI devices (table), A-1 to A-2
Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-8 to 4-9
Differential Channels, 4-9 Non-Referenced Single-Ended Channels,
4-9
Referenced Single-Ended Channels, 4-9 analog output, SCXI modules, 3-5 analog output characteristics
analog output only devices (table), A-8
Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices
(table), A-6 MIO and AI devices (table), A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6 to A-7
analog output configuration. See also
Analog Output Configuration dialog
box. advanced configuration, 5-3 to 5-4 task configuration, 2-5 to 2-7
Analog Output Configuration dialog box
Add, 5-2 Advanced, 5-2 Cancel, 5-2 Channel, 2-6, 5-2 Data cells, 2-6, 5-2 Description, 5-2 illustration, 5-1 Number of Iterations, 2-6, 5-2 OK, 5-2 Remove, 5-2 Task Name, 2-6, 5-2 Updates per Second, 2-6, 5-2
AO option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-7,
2-10
At Cell field, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 4-6
B
boards. See DAQ devices. bulletin board support, D-1
C
channel clock and scan clock (figure), 4-5 Channel field, Analog Output Configuration
dialog box, 2-6, 5-2
channel strings
SCXI analog input, 3-2 to 3-3 valid (table), 3-4, 4-3
Channels field, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-3
clocks
External scan clock option, 4-5 scan clock and channel clock (figure), 4-5 Use external channel clock option, 4-10
configuration. See analog input
configuration; analog output configuration.
customer communication, xi, D-1 to D-2
D
DAQ devices. See also DAQ hardware
capabilities. configuration error message, C-2 list of data acquisition devices is empty,
C-1 overview, 1-2, 4-1 selecting from DAQ Tasks dialog box,
2-1 to 2-2 using with Measure, 1-1
DAQ function, 6-1 to 6-2 DAQ hardware capabilities, A-1 to A-8
analog input characteristics
Lab and 1200 Series and portable
devices (table), A-4 MIO and AI devices (table), A-2 to A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6
analog input configuration
programmability
Lab and 1200 Series and portable
devices (table), A-4 MIO and AI devices (table), A-1 to A-2
analog output characteristics
analog output only devices (table), A-8
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual I-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Index
Lab and 1200 Series and portable
devices (table), A-4
MIO and AI devices (table), A-3
terminal block selection guide, SCXI
modules (table), A-7
DAQ menu
adding tasks, 2-7 to 2-8 no menu appears, C-1
DAQ Tasks dialog box
managing tasks in workbook, 2-9 to 2-10 options (table), 2-10
purpose and use, 2-2 data acquisition boards. See DAQ devices. Data acquisition device option, DAQ Tasks
dialog box, 2-10 data acquisition tasks. See tasks. Data acquisition tasks option, DAQ Tasks
dialog box, 2-10 Data cells field, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2 Delete option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-10 Description button
Analog Input Configuration dialog box,
2-4, 4-7
Analog Output Configuration dialog box,
5-1 devices. See DAQ devices. Differential Channels option, Analog Input
Mode dialog box, 4-9 displaying acquired data, 4-6 documentation
conventions used in manual, x-xi organization of manual, ix-x
E
Edit DAQ Menu dialog box, 2-8 Edit Menu option, DAQ Tasks dialog box,
2-10 Edit option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-10 e-mail support, D-2 error codes, B-1 to B-18
Excel error message after removing DAQ
Add-In manually, C-2
external clock
advanced timing settings, 4-10 External scan clock option, 4-5 MIO-E Series devices (note), 4-5 Use external channel clock option, 4-10
External scan clock option, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 4-5
External Voltage Reference checkbox,
Advanced Analog Output configuration dialog box, 5-4
F
Fatal error message, C-2 fax and telephone support, D-2 FaxBack support, D-2 FTP support, D-1 functions
DAQ, 6-1 to 6-2 GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3
G
GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3
H
Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box
Acquire until trigger, 4-8 scans after trigger, 4-8 Start acquisition on trigger, 4-8 Timeout (seconds), 4-8
High Limit field
Advanced Analog Output configuration
dialog box, 5-4
Analog Input Configuration dialog box,
4-3
I
In Columns option, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 4-6
© National Instruments Corporation I-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Index
In Rows option, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 4-6 installation
adding DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 removing DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 steps for installation, 1-2 uninstalling Measure, 1-3
interchannel delay
specifying, 4-10
L
Low Limit field
Advanced Analog Output configuration
dialog box, 5-4
Analog Input Configuration dialog box,
4-4
M
manual. See documentation. Measure
installing, 1-2 to 1-3 overview, 1-2 uninstalling, 1-3 using with DAQ devices, 1-1
Microsoft Excel error message after
removing DAQ Add-In manually,
C-2 Mode button, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 4-7 mode selection, in Analog Input Mode
dialog box, 4-8 to 4-9 multiplexed operating mode, SCXI, 3-1
N
NI-DAQ driver software, configuring, 1-1 Non-Referenced Single-Ended Channels
option, Analog Input Mode dialog
box, 4-9 Number of iterations field, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2
Number of scans field, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 2-4, 4-4
O
operating modes, SCXI modules, 3-1 to 3-3
P
parallel operating mode, SCXI, 3-1
R
Referenced Single-Ended Channels field,
Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-9
Remove button, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 5-2
removing DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3
Excel error message, C-2 round robin scanning (figure), 4-5 Run button
DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-5, 2-7, 2-10
S
saving tasks, 2-8 to 2-9 Scale to volts checkbox, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 4-4 scan clock, external. See clocks. scan list, analog input, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-4 scan rate
selecting number of scans per second, 4-5 setting, 2-4, 4-4 to 4-5
scans, specifying number for acquisition,
2-3 to 2-4, 4-4 scans after trigger field, Hardware Digital
Trigger dialog box, 4-8 Scans/second field, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 2-4, 4-5 SCXI modules. See also DAQ hardware
capabilities.
analog input, 3-2 to 3-4
channel strings syntax (table), 3-4
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual I-4 © National Instruments Corporation
Index
multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3
to 3-4 analog output, 3-5 configuration, 3-1 operating modes, 3-1 to 3-2 overview, 3-1
Signal Conditioning Extension for
Instrumentation (SCXI). See SCXI modules.
Specify interchannel delay option,
Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, 4-10
Start acquisition on trigger option, Hardware
Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-8
T
Task Description option, DAQ Tasks dialog
box, 2-10
Task Name
Analog Input Configuration dialog box,
2-3, 4-2, 4-6
Analog Output Configuration dialog box,
2-6, 5-1 to 5-2
technical support, D-1 to D-2 terminal block selection guide, SCXI
modules (table), A-7
Timeout (seconds) field, Hardware Digital
Trigger dialog box, 4-8
timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5
Advanced Timing Settings dialog box,
4-10 external scan clock, 4-5 round robin scanning (figure), 4-5 scan clock and channel clock (figure), 4-5 scan rate, 4-5
Trigger button, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 4-6 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8 troubleshooting, C-1 to C-2
U
uninstalling Measure, 1-3 Updates per second field, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2 Use external channel clock option,
Advanced Timing Settings dialog
box, 4-10
tasks. See also DAQ Tasks dialog box.
acquisition tasks with VBA, 6-1 adding to DAQ menu, 2-7 to 2-8 configuring
advanced analog output configuration,
5-3 to 5-4 advanced timing settings, 4-10 analog input task, 2-3 to 2-5, 4-2 to 4-7 analog output task, 2-5 to 2-7, 5-1
to 5-3 mode reference, 4-8 to 4-9
timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8
managing tasks in workbook, 2-9 to 2-10 saving, 2-8 to 2-9 selecting, 2-1 to 2-3
© National Instruments Corporation I-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
V
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
DAQ function, 6-1 to 6-2 GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3 running tasks from, 6-1
voltage limits
analog input
high, 4-3 low, 4-4
analog output
high, 5-4
low, 5-4 voltage reference, external, 5-4 volts, scale for displaying acquired data in,
4-4
Index
W
waveforms, generating on more than one
channel (note), 5-3 WDAQCONF utility, 1-1 workbook, managing tasks in, 2-9 to 2-10
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual I-6 © National Instruments Corporation
Loading...