Jerzy Tarasiuk

Some additions: the name ni9871cmp is an abbreviation from NI9871 Create Methods and Properties. when looking for a way to create them, I attempter to use "pylabview" https://github.com/mefistotelis/pylabview to examine VI-s created manually and with scripting and to find their differences; first of all, the "pylabview" is said to be for LabVIEW 2014 - in fact, it couldn't handle VI-s from the LabVIEW 2018 I am using, and it couldn't handle VI-s saved for older LabVIEW versions until I specified as old as 2011; even then, when I used the pylabview to extract contents of a VI containing a valid serial port Method or Property, none of text files produced contained the port name - I found the port name in a binary file only, and it contained UUID-s in "{}", with ">>" as a separator, like "Mod1.{uuid1}>>Port2.{uuid2}" - and I found this all must be exactly the same for the port to be recognized - when I put exactly this string in the alue used for port specification, the scripting produced valid Methods and Properties; then I started to look for a function that can get such a string from my project...

Yet another program: list I/O names and methods/properties available for each of them. Inputs for the VI: LabVIEW project path, FPGA target name, log path (for writing the info). A sample of I/O name lines from the log: These '+'-es at the beginning of each line tell that looking for methods/properties of the I/O item found the item and no error resulted from the operation (each '+' has a different meaning, but I was getting +++ only). First 10 names have no leading '/' - they were found as non-alias names, all remaining - as alias names. Here crio_Module5 is NI9476, it has a "Check Output Status" method and 3 properties (these properties common to all C-Modules, and they are read-only, it is shown by '(R)'); crio_Mod6 is NI9205, it has 4 methods and 15 properties; crio_Mod1 is NI9871, it has 3 properties and no methods; its Port1 has 3 methods and several properties, some are read-only (R), some write-only (W), some bidirectional default-write (Bw), a (Br) would mean bidirectional default-read. Here crio_Mod7 is NI9208, it has 4 properties (an additional is "Conversion Time"). Then alias I/O items follow: "Chassis Temperature" can be read, "Sleep" can be read and written, as well as "System Reset" and "USER FPGA LED", "USER Push Button" can be read, and "Scan Clock" has 2 methods and 2 properties. Here crio_M3 is NI9477, its DO0 signal can be read and written, as well as DO0 signal of crio_Module5 (NI9476); crio_M4 is NI9425, its DI signal can be read, as well as crio_Mod6 (NI9205) AI0 and AI31 signals. The NI9205 has also Trig signal (read-only), DI0 signal (read-only), DO0 signal (write-only). And finally few CLIP signals: "/v1/SignalList/a.b0" is "a.b0" of CLIP "v1" (write-only), "/v1/SignalList/aw" is "aw" signal of the CLIP (read-only). Attached: a VI used to produce the list and its BD picture. io_names_list2l.vi

Hi, seems I found a solution. The program should do the following: use Invoke Node for This Application constant to open a project with an FPGA target; use Property Node on the project ref to get targets; look for a matching FPGA target (in my example I also compare target name, so it can handle a project with many FPGA targets if it happens), closing the other target refs; use Property Node on the selected target ref to get its Application ref; create (or open) a VI for the Application, open its BD window, gets its BD ref; (the above action is in the upper line of my VI) use eio_Utilities_GetNonAliasNames.vi on the Application to get names to be used: - "persistent names" output gives names (array of strings) that can be used, - "resource names" and "display names" (arrays of strings) can be used to find an element in the "persistent names" - choose e.g. Mod1\Port3 in display names, and use its index on the "persistent names" to get required persistent name; the persistent name is to be used as "item" for EIOPlaceDownEIOMethodNode.vi and for EIOPlaceDownEIOPropertyNode.vi - the "item" is in "State" cluster; few other elements of the "State" cluster, common for these both "Place"-s, are: "alias selected", "DoSpecify", "ref in wired", "ignore ref inputs"; the "alias selected" must be False, the "ref in wired" must be True; do the other matter? I don't know; making a Method needs also a "method name" to be set, valid methods for an NI9871 serial port are "Clear Rx FIFO", "Read Byte", "Write Byte"; for making a property I specified "id counter" = 1 (is it needed? I don't know), and of course the "properties" - an array of clusters, in each of them I set: "name" (string), "direction" (enum, I used read or write), "terminal id" (int); each "Place" needs also Diagram (I used the BD ref), context (= Application ref), and "Position" (a cluster containing left-top corner coordinates); each "Place" returns a "Terms[]" - an array of terminals - I show some info on them. Attached files: a picture w/ BD and FP, a PDF containing the BD, the VI (LabVIEW 2018). ni9871cmp.pdf ni9871cmp.vi

I need a program in FPGA to control a hardware, without mediation of RT part - and I plan to use LabVIEW for the FPGA only. Because of this, there is no place for using VISA. I want to have the same code for each serial port - they are to be configured differently, but the configuration should be passed as data to the code that is to set it to these ports. FPGA has access to these ports (the VISA would access them via FPGA), but I don't know how to place a port name in LabVIEW - the only way I know is to select manually the port resource for each Property and Method used to access the port. And I don't know how can I programmatically verify that the correct port resource is selected in each place, as I have no way to read it.

Hello, I discovered a solution just today evening (around 20 of local time, now here is 22:28). Use EIOPlaceDownEIONode.vi to make an empty EIO Node; then use EIONode_ScriptAddChannel.vi to add channel(s); if there is one channel only, use also EIONode_ScriptModifyChannel.vi to set the channel - after the Add the terminal has Void data type, the Modify causes it to get the correct data type. When more than one channel is Add-ed, the Modify is unnecessary - the data type is set correctly for all channels. I hasn't investigate this in detail: seems "direction" can be specified as "none" unless more than one direction is valid (as for e.g. Digital Out signals); and possibly using Add (without specifying channel parameters) to add as many channels as needed, then Modify to set their parameters can be used, too. I attempted to find a way to delete a channel from EIO Node (by "Delete" Invoke Node on a terminal), no success.

Hello. I want to create a VI for each serial port that will configure the port according to configuration data sent to the VI - this requires many connections inside the VI and results in many possibilities of mistakes in these connections if they are to be done manually. I would like to avoid these mistakes. Currently, I can use Scripting to create Method Nodes and Property Nodes needed, then request setting the serial port in them manually, then use Scripting to create connections, and finally report all connections to a text file for verification. But I neither know how to set the serial port in these nodes using Scripting, nor I know how to get these settings for verification. BTW: is it possible that two Property Nodes for a serial port look identically (have the same port in their header lines, the same elements, data types for these elements are shown by the same colors...), but have different functionality (e.g. something hidden was created in one of these nodes while editing it)?

Hello. Seems none of these examples show how to use VI Scripting to create an FPGA VI that accesses NI-987x serial port...

Hello. My aim is to access these ports directly from FPGA program, without VISA and drivers that are in RT part. It is possible when the program is edited manually in LabVIEW development environment.

Hello, Rolf. Thank you for the time you are spending on it. My problem is: I can create - using Scripting - a serial port Method Node (with EIOPlaceDownEIOMethodNode.vi, for any of 3 methods the port has), or a Property Node (with EIOPlaceDownEIOPropertyNode.vi, having read/write elements for a set of properties which I wish); and then I can assign a serial port to the node using LabVIEW editor (i.e. click the node with a mouse, select from menu...); but I cannot assign the port with Scripting. When creating these nodes using Scripting, I was putting the port name as 'item' in the State cluster (EIOMethodNode.xnode:EIOMethodNode.ctl or EIOPropertyNode.xnode:EIOPropertyNode.ctl) - the name was shown in the created node title, as it is shown after manual assignment, but the node did not recognize the name as a serial port and was shown as misconfigured. I don't know where it is going wrong: maybe the port name I specify is incorrect (it requires some prefix that isn't shown in the node title, but is necessary for the name to be recognized), maybe except the EIOPlaceDownEIO* some other function is necessary to make the setting active. Is there a way to get State from such a node that was configured manually and see what is its 'item' value? With kind regards, Jerzy

Hello. I need access serial ports of NI-9871. From https://www.ni.com/pl-pl/shop/model/ni-9871.html they are directly accessible from FPGA:

Are you sure? I initially supposed NI-9871 serial ports are accessed via the RT OS, but I was pointed that I was wrong - they are connected to FPGA and the RT OS accessed them via FPGA. Seems to be sure I need a test: write a LabVIEW FPGA program that will send data via a serial port, start the FPGA program and reboot the RT OS (it is configured to allow the FPGA program to continue), monitoring the serial port data on a PC host: if the serial port is accessed via the RT OS, the data will be disturbed. I hope these serial ports are connected directly to FPGA - it is important for safety of the system. In LabVIEW FPGA NI-9871 serial ports are accessed using Property and Method nodes (there are several properties and 3 methods - Read Byte, Write Byte, Clear Rx FIFO); I/O Node cannot be used for them. Seems that two serial ports on cRIO itself (not on a C-Module) can be accessed from RT OS only, as well as serial ports connected via USB ports.

Hello. Likely the problem could be solved if there were a way to create an "I/O Constant" (like this from FPGA I/O Palette) specifying a serial port - I can create an FPGA I/O terminal for a Method or Property Node., so connecting such an I/O Constant would configure these nodes. Unfortunately, seems I/O Constant cannot specify a serial port - at least I cannot select it in LabVIEW editor. Maybe some future LabVIEW version... The I/O Constant allows selection of project items that can be found using "Get All Descendents" method with Type="Elemental I/O" on an FPGA Target reference, or "eio_Utilities_GetAliasNames.vi" on an FPGA Application reference. Serial ports can be found using "eio_Utilities_GetNonAliasNames.vi" on an FPGA Application reference.

Hello, I am just trying using Scripting to put Property Node and Method Nodes for accessing a serial port in FPGA VI. I can get these Nodes, and I suppose the property list and method are correct - but I don't know how am I to specify the serial port for these Nodes - when I select the port manually for a Node, it becomes correct. I can get the Property Node with FPGA I/O terminals (till npow I did not try this with a Method Node), but I don't know what should I put into a constant that I will connect to FPGA I/O input terminal (when I added the constant manually there, I was unable to select a serial port from I/O items menu). I can also use the Scripting to find serial ports in the target where I am putting the edited VI (it has Type String "RIO Subresource", Name "Port1", and Item ID (non-0, while its Source ID contains 0-s only). I am creating these Nodes using EIOPlaceDownEIOPropertyNode.vi and EIOPlaceDownEIOMethodNode.vi; the State input contains item="Mod1\Port1", the name is shown in the Node header line, and it is the same after assigning the serial port manually, but the manual assignment is needed to get the port name recognized. Have anyone found what function and how can be used to specify a serial port for these Nodes? Thanks in advance for any hint, Jerzy Tarasiuk

Using Scripting to get help on Scripting Looking at all functions in vi.lib that potentially are useful for Scripting is time consuming - one may get such a function into a VI, look at help info shown, manually write down the info - but something can be done using the VI Scripting. I have selected directories in vi.lib containing items related to CLIP and IPIN. And I used VI Scripting to put every VI from them into my VI, and get terminals of the library VI. As the final result I have two text files listing these VI-s and their terminals, with some information on data types. Now when I am looking at a VI, I can quickly locate VI-s that can use outputs from the VI, or can provide data for it. Previously I spent a lot of time trying to find which function may produce a signal that I need to use another function. The program consists of 3 VI-s: * get_terms3.vi inputs: "Node Refnum" and "error in" outputs: "TerminalsInfo" and "error out" The "Node Refnum" must get the function to be examined, and the "TerminalsInfo" will be an array of strings describing its terminals (one string for each terminal). * dc2fc3.vi (directory contents to function comments) i: "VI Directory Path" (the directory to look for VI-s) o: "OK", "TargetName", "VI Count", "new VI path", "log path"; The target is of the VI itself; new VI and log are temporary. The VI processes all VI-s in the directory (but without its subdirectories, if there are any), creates a temporary VI (tmp.vi calling VI-s found) and a temporary log (tmp.log); the log contains the directory name in its first line, and then VI names followed by information on their terminals. * mdc2fc3.vi (multiple directory contents to ...) input: "Input commands path" output: "Output directory path" The input should be a file containing lines: nick = directory to process (no extra blanks/tabs/etc. allowed after directory name, blanks are allowed around the '='; nicks must ne unique). The previous VI is called for each directory, and these tmp.vi and tmp.log will be saved to the output directory as nick.vi and nick.log; additionally, _master_.log file will contain processed lines from the input. The attached GetFuncInfo1.zip contains these 3 VI-s (for LabVIEW 2018), 2 text files produced with help of the program, and a Tcl script used to join many files into one (to use the script need enter the directory where the program saved its outputs, and run the script redirecting its output; additionally, I used an editor to replace C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2018\vi.lib with [vi.lib]). Looking at these results I have seen a data type of "Refnum: LVObjUnknown" is quite frequent, and I found at least some its occurrences are LabVIEW project items - seems the function (from Variant palette) I used to identify the data type doesn't know project items. GetFuncInfo1.zip

Hello. These VI-s mentioned below all are in: [LabVIEW]\vi.lib\rvi\ClientSDK\Core\Script\Clip\Public Need XML file containing CLIP declaration, to add it to an FPGA target use niFpgaClipApi_ValidateXmlAndAddDeclaration.vi which needs arguments: FPGA target reference, the XML file path, a string "User Defined"; the VI returns "CLIP declaration data" cluster, consisting of: Declaration Category = "User Defined", Declaration Name (from the XML file, probably must match the file name), Valid?, Syntax Errors. To add a CLIP Instance to an FPGA target use niFpgaClipApi_CreateUserDefinedClipInstance.vi which needs arguments: FPGA target reference, the instance name (generated if unwired); the VI returns "CLIP project item" for niFpgaClipApi_SetClipDeclaration.vi which needs the item, Declaration Name and Declaration Category obtained when adding the CLIP declaration to the FPGA target. Before the entire action one must open the LabVIEW project (using Invoke Node for This Application constant, and the project path), use project Propert Node to get its targets and choose a proper one. After the action I closed the "CLIP project item" (I'm not sure it this is necessary), saved the project using Invoke Node "Save" on its reference, and finally closed the project reference. Well, now I need a way to create the CLIP declaration XML file, and it would be nice to find something to modify CLIP signals without going to the low-level LabVIEW project XML file access.