Configure shared variable programmaticaly

Hello,
I use Single Process Sared Variables in an RT application, and I would like to configure some parameters programmatically, like the RT FIFO parameters (FIFO type, number of arrays, number of elements in array).
If someone can explain me how to configure this parameters programmatically in my code, or provide me an example, it will be very appreciate.
Thanks in advance.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

There is a document in the Knowledgebase which solve my problem.
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/4757137A667431FD862572440008614E
This document permit to obtain a Shared Variable reference. Then, I've just to use the property node to configure my parameters.

Similar Messages

Where can I find the "Shared Variable Properties" VI to be used in my program for configuring SV remotely?

I was using the "configure Alarms" and "configure Logging" VIs to design two user interfaces to make use of these VIs when I came across a problem. In both VIs you can enable logging of alarms. So which one is valid? Which one has priority? Then I looked at the "Shared Variable Properties" built into the project explorer. Now I realize that I am spending all of this time redesigning this properties dialog (which also has two options of enabling logging of alarms (on the Alarms tab to the far right side as well as on the Logging tab). So now my question is, how do I access this "Shared Variable Properties" dialog through my program (Note: this would be on a different machine than where the shared variables are set up. The point is to configure shared variables remotely).
Thanks
Matt

Here is a VI I re-created and posted for all. I'm not sure why NI doesn't provide their VI to the developer. The only thing I can't figure out is that when reading in the "Ack Type" into a variable, it generates an error. It will work if you go into "project explorer" and right click on the library with the shared variable and "deploy" but eventually stops working. I have tried using the "undeploy library" and "deploy library" to see if this would be a work around but had no success.
Just pipe the path of the shared variable into the vi.
Mattk
Attachments:
Shared Variable Properties.vi ‏95 KB

How to use shared variables with native c programs

Hello
What is the way to use shared variables with native c programs?
I have a c/c++ program that uses the NIDAQmx C-API to perform measurements. Now I want to communicate to a LabVIEW program via shared variables.
Is there a C-API for shared variables as there is for the NIDAQmx functionality? Where can I find further documentation? The document "Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable" mentions that one "can read and write to shared variables in ANSI C", but there are no hints about how and where to look.
Thanks in Advance

Hi user42,
with CVI 8.0, you cannot create or configure shared variables. However, you can read or write to an already configured LabVIEW 8.x shared variable from CVI using the DataSocket API.
In order to do this you need to have and DataSocket 4.3 or higher installed.
Here's a forum post about using the DataSocket functions a LabVIEW Shared Variables:
http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=180&message.id=24569&requireLogin=False
With CVI 8.1 and Measurement Studio 8.1 it's possible to use Shared Variables via the Network Varaiable Library (check out the end of the "Network-Published Shared Variable" section within the "Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable" documentation and the following link).
Datasocket with LabWindows/CVI and LabVIEW Real-Time:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/CC4343488413A2F586256E6200099638?OpenDocument
Daniel
NIG

Labview Shared Variable configuration

I need some help with my labview shared variable configuration.
In my setup I have a PC running with my lvlib on it. This PC is NOT my development PC. The application deploys the lvlib. My program is I can't see those variables on my PXI RT Controller. I have the shared variable engine installed on the PC. But I can NOT add my realtime system to it. When I enter in the IP address it just doesn't add it or give me an error msg or anything. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

Hi Zorro,
I need a little clarification of the particular situation.
1) You said this is not your development machine. What software do you have on your development machine? Did you make an installer, and install it onto the host?
2) Which PXI RT controller and chassis do you use?
3) Do you have Measurement and Automation Explorer on your host? And can you see your controller there? Can you ping the device?
Brian K.

I am trying to connect Dashboard shared variables to a server on a different subnet. Any ideas?

My goal is to control a device that is connected to our wired network using an Android tablet via Dashboard. I have created a vi with shared variables that controls the device as expected when it runs on a computer that is connected to the same wired network. The problem is that my Android tablet running the Dashboard app cannot connect to the shared variables on the PC running the vi on the wired network.
Our wireless network is on a separate subnet from our wired network. I am able to ping my Android tablet from the PC on the wired network but when I try to connect a variable in Dashboard, the PC running the SVE cannot be found. I tried listing it in the alternative server settings window and it still did not work. The only way I have been able to get around this is to run the vi which launches the server on a laptop that is connected to the wireless network and the wired network at the same time. My tablet can then find the server and my VI can connect to the instrument that is connected to the wired network. The laptop is somehow acting as a bridge between the subnets. I need to find a way for the Dashboard app to connect directly to the PC on the wired network. My PC IP address is 192.168.0.105. My Android IP address is 192.168.10.93.

Data Dashboard doesn't care about subnets, but it has to be able to access the server using the right ports. There is probably a firewall blocking the shared variable ports. This document explains how to configure a firewall to allow shared variables to be accessed. Your challenge will probably be to figure out where the firewall is and how to configure it.
It is also possible that the router that your Android device is connected to doesn't know how to route to the other network. Again, that is an issue with your router that you need to resolve.

Are clusters or individual elements better for shared variables?

So... I have some RT code that is being updated, and pulled out of the Stone Ages of LabVIEW. It was originally written for an old FieldPoint controller operating in "headless" mode, and used the "publish" and datasocket methods for communications and external control. I had to get clever way back then, and put together a parsing/unparsing system for strings to send sets of data back and forth between the controller and any HMI or other computer attached.
Now, I'm completely rewriting the code for a cRIO system, and doing my best to leverage all of the strengths of the latest LabVIEW versions. I have already done an intermediate stage, where I converted from the publish/datasocket method to using network shared variables for my strings, so I could keep some of the original control and calculation logic. Now, however, I'm going back to the drawing board for most of the program, with only some of the proven logic being held over into the new version. And, as I'm putting together the data structures I need for both internal control and external communication, I'm in a bit of a quandary...
I have come upon a data structure dilemma: should I use individual shared variables for my data, or assemble associated data into clusters? My original program had a string (essentially a flattened cluster) for each sensor in use (up to 4), one for the system parameters and states, and one for the control parameters and states. There was a certain advantage to keeping the data compartmentalized like that, it kept things organized and forced me to avoid too many random references of each data point. And it kept the number of communications channels limited to just a handful. Mimicking this structure with cluster shared variables would be easy. But, I'm not sure it's the best or most network-efficient method.
I know the bundling/unbundling will add some processor time in my code, that is not new to me (it will still be much faster than my old parsing routines). But, if I have individual data points being thrown around, I can access them easily from things like Data Dashboard (which is great, but far too limited to be able to grab items in clusters and such). Having all of my data points individually available would make my project messier, but open up easier access. It would also dramatically increase the number of data points being thrown around on the network at any one moment. For reference, I would probably have a maximum of 100 data points at one time, made up of a combination of integers, floats, booleans, integer arrays, boolean arrays. Or I would have a maximum of 8 clusters that would contain those data points.
Any suggestions on which way I should lean? Are there any advantages/disadvantages between shared clusters like the ones I need vs. the number of individual shared variables I would need using the alternative methods? Network traffic and efficiency are always a concern, particularly since this is a "headless" cRIO in a control situation that must maintain a fast scan rate...
Thanks for any help. I'm so stuck on this fence, and I can't figure out which side to fall off!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Thanks Tim, that is a great source that I somehow missed in my hunt for information regarding my dilemna...
I have to wonder though, does that 25 number also include the I/O points on your cRIO? Anyone know that particular? Most of the I/O points are network shared by default during initial configuration, and you could very quickly exceed 25 variables on an 8 slot rack (such as the one I use, a 9074). Now I'm a bit worried that I'm overusing the variable engine, even before the communications clusters get figured in...

Issues with Shared Variables in Systems Running for Extended Periods of Time

I am designing a large SCADA system using LabVIEW DSC and cRIOs. My plan is to use shared variables to communicate the majority of the information across my network (much like "tags" in a normal SCADA system).
I'm wondering if anyone has experienced issues (connection failures, etc...) with shared variables running on systems for months (both real-time and windows based PCs) without the cRIO or PC being restarted/redeploying the variables. What is the stability of the Shared Variable Engine over extended periods of time?
Thank you for the input.
--CLD--
LV 6.1, 8.6.1, 2011 SP1, 2012 SP1

I have a system with 2 cRIO's each with Ethercat extension chassis. Each cRIO hosts ~100 NSV's and is running the scan engine at 40 Hz.
Each cRIO is coupled to a HMI that has front panel control bindings to NSV's hosted on the cRIO as well as a windows hosted mirror library (used for citadel db logging) that is also bound to the cRIO NSV library. The cRIO's have monay months of contiguous run time without reboot and I closely monitor cpu and memory usage and also rt performance metrics and will log faults if there are any such events. I also use NSV's for messaging from the HMI to the cRIO for such things as setting zero offset values and deploying configuration parameters. My overall findings are that the SV engine and the PSP are stable and efficient (especially NSV<->NSV and NSV<->HMI binding)

Change Alarm / Quality of Shared Variables for I/O Server

How does one set the Bad Status of a Shared Variable in 2009?
IE). I have a custom device that communicates via TCP/IP. I wrote my own I/O server that handles this communication and publishes a set of Shared Variables that my Main Application displays on a screen. These variables are all doubles and hold pressures and temperatures. If my I/O server in labview loses communication I would like to be able to set the status of the variables to bad so they will set off an alarm. In our main application we have colour indicators that are able to display this status. For example the background goes yellow for all indicators that are in "HI" alarm status, red in "HI HI" and orange when "Bad Status" (disconnected).
We were able to accomplish this using LabVIEW 7.1 DSC, by creating a VI to register all our "Tags" and a VI to run the server. The server vi's that came with 7.1 allowed us to set the quality when writing to the server item. Therefore when the device was disconnected or failed we could set the bad status and use the DSC system to log an alarm and use the alarm features to colour code our indicators.

None of the Shared Variable IO Properties can be configured to allow you to set the alarm. You can only configure the properties such as turning the possibility of the alarm status on/off and the priority, name etc. You do not have the ability to indicate that this shared variable is in alarm because your custom server has encountered a problem. I've talked to tech support about it and I've been informed that this was something that was removed when the shared variable engine was introduced. I've been told informed that the recommended alternative is to create an additional boolean shared variable that will contain the status of the items, or to write some sort of unique garbage value to the actual tag value to indicate there is a problem with it.
I now have to come up with a new way of providing this information. I just find it will likely be a poor programming choice because now my entire system will have to handle "tags" differently based on what hardware is being used. (IE) if its coming from a custom I/O device or from an OPC / Modbus etc capable device.

Slow performance to read/write shared variables programatically

We are using datasocket read and write functions to read and write shared variables programatically (in the same machine) but we only achieve a performance of aprox. 200 reads/writes per second. We are using Labview 8.6 with DSC.
Is possible to get better results? That performance is normal?
Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hi MMCDAT,
I think this value can
be normal as you can see in this link:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/5037
As you can see, the
limit for datasocket depends on your Ethernet limitations, even if you as using
it just in one PC:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/6AC9E65734E53F9A8625672400637ECC?OpenDocument
You can improve the
performance changing the update mode or Vis configurations:
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/F8F7DE98856B50588625672400648045?OpenDocument
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/2D9C6D73A160537986256B290076456E?OpenDocument

Shared variables update in QuickClient but not in Variable Manager

Greetings,
I am using LV 8.6 Developer with the DSC module installed. Also, I'm using WinXP Service Pack 3.
I am trying to create a VI that will interact with an OPC server connected to some equipment.
I've created shared variables to read the value of tags in my OPC server exactly according to the instructions on this page:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6346
For some reason though, the value of the shared value never updates to reflect the value on the server.
When I follow the tag on the OPC QuickClient, it updates just fine, but somehow the value of the shared variable isn't updating.
I also tried retreiving this data using the DataSocket method in the "Multiple OPC Items Monitor.vi" example, but running that VI crashes LabView every time.
Also, I can create a shared variable and write to tags using a VI, but I can't read them.
It seems like I'm *this* close to getting the shared variables to work. Any suggestions?

Hi Rob,
To answer your questions...
DataSocket: NI doesn't give me the option to investigate the error when I restart the program. I did a search for .cpp files, but none turned up. I did collect the error report that Windows generates, and I attached it. I'm not sure if that would be something useful or not.
SharedVariables: I went to use the Distributed System Manager to take a look at the variables. For both my shared variable as well as the tags on the I/O data source, the data type is listed as "advanced" and the quality is "unknown bad." I collected the logs from the I/O server and attached them. Oddly, when I look through there, I see some Quality=BAD and some VT_ILLEGAL flags. The deadband is set to zero, and the update rate is 1,000ms.
Also, I've configured the DCOM and Local Security Policy settings as described in numerous support articles, and my Windows Firewall is turned off. The OPC server and LabView reside on the same computer.
I suppose the confusing thing is why the QuickClient works fine, but the SVE doesn't.
I've tried this on three different computers with the same results in all cases. Currently, LV and the OPC server is the only software installed on any machine. The only other OPC server I have access to is the LV server, and it seems to work okay.
Thanks,
Wes
Attachments:
a793_appcompat.txt ‏133 KB
screen.JPG ‏105 KB
OPC I-O Server Diagnostic Information.txt ‏69 KB

Shared Variables - Properties

Hello,
I have a couple of questions about properties of Shared Variables (SV). They can be configured either by using the dialog box (right-click on SV -> Properties), or programmatically via the "SharedVariableIO" property node. Have a look at the NI-Examples to see how SV can be created programmatically by using the DSC module.
1) The dialog box offers a property "Variable Type" which can be "Network-published", "Single-Process" or "Time-Triggered". The "SharedVariableIO" property node gives no access to this property. Does anybody know why? The same question can be rephrased: How can I create a "Single-Process" SV programmatically?
2) The "SharedVariableIO" property node has two items, "Network.OnScan" and "Network.ConnectionType", which have no direct correspondance to any of the properties available in the dialog box. What is the exact meaning of those properties? The on-line help isn't of much use here...
3) Mutliple SV can be edited by using the Multiple Variable Editor (Tools->Shared Varaible->Multiple Variable Editor). A cool feature is the import/export of CSV-files. I am interested in programmatically creating SVs from the information stored in such a CSV-file. Reading the file is no problem, but connecting the file entries to the properties of the "SharedVariableIO" property node would be quite some job. In principle NI has already solved that within the Multiple Variable Editor. I guess there is a bunch of VIs somewhere below "....Program Files/NI/.../vi.lib that do exactly this thing. Does anybody know, if these (which ones?) are available for public use?
Regards,
Dietrich

dietrich wrote:
1) The dialog box offers a property "Variable Type" which can be "Network-published", "Single-Process" or "Time-Triggered". The "SharedVariableIO" property node gives no access to this property. Does anybody know why? The same question can be rephrased: How can I create a "Single-Process" SV programmatically?
You can't. The single-process shared variable is an old style LabVIEW global placed under the shared variable abstraction. There is currently no way to create those on the fly. Time-triggered also cannot be created programmatically. I confess I don't know enough about them to know the reason why.
dietrich wrote:
2) The "SharedVariableIO" property node has two items, "Network.OnScan" and "Network.ConnectionType", which have no direct correspondance to any of the properties available in the dialog box. What is the exact meaning of those properties? The on-line help isn't of much use here...
Network.On Scan = read/write hardware? - this allows you to programmatically control when you are reading from or writing to configured hardware.
Network.ConnectionType = connect to hardware even when no one is viewing me? - this has 2 choices, UpFront & OnDemand, UpFront means that the variable will be connected to hardware even when no one is connected to the variable. This is useful when you want to reserve hardware or when logging is enabled. OnDemand means that you disconnect from hardware whenever no one is reading the variable.
dietrich wrote:
3) Mutliple SV can be edited by using the Multiple Variable Editor (Tools->Shared Varaible->Multiple Variable Editor). A cool feature is the import/export of CSV-files. I am interested in programmatically creating SVs from the information stored in such a CSV-file. Reading the file is no problem, but connecting the file entries to the properties of the "SharedVariableIO" property node would be quite some job. In principle NI has already solved that within the Multiple Variable Editor. I guess there is a bunch of VIs somewhere below "....Program Files/NI/.../vi.lib that do exactly this thing. Does anybody know, if these (which ones?) are available for public use?
I would advise against using any of these. National Instruments can change, or remove, those underlying files at any time as a result of modifications to the MVE. That could cause issues for any code using those sub-VIs.
Regards,
Robert

Modbus Ethernet read and write to a Eurotherm 6180XIO Modbus server using LV8.2 shared variables

I am having EXTREME difficulty trying to establish communications with a Modbus device using LV8.2 shared variables. The device is a Eurotherm 6180XIO Datalogger configured as a Modbus master. The PC and a cFP-1804 are slaves. All IP addresses are set correctly. This approach using shared variables would seem simple, but I can't find any examples or proper guidance on how to get it working. I am trying to avoid having to mess around with TCP/IP, OPC, or any other old-fashioned method.
I have read many threads on related topics but none directly apply to this situation. I have created a library containing a Modbus I/O server and shared variables bound to read and write holding registers. I have followed all recommended tips for creating such variables but I can neither read or write data. All data types are U16 due to Modbus protocol limitations. I have also applied the LV x10 factor in the most significant digit in the register offset (6 digits instead of 5).
I have a cFP-1804 on the same network which reads into the datalogger OK. The registers I use are 31000 (for CH0 on module 0, 31002 for CH1, etc) and the data can be read as FLOAT32. I have updated the firmwate on the 1804 to the latest level. I cannot even get shared variables to read SGL values. Using registers 301001 for CH0 and 301002 for CH1 I can only read U16 values, and not a 2-word SGL.
Third party Modbus simulation software is able to write to and read from registers very easily, but not LabVIEW.
Some questions are:
- do I use a Modbus master or slave as an I/O server in the library as a target for binding the shared variables?
- is there some other wierd translation in register offsets between LabVIEW and traditional Modbus?
- is this actually possible using shared variables or am I wasting my time?

Sending the whole 60-character string using a string or array would be the most efficient. I have tried both methods, and these only cause the datalogger to flag a message log but no text is displayed.
For a string variable, I have used the following binding "My Computer\Modbus Test.lvlib\ModbusServer6180\442305", where ModbusServer6180 is a Modbus I/O server configured with the logger IP address, and 42304 is the register offset at the start of the text block in the logger. I need to write to 30 consecutive registers starting with this one. I am not using buffering and have not enabled single writer.
Can anyone confirm whether this method should work in 8.2?
Does the string need a special termination character?

LV7.1 DSC tag engine VS LV8.6 DSC shared variables

I'm currently running LV7.1 with DSC and RT. To handle communications and logging RT variables I'm using the init / read / write publish.vi's on the RT side and datasockets on the HMI side (Windows XP). This has worked out great - new tags can be programmatically created in real time with the publsih vi's and then I go to the the .scf file and use the tag configuration wizard to add them to my scf file and handle data logging. This worked very well - the wizard would organize all of the memory tags into folders by block name used by the init publish vi. I could also select entire groups of tags and add hundreds at a time to the .scf file. Hardware Tag also worked in a similar fashion, organizing tags by controller and module folders. Now - looking at LV8.6.I found I can still use the init / read / publish vi's on the RT side - great. However there is not tag configuration editor as in LV7.1 to let me add large numbers of tags through a wizard. The closest thing I've found is to create a library to represent each block name from the RT init publish.vi then use "create bound variables" option under the library to bind the new shared variables to the RT memory tags. I can browse to the tags on the controller by network items, but when I add them it doesn't bring the block name of the tag as it did in 7.1, only the item name. I use a lot of PID loops that share the same tag names (i.e.: P,I,D, mode, output), so not including the block name represents an organizational problem. The problem with this is, it's very labor intensive compared to the wizard in LV7.1 DSC, especially talking about creating systems with thousands of RT memory tags. Also, there is a similar problem with hardware channels (I'm using compact FieldPoint). To log channels via DSC do I have to create a shared variable for each channel to access the DSC logging capabilities? Again how do I add all of the hardware channels in some organized fashion? I hope I'm missing some tool that is an analog to the tag configuration wizard to bring in these channels and organize them. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks,Brad

Hi lb,
We're glad to hear you're upgrading, but because there was a fundamental change in architecture since version 7.1, there will likely be some portions that require a rewrite.
The RTE needs to match the version of DSC your using. Also, the tag architecture used in 7.1 is not compatible with the shared variable approach used in 2012. Please see the KnowledgeBase article Do I Need to Upgrade My DSC Runtime Version After Upgrading the LabVIEW DSC Module?
You will also need to convert from tags to shared variables. The change from tags to shared variables took place in the transition to LabVIEW 8. The KnowledgeBase Migrating from LabVIEW DSC 7.1 to 8.0 gives the process for changing from tags to shared variables.
Hope this gets you headed in the right direction. Let us know if you have more questions.
Thanks,
Dave C.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

Network shared variables lose binding

Hello,
I am developing an application in LabVIEW that uses network shared variables to transmit data between two PC's on the same subnet. The shared variables work fine when running the VI's in development mode, however, when i build the vi's into an executable I find that they no longer work. Here is what I have found so far:
I deploy the shared variable library on the publisher machine (also happens to be the development machine) through an invoke node in the executable. NI distributed system manager confirms that this does deploy and indeed updates as it should.
For the executable on the subscriber PC I created a second shared variable library (same project) with the same shared variables and bound them to the respective shared variables from the first library by selecting enable aliasing, then bind to PSP URL and browsing to the shared variable I wish to bind it to (e.g. \\hallnet-ellm2\shared variable library\serial Number). The machines listed under browse were listed by name so when I tried this initially and it did not work I manually changed the name of my machine in the URL box to the IP address of the publisher hoping that would fix it in case the subscriber could not resolve the publishers machine alias. So now my bind URL read \\192.168.0.1\shared variable library\serial Number.
As part of the executable on the subscriber I deploy this second shared variable library. NI distributed system manager confirms that this deploys but under quality for an individual variable it has a list of issues (see attached) and the bound variable is not updating. At this point the publisher shared variables are still functioning fine. By clicking on 'edit variable' I can see that the variable on the subscriber is still bound but the PSP URL is now \\localhost\shared variable library\serial number. Changing the PSP URL on the subscriber to \\192.168.0.1\shared variable library\serial number enables the variable to update as expected.However by this time my executable has already picked up the error and does not function.
I think that the issue lies with the bind URL used on the subscriber as for some reason it does not keep the binding configured in the project and instead changes to 'localhost'. Why is this? Should it not stay bound to the address specified in the project?
I have tried changing the IP addresses in the aliases file so that
[My Computer]
My Computer=localhost
becomes
[My Computer]
My Computer=ip of local machine
This did not help.
The shared variable libraries are included in the build spec to go into the support files directory and they are successfully deployed from there on both publisher and subscriber.
I am using LabVIEW 8.6 on Windows XP
Thanks for any help you may be able to offer,
Lee
Attachments:
distributed system manager.JPG ‏74 KB

Hi Lee,
I hope you are well. Thank you for your post. Your application sounds very interesting.
Looking at your issue I was wondering, have you tried lowering your firewalls, as this may be causing the problem.
Also, another option would be to setup a private network. Do you have access to any routers that you could use to link the two machines independent of your IT's infrastructure?
The other thing to try is two other computers entirely. Again, it would be ideal to take them off the network you are on, but it's something to try if my prior suggestion doesn't work. It should work on the original two machines though, and it's likely that different computers won't solve your problems because I suspect the network.
Remember that the client variables must know the location of the variables on the server, so you can't move the server exe around without changing this value.
Make sure to set the network location in the "Bind to Source" option for the client variables.
It is also possible to write a separate piece of code to install on every machine that is responsible for deploying the library and by doing so eliminate the need for programmatically deploying the variables in the original application. However, this won't really help you, because the variables you use in the application have to be the same as the ones deployed in the library, so if you change the library, they'll no longer be linked and they won't receive data. You'd have to create a separate exe for every binding source you wanted to link to, and then have a second, known library for the sake of communication locally on the computer between the ‘deployer’ and the actual application. The main application could then be assigned the responsibility of launching the correct ‘deployer’' if it sees it needs to switch to a different variable binding source. This method is not the most streamlined or effective, but it might work.
Just to let you know, you will need to use the DSC toolkit.
Please find below some knowledge base links that I think you will find helpful in your application.
Using Shared Variables in Executables
How do I Programmatically Change the Data Binding Source for Shared Variables?
I hope this information helps and if you can give these suggestions a go and let me know how you get on, that would be great.
Kind regards,
Prashant M
Applications Engineer
NI UK & Ireland

Target VI stops before being commanded using shared variable

All,
I decided to post this in general since it deals mostly with shared variables however I am working with a RT target so feel free to move it to another forum.
I originally posted a problem I was having with the RT Module Getting Started example, regarding the 1950679023 error, and trouble shooting led me to create the simplest test project I could think of. (I know you all want a link to the VIs but my company does not allow me to access internet file sharing sites to upload data so bare with me.)
NOTE: This is NOT an RT project. Just deployed on an RT target.
In Project Explorer I have Host.vi under " My Computer " and Target.VI and 3 networked-published shared variables (call them A,B,C here for simplicity) with RT-FIFO checked, under my RT target.
Host.vi is a single while loop with a 0.5sec time delay express VI. The loop contains (along w/ the time delay) 1 numeric control wired to SV A, 1 numeric indicator wired to SV B, and finally a Stop button wired to SV C plus the conditional term (stop if True). SV A is configured as write, SV B as read, and SV C as write.
Target.vi is a single while loop with a 0.5sec time delay express VI. The loop contains (along w/ the time delay) a numeric add function wired to a constant double and SV A configured as read. Also, SV C is wired to the conditional term configured as read (stop if True). The VI adds the two numbers, one of which is controlled by the Host.vi using SV A, and sends the results to Host.vi using SV B until the Stop button is pressed on Host.vi and sent back to Target.vi using SV C.
I successfully ran this project (which included my always present 1950679023 error). Then changing no code but merely redeploying/running it again right after or through out the course of many other project deployments I get incorrect data on Host.vi. Basically sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't; having changed NO code. First discovery was that Target.vi would automatically stop after running ~ 1sec since deploying/running on the target and before I could disconnect and open/run Host.vi. I then deployed/ran Target.vi with a probe on the wire between SV C and the conditional term and highlight execution running. After an average of 3 runs through the loop the SV C would automatically send out a True signal even though I never open/run Host.vi. How can shared variable C, which is write controlled by Host.vi, automatically change it's state like that when I never even open/run Host.vi?
Another interesting observation is, If I first open/run Host.vi and then deploy/run Target.vi, the program ALWAYS works. But those steps go against my limit understanding of running VIs with shared variables on a target, which I got from NI's RT Module Getting Started Guide? I am going to have a hard time developing anything useful with these shared variables if I can not get the LV RT Guide example and this simple VI working. Any help would be great.
Thanks
JD
P.S. I've noticed this error message a few times during deploying/running either the Host.vi or Target.vi. The error is not consistent; sometimes I see sometimes I don;t.:
error-2147220727 (Hex 0x80040309)
The client process cannot communicate with the configuration server process. If this problem persists please note the steps you performed that led to this error and contact technical support.
PXI-1045,PXI-8196 RT,PXI-4220 (slot 2),(2) PXI-6259 (slot 3 and 4),PXI-5152 (slot 5),PXI-2585 (slot 6),PXI-5404 (slot 7)
LV 8.2.1, RT 8.2, DAQmx 8.5, MAX 4.2, VISA 4.1,
Pharlap OS ver.12.0, PH_EXEC ver. 8.2

Thanks for the responses, (sorry this is going to be long)
- First question is how do you initialize a shared variable (SV)? I don't have the DSC module, which I know has an initial value parameter. The SV is configured as a read and doesn't have any inputs, so am I missing something on the way to initialize it? I know the boolean defaults to False, which is good for my application. Also, right clicking on the SV doesn't bring up any obvious solution? Help if I am lost. Also, all my code is inside the loop (both the RT.vi and Host.vi), nothing is outside the loop.
- I think I learned something through some trial and error. I made this test VI project even simpler by just having an incremental counter using shift registers inside the RT.vi while loop. The results of that counter are sent out, by way of a network-published SV, to the Host.vi. This network-published SV is located under the target within the Project Explorer. I temporarily got rid of the boolean SV, which was used to stop both the RT.vi and Host.vi. It was that boolean SV that gave me all the problems.
This new test VI works consistently (also as a stand alone application, which was a first for me). My thoughts are that the issues had something to do with not "completely" removing all previous run instances of the VI and associated SVs/library from the RTs memory. I think I was getting old buffer data or SV corruption when, on my first test VI, would re-run the RT.vi and have the boolean SV inexplicitly switch states from False to True, even though the write controlled instance on Host.vi wasn't even running. I now undeploy everything (and check the Variable Manager) to make sure I have a clean sheet when re-running the VI. Now that brings up a question, is undeploying the only, or proper, way to clear the RT's memory?
Anywho, I reintroduced the boolean SV into this new edition of the test project (read instance on RT.vi and write instance on Host.vi, while "hosted?" under the target in the Project Explorer) and everything works (although I still get that 1950679023 error once in a while when running for the first time). Meaning, I deploy the RT.vi then disconnect, then run the Host.vi and get valid data, then I press stop and both VI's stop. I then clear out the RT memory (I think all of it?) using undeploy and then repeat. Doing this I get consistent, valid results. If this seems like a learning experience for me please let me know, I don't want something to "work" just by accident.
- To answer the second reply: 1) all the SVs where created under the target in the Project Explorer. Also, I have not unchecked auto-deploy or tried deploying manually, but will give it a try. That brings up a great point, most of NI's data on SVs is "technical specification" like and not very in depth for something so complex. I have not been able to find any "tips/tricks" or "best practices", like trying to deploy manually. Is it because SVs are still new?? Also, a frustrating thing is that NI's step by step tutorials treat SVs like they are simple and fool proof, but following their instructions to the T I get errors. They leave out all the little nuances of correctly working with SVs and so it creates a steeper learning curve. Enough of my rant.
Thanks again for the responses and any more help to come.
JD
PXI-1045,PXI-8196 RT,PXI-4220 (slot 2),(2) PXI-6259 (slot 3 and 4),PXI-5152 (slot 5),PXI-2585 (slot 6),PXI-5404 (slot 7)
LV 8.2.1, RT 8.2, DAQmx 8.5, MAX 4.2, VISA 4.1,
Pharlap OS ver.12.0, PH_EXEC ver. 8.2

Configure shared variable programmaticaly

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for