Shared Variable Crashing LabVIEW

This is just one of those projects that has a brick wall at every turn so far. Two computers running LV2009. Computer A hosts Data Write Shared Variable. Computer B hosts Data Read Shared Variable. Data Read is bound to Data Write. Everything was working fine, and then late yesterday afternoon, I don't think I had changed anything on the shared variable, I start up my VI on Computer B, and LV crashes. The VI starts to run until the first execution of Data Read, and then poof, everything open in LV dissapears. The problem is one hundred percent repeatable since then.
Here is what I know:
1. An error indicator hooked to Data Read shows -1950679034 (Shared Variable has no value) for about a second before the crash. Everything stops executing as soon as the warning appears.
2. The Data Write is single writer, but it is also occasionally read in the VI that it is written in. It is not being read when the crash happens. I can however perform the read on Computer A without incident.
3. Not sure if this is related, but if I open the VI on Computer B, and then open the project, I am not able to drag Data Read from the project onto the block diagram. I also cannot perfrom any operations on the Shared Variable (like right click, ignore timestamp). I have to close the VI and reopen it from the project. Thinking back, this problem may have started when I opened the VI without opening the project.
I am torn between abandoning Shared Variables and trying to figure this out. I would definetely prefer to use the Shared Variable, especially because I need some buffering. I'm guessing I can buffer things some other way. Not sure if I can remotely access a queue, or ... ?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I looked at STM, but I think the Data Socket VI's may be a better fit for me. It seems like Data Socket and shared variables are sort of intertwined, but I'm hoping DS doesn't suck as much as the SV seems to so far.
I think NIC means network interface card? Anyway, I don't really know how many I have. The Data Writer is on a PXI8108 with Windows, the reader is an old crappy Dell that I inherited with the desk.
I'm also not sure about the logos.ini file you referred to.
My intention is to transmit an array of double waveform that is about 15 - 20 channels acquired at 100 - 1000 Hz. I think the Data Socket looks like the simplest way to do this, and I could live with 100 Hz if speed is a problem, but I sort of don't think it will be. I'll try tomorrow unless somebody has a better suggestion.
By the way, I saw in another post a similar problem with Shared Variables that is supposedly fixed with the new patch for 2009, but I'm not sure I trust SV's because this will, for about thirty seconds of its lifetime, be one of the most critcal applications I've written, so I want confidence that it will work for those thirty seconds.

Similar Messages

Error codes for shared variables in Labview 8.5?

I am trying to use Shared Variables in Labview 8.5 to enable real-time loops (similar to some of the examples in "Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable", published Aug 28, 2007). I created it to hold the result of a 16-channel A/D converter (so a 16-element I16 array). To avoid losing samples, I used buffering, with a buffer of 5. To test this, I made a pair of VIs, one a producer that stuffs a 16-element I16 array into the shared variable "every so often" (controlled by a timed loop), and a consumer loop that reads the shared variable and does something with the data.
If I think of the buffered shared variable as a Real Time FIFO (as the article suggests it is), I was curious how I would know (a) when the queue was empty, and (b) if the queue had overflowed. Both are necessary if this is to be a practical means of exchanging data -- you want the producer and consumer to run more-or-less at the same rate, but only the producer is deterministic. The consumer needs to be able to run "faster" if it falls behind (for example, because it is writing data to disk), but you don't want it to read data from the shared variable if there's nothing there. [One can always read a shared variable, after all -- as the article states, it simply "holds" the last value written to it].
Snooping around, I discovered that there are "error codes" associated with the shared variable. In particular, a code of -2220 (FFFFF754) seems to signify an empty queue (or a shared variable that has not yet been written to), while a code of -1950678981 (8BBB003B) appears to be "buffer overflow".
Is this documented anywhere? Are there other "error codes" that would be helpful to know? Is there some rationale to these seemingly-random numbers? [It would help to develop code to utilize shared variables if there was a bit less "magic" and "mystery" involved].
For what it is worth, with a buffer of size 40, I could generate 16 I16 values at 1 KHz (simulating sampling from a 16-channel A/D at 1 KHz) and pass it to a consumer node that (a) read from the shared variable until it was empty, then (b) "went to sleep" for 20 msec (simulating "doing something else non-deterministically"), and not miss any data (because I could then empty the Shared Variable RT-FIFO, which should have been half full, before it overflowed on me). Not bad throughput -- I bet I could push it even higher.
Bob Schor

Hey Bob,
The errors are documented in the LabVIEW help:
Shared Variable Error Codes
Real-Time Shared Variable Error Codes
There are several error messages for buffer underflow/overflow depending on the settings of the network or RT FIFO buffers. In particular the -2220 and -2221 are useful for the producer/consumer use case. For example (as you probably know) the consumer can flush a variable using the error code (see the attached image).
Gerardo
Attachments:
variable1.png ‏3 KB

Using Modbus TCP I/O Server with new DSC Shared Variables in LabVIEW 8.6

Hello,
I'm using LabVIEW 8.6 and want to communicate with a Beckhoff BK9000 Ethernet TCP/IP Bus Coupler via Modbus TCP. Instead of using the NI Modbus Library, I've tried the new LabVIEW 8.6 feature "DSC Shared Variables" as described at the bottom of this page: Latest NI LabVIEW DSC Module Features and Demos. Reading of analog input bus terminals works fine. However, I haven't figured out yet how to write on an anolog output bus terminal with these shared variables.
It's about a 16 bit analog output and I need to write to the registers 0x1121 and 0x0801. It works with the NI Modbus Library (just using function code 6 and choosing the registers), but on the other hand I don't know which shared variables I have to choose for these registers. I've tried several data items (e.g. 400001 upwards as well as 402049 for 0x0801) but none of them worked. I would be glad for a short explanation - thanks in advance for your support!
Regards
utechle

The Beckhoff documentation says, that holding registers start with 0x0800. I've checked this by using the NI Modbus Library. I used the "MB Ethernet Master Query.vi" togehter with the function code 6 for "Write Single Registers", changed the settings of the starting address to hexadecimal view and entered 801 (since it starts with a control byte in 0x0800 and the data out word follows in 0x0801). Furthermore, I had to address register 0x1121 in the same way for resetting the watchdog. As I've mentioned in my first post, this method works fine. However, I haven't found out yet which shared variables i have to use for accessing these registers.
On the other hand, it's no problem to read data from analog input bus terminals using shared variables. They start with 0x0000 (status byte) and 0x0001 (data in word) and I can read data with the shared variable and data item 300001, respectively.
Message Edited by utechle on 01-27-2009 11:12 PM

Shared Variable connectivity in LabVIEW Mobile

Hello,
I'm developping an application for a portable device running Pocket PC 2003 O/S.
I'm trying to figure out whether shared variable connectivity VIs (Open, Read, Write, etc..) are supported in LabVIEW Mobile 2010 module or not?
Is dragging shared variables from the "My Computer" target directly under "Pocket PC 2003 Device" target the only way to use shared variables in LabVIEW Mobile?
Thanks.

Is NI planning to implement progamatically connecting/reading/writing/closing of SV's functionality using the PDA/LabVIEW Mobile module ?.
In my company we have started to include a cFP 2220 + various I/O modules with one of our products - might I say thats not easy when the Siemens guys can sell their PLC's at a fraction of the NI cost- but please do read on...
As a user-interface an 8" touch panel is used. One of the problems is that I have to "hardcode" the IP address of the SV's used on the touch panel to connect to specific variables on the cFP 2220 var. engine. This gives the tedious work of recompiling the touch panel code over and over again for specific customers needing specific IP addresses for their cFP controllers. And if the customer uses MAX to change the IP address of the cFP, then his GUI stops working.
Initiallly I had this problem with the cFP 2120 controller, and thought that my problems would be solved when the cFP2220 came out, since it has two network cards. One card could then be used for "local" communication with the touch panel/GUI and the other for the company network of our customer. Needless to say I was sad to find out that the var. engine can only run on one of the cards - not both.
The only other solution I see it to implement a homemade protocol via TCP/IP, but this is a lot of work and not really the intention of the Shared Variable.
Any suggestions to a soltion of the above problem would be greatly apriciated.
/søren jensen

Using Shared Variables and Initialize Front Panel Binding (to PSP)

Hi,
I use LV DSC RT 8.2.1
I have a Vacuum System That includes signals from - Pumps failure, Valves status, Vacuum gauge, start Pump ...
Each signal is read by a FieldPoint.
All the relevant FieldPoint Channels are read by the Server (a computer in the Ethernet Network) and published to the network in the form of Shared Variables.
I have a client VI that is reading the Shared Variables published by the Server using Front Panel Binding.
Problem :
Some of the Bindings are in the mode 'Write &Read' and that causes some initialization problems.
For example - Valve #1 is Open, and then a User start running the Client VI, (the Valve #1 Status mode is 'Write & Read")
if in the VI the status of Valve #1 is closed (before running it) then the Valve status is changing to Closed.
I want the Client VI to first read the Physical status of the instrument and then to change the Value if the User changes it.
But that's seems to be a problem when using Front Panel Binding... (is it?)
I know I can Deploy a lvlib in the Client Side and Item Bind to the Shared Variables or Use DataSocket.
(Is DataSocket is a Reliable method when connecting to Shared Variables? What are the disadvantages when using DataSocket?)
What is recommended by those of you that are experienced or by NI ?
Sincerely Yours,
Amitai Abramson.

Amitai Abramson,
Hello and thanks for using the NI Forums.
I'm glad that you've read the Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable Tutorial on our website. Check out these other resources:
Network Variable Technical Overview
Troubleshooting Network-Published Shared Variables
Why Do I See Unexpected Value Change Events for Shared Variables Using LabVIEW DSC?
All You Need to Know About Shared Variables
Creating a Value Change Event for Shared Variables
Alternative Method for Using Shared Variables Between Systems in LabVIEW 8.x
What Is The Difference Between Using Shared Variables And DataSocket VIs To Access OPC Tags?
The issue that you are seeing by having "Write & Read" bound items on both the server and client side is essentially a race condition, you don't know which one is being read/written at what time. To resolve this issue I would take a look at some of the documents below.
Using a Local, Global, or Shared Variable in Parallel Loops Can Cause Race Conditions
Using Local and Global Variables Carefully
Tutorial: Local Variable, Global Variable, and Race Conditions
Locking a Shared Resource or Variable in LabVIEW Using Semaphores
You mentioned not wanting to have two sets of shared variables (one on each side), but this is a great method to resovle this issue, that, or you can develope some sort of hand shaking to prevent these race conditions.
I would suggest that in the future when using these forums you try to ask only one question per thread and make it more concise. It's hard to tackle multiple questions and such broad questions as "I want to know all the ways that I can connect to Shared Variables, and I want to know the advantages and disadvantages." I suggest this because we want you to get your questions answered and more concise questions will result in quicker and better answers.
Message Edited by Ben S on 10-01-2009 06:05 PM
Ben Sisney
FlexRIO V&V Engineer
National Instruments

Inconsistent Network Shared Variables

I will eventually be implementing a controls program on a machine using cfp. Before the cfp gets here, I am getting practice in network shared variables by trying to pass shared variables between two VIs on my computer. I have attached the two VIs and a screen shot of my project. I run a queued state machine and after the initialization routine is done, I run the control portion of the program. The control program is titled 'The4Mprocedure2.vi' and the QSM is titled '4M_QueueDrivenStateMachine'. In the initialization routine of the QSM, 'FALSE' is written to the boolean network shared variable, 'Run_4M_Procedure'. After the initialization routine is done, and a set of certain parameters are met, the QSM writes the value 'TRUE' to 'Run_4M_Procedure'. Ideally, The4Mprocedure2.vi would read the shared variable, and when the value is 'TRUE' The4Mprocedure2.vi would run. The4Mprocedure2.vi has a case statement that causes to run the program when 'Run_4M_Procedure' = TRUE. The4Mprocedure2.vi does not run when the variable is FALSE.
The problem that I am having is that The4Mprocedure2.vi does not always recognize that the value of my shared variable has changed. When the QSM passes the value of 'TRUE' to the controls program, The4Mprocedure2.vi will sometimes still read the network shared variable as FALSE. Sometimes, I have to restart the controls program several times while the QSM is running to ensure that 'TRUE' is passed to the controls portion. Why does my controls program not recognize when the network shared variable changes values?
Message Edited by tquintana55 on 07-14-2008 11:04 AM
Attachments:
The4MProcedure21.vi ‏87 KB
ProjectScreenShot1.JPG ‏68 KB
4M_QueueDrivenStateMachine1.vi ‏131 KB

Hi tquintana55,
I believe your Issue is related to the methods that LabVIEW subscribes to the shared variables. Here is a link to a related article:
How to Avoid the "0" Value at First Read of a Shared Variable in LabVIEW 8.5.x?
To resolve this you can move your Run_4M_Procedure inside the while loop.
Sappster

Deploy shared variable on specific ip

Hi, there is the problem to deploy shared variable on a specific network interface. There are many network interfaces in my computer. If I wan to deploy the variable on the nework interface with the physical address 00:50:56:C0:00:01 and the ip 192.168.117.1 I followed this, but I get that: This is the wlan ip. What is wrong? use Labview 2012 SP1 32bit

What version of LabVIEW are you using? Are you deploying the Shared Variable with LabVIEW Project? Are you running LabVIEW Real-Time? Do you have a Remote declared in the Project? If so, simply put the Shared Variable Library (in Project Explorer) on the Remote and tell it to Deploy -- it should (automatically) go to the right place.
Note that the note you cite is from LabVIEW 8.2.1, which was one of the earliest implementations of Shared Variables. There have been many changes in the last 5-7 years ...
Bob Schor

Using shared variables in windows 7 64 bit

Hi !
I am trying to use network published shared variables (with Labview 8.6.1) in windows 7 64 bit. I have three PCs on the network. All PC's are visible to each other. I am able to remotely log on to other PCs.
But when i run my program, the shared variables are not able to read the value over the network. The same program was working with windows XP.
I am not sure whether it is windows issue or labview issue.
Please help ASAP.
Mandar Joshi

I am having the same problem with Shared Variables with LV8.6.1 and Win7 64 in a program that uses a shared variables to share in seperate loops. I was able to use a local variable instead, but would love to know if it possible to use shared variables with 8.6.1 and win7.

Change/ scale shared variable programatically

hi!
well, i am creating lot of shared variables using labview, but my question is, have i got any item or something to scale them or, change the properties of the shared variables i created??
for example, rate max/min, color.....
have you got any idea?

Hi kazak,
see this link:-
http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371618G-01/lvdscconcepts/chang_svpro_prog/
Thanks as kudos only

Programmatically deploying WSN node shared variables

I'm working on a WSN network composed by one WSN9791 gateway, eight WSN3202 programmable remote nodes and one PC with LabView.2013. The nodes are programmed to get some voltage readings and store them in shared variables. My main application is running on a PC, it basically reads the global variables values and performs other processing.
Before running the main application I give the command "Deploy All" by right-clicking on the gateway name. I can do the same by right-clicking on each node and selecting "Deploy".
Some weeks ago, due to a thunderstorm, the power to the entire system was lost and, after automatic restart, my application was no longer able to contact the shared variables and I had to manually repeat the "Deploy" sequence.
My question is: "is there any way to programmatically deploy/undeploy shared variables"?
Note that in my application I access the nodes shared variables by opening a connection to the variable and then reading its value (see attachment 1) instead of using explicit connections to variables (see attachment 2).

Hi,
this is done on your block diagram using an Invoke Node. Go to your functions palette on your block diagram and go to Programming>>Application>>Invoke Node. Then left-click the Method of the Invoke Node and go to Library and select the desired command. It is important to note that you cannot deploy single variables at a time, you can only deploy variable libraries at a time.
I also think that the following article will help you understand better the process of using shared variables in LabVIEW. I referenced it while I was researching your questions.
Using the LabVIEW Shared Variable: http://www.ni.com/white-paper/4679/en

What causes the Shared Variable Engine to Crash?

All,
Some background info:
I am using the SVE and DSC so that I can log my data to Citadel using Data Sets. I converted a previous DSC 7.1 project that used the tag engine over. That app ran for over 18 months. Need to upgrade app and add features at my customer requests so we migrated to LV 8.0.1.
I have an app that crashes the Shared Variable Engine (SVE). I created a test app with a single SV and then created a control and bound it to the SV and it works every time until I launch the larger app. The main app only has 33 SV that are set when I receive TCP data from PXI RT system (not using SV on RT since the logged data is only a fraction of the total data streamed and I don't want to take apart the RT data and send the SV separately). I have bound front panels controls to the SV's. When I run, I get server connection has been closed. I verified that the SVE was running with the test app before launching the main app.
I deploy the shared variables in the application and have verified they are deployed by the Monitor Variables utility ... but it always shows "No Value" for the data fields. I have set logging to enabled for data only, set Value Deaband (%) to 0 and Value resolution to 0, Update Deadband is Disabled as is Alarming, Scaling, Initial Value and Description. Security is set to default. All of the variables are set to Double, Network-Published, Single Writer with Buffering and Bind to Source disabled.
I have verified that the SV deploy without error by clicking Deploy from the project. Autodeploy All is off but I get the same results with it On (checked).
I undeploy and kill the process when I close the application.
I have tried only using 1 or 2 of the SV in the main app but get the same results. Every once in a blue moon it will work after rebooting the PC (but not everytime). Once it dies I have tried running NI examples as well as the test app and they fail until I reboot.
The error code indicates that the SVE engine has crashed. I have changed the service settings on Windows to relaunch on 1st, 2nd and all times after but nothing restarts the SVE. After it crashes it is impossible to exit LabVIEW without it hanging or reboot the PC without pressing the hard On/Off switch.
Once it dies there is nothing that I can do to get it back alive without rebooting the PC (a real problem for a control and monitoring system).
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
Thanks.
Randy

Randy
Sorry for the delay, I've been researching your issue and juggling a few other issues. :-) One thing we can check is the Windows Event Log which will give us some more details as to WHY the Shared Variable engine seems to be blowing up on us (Conttrol Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer). Any details in there along the lines of Variable Engine or Tagger crashing will help us narrow down what's going on.
There's always a possibility of files not getting upgraded correctly; however there aren't many shared components between LV 7.1 and LV 8.0. The Shared Variable engine is entirely new and the installations of LabVIEW themselves don't share many files outside of the example finder and a few other small common components (things located in the appropriately named Shared folder) I keep both on my machine (in addition to 5.1, 6.1, 7.0, and 8.2) without any hiccups.
The SVE crashing I have seen in the past (and from internal bug reports) has been from buggered installs, so uninstalling and reinstalling DSC may be a good course of action. One good test to do in the middle is to see if the engine still crashes with DSC uninstalled.
Hope this helps.
--Paul Mandeltort
Automotive and Industrial Communications Product Marketing

Shared Variable Engine Crashing

I'm using Labview 8.6.1 and DSC module 8.6.1. Shared variable engine just started crashing as soon as it tries to start. I know you guys are going to say reinstall labview, but it's in a remote location and the install disks are not there. Is there anything else that can be done to fix this? I've rebooted and restarted everything I can think of.

Ok bare with me, alot has happened here and thank you for the help. The error that I was experiencing occurred anytime Windows started. The first thing that would popup would be an error message saying that the Shared Variable Engine had died. This error occurred before I even thought about opening LabView. I am sure that the Shared Variable Engine It was the general Windows error message with the option to "send" or "don't send". If I then started LabView after that and tried deploying my variables by right clicking my library and pressing "Deploy All", LabView would popup the normal box that shows the status of variable deployment. It would almost immediately fail deployment and then a few seconds after that I would receive the same error I got when I started up Windows (Shared Variable Engine failed). I went to the services in Windows and tried restarting the Shared Variable Engine from there. I would start it and then a few seconds later it would stop and give me the same error. I tried doing the same thing from the Distributed System Manager. Same Result. Same Error.
I found a section on this site about people having problems with C++ Runtime errors that would basically cause the same thing to happen. Their Shared Variable Engine would fail. The advise I found there led me to the Distributed System Manager. It said to right click on the libraries and remove all the processes or "end process". What I had were two libraries there. One that I was using and one that I wasn't. I was able to end the process for the one that I wasn't using but not for the one that I was using for my current project. I removed that process and restarted Labview and I deployed my variables and got the same error. No luck. Until, I restarted Labview again and deployed my variables again and it magically healed itself. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for the process to stop, not sure. My variables deployed, I opened up my VI and everything was working great. I am assuming that by removing that unwanted process, I found my fix. But I guess I can't be sure. That process, which was just a library that I had created for another project and was no longer being used, had been there for a long time (6 months). And I was having no issues to speak of. So I guess my ultimate question is what the heck happened that caused all this. I'm sure its bad form to have a process running that isn't needed, that's my fault and I will certainly be more aware of that in the future. I just wish I knew what caused my problems so that they won't happen again.
Any thoughts?

Migrating large project from DSC 7.1 to LabView 2009 Shared Variables ... What's the next step after recreating my variables?

I am in the process of migrating a large distributed (multi-workstation) automation system from the LabVIEW 7.11 DSCEngine on Windows XP to the LabVIEW 2009 Shared Variable Engine on Windows 7.
I have about 600 tags which represent data or IO states in a series of Opto22 instruments, accessible via their OptoOPCServer. There are another 150 memory tags which are used so the multiple workstations can trade requests and status information to coordinate motion and process sequencing. Only one workstation may be allowed to run the Opto22 server, because otherwise the Opto22 instruments are overwhelmed by the multiple communications requests; for simplicity, I'll refer to that workstation as the Opto22 gateway.
The LabVIEW 2009 migration tool was unable to properly migrate the Opto22 tags, but with some help from NI support (thank you, Jared!) and many days of pointing and clicking, I have successfully created a bound shared-variable library connecting to all the necessary data and IO. I've also created shared variables corresponding to the memory tags. All the variables have been deployed.
So far, so good. After much fighting with Windows 7 network location settings, I can open the Distributed System Manager on a second W7/LV2009 machine (I'll refer to it as the "remote" machine henceforth) and see the processes and all those variables on the Opto22 gateway workstation. I've also created a few variables on the remote workstation and confirmed that I can see them from the gateway workstation.
Now I need to be able to use (both read and write) the variables in VIs running on the remote workstation machine. (And by extension, on more remote workstations as I do the upgrade/migration).
I have succeeded in reading and writing them by creating a tag reader pointed at the URL for the process on the Opto22 gateway. I can see a way I could replace the old DSC tag reads and writes in my applications using this technique, but is this the right way to do this? Is this actually using the Shared Variable Engine, or is it actually using the DataSocket? I know for a fact that attempting to manipulate ~800 items via Datasocket will bog down the systems.
I had the impression that I should be able to create shared variables in my project on the remote workstation that link to those on the Opto22 gateway workstation. When, however, I try to browse to find the processes on that workstation, I get an error saying that isn't possible.
Am I on the right track with the tag reader? If not, is there some basic step I'm missing in trying to access the shared variables I created on the gateway workstation?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Kevin
Kevin Roche
Advisory Engineer/Scientist
Spintronics and Magnetoelectronics group
IBM Research Almaden

I have found the answer to part of my question -- an relatively easy way to create a "remote" library of shared variables that connect to the master library on my gateway workstation.
Export the variables from the master library as a csv file and copy that to the remote machine.
Open the file on the remote machine (in excel or the spreadsheet app of your choice) and (for safety's sake) immediately save it with a name marking it as the remote version.
Find the network path column (it was "U" in my file).
replace the path for each variable (which will be either a long file path or a blank, depending on the kind of variable) with \\machine\'process name'\variable name
where machine is the name or ip address of the master (gateway) workstation (I used the ip address to make sure it uses my dedicated automation ethernet network rather than our building-wide network)
and process name is the name of the process with the deployed variables visible in the Distributed System Manager on the gateway machine.
NOTE the single quotes around the process name; they are required.
The variable name is in the first ("A") column, so in Excel, I could do this for line 2 with the formula =CONCATENATE("\\machine\'process name'\",A2)
Once the formula worked on line 2, I could copy it into all the other lines.
Save the CSV file.
Import the CSV into the remote library to create the variables.
Note: at this point, if you attempt to deploy the variables, it will fail. The aliases are not quite set properly yet.
Open the properties for the first imported variable.
There is probably an error message at the bottom saying the alias is invalid.
In the alias section, you'll see it is set to "Project Variable" with the network path from step 4.
Change the setting to "PSP URL" with the same path and the error message should disappear.
Close the properties box, save the library, and then export the variables to a new CSV file.
Open the new CSV file in Excel, and scroll sideways to the NetworkrojectBound field.
You'll notice it is False for the first variable, and true for the rest. Set the field FALSE for all lines in the spreadsheet.
Scroll sideways... you'll notice there are two new columns between NetworkrojectPath and Network:UseBinding
The first one is NetworkingleWriter; it should already be FALSE for all lines.
The second one is Network:URL. That needs to be set equal to the value for each line of NetworkrojectPath.
You can accomplish this with a formula like in step 4. In Excel it was =U2 for line 2, and then cut and paste into all lines below it.
There is a third new field, Path, which should already be set to the location of the variable library. You don't need to do anything with it.
Save the edited CSV file.
Go back to the remote library, and import variables from the just-edited remote library CSV file.
Once you have imported them and the Multiple Variable Editor opens, click on done.
You should now be able to deploy the remote variable library without error. (Make sure to open the Distributed System Manager and start the local variable engine. It took me a few failures before I realized I had to do that before attempting a deployment).
Voila! You now have a "remote" library of shared variables that references all the shared variables on the master machine, and which should be deployable on other machines with very little difficulty.
It actually took longer to write out the process here than to perform these steps once I figured it out.
Kevin Roche
Advisory Engineer/Scientist
Spintronics and Magnetoelectronics group
IBM Research Almaden

How can I use an Access front end and Access button to control a LabView Shared variable boolean?

My company has invested a lot of money on the office network to write many many access databases and front ends. I'm looking for a way to tie a button on an access front end to toggle a LabView boolean shared variable to notify me when they changed something on their side of the network. I'm not seeing anything that helps on a web or forum search. They don't like the idea of a separate labview control that they have to push a button on to let me know.
Thanks
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi Patrick,
While this is not the intended purpose of Network-Published Shared Variables, you might be able to accomplish this by writing separate accessor VIs for reading from and writing to the variable, making sure to wire the inputs and outputs. Then, you could build a DLL, making sure that you include the accessor VIs as Exported VIs and include the DLL Library in the Always Included section of the DLL Build Specifications. During this process, you will define the function prototype, which will provide the function call, required parameters, and return values. Once the DLL is created, you can then call it and its functions from another programming language (C, C++, C#, VB, etc.). This may or may not work, but it is the only way that I can think of at this point. I have included some references that may help you in this process.
Building a Shared Library in LabVIEW (White Paper)
Calling LabVIEW VIs from Other Programming Languages (White Paper)
Calling LabVIEW DLL From C# (Forum with Examples)
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Mike Watts
Product Marketing - Modular Instruments

How do you synchronize accesses to a LabVIEW Shared Variable?

I would like to create an ad-hoc weather station program (I'll explain more in a bit). I am using LabVIEW 8.0 Full Edition, and I would like to share data over a network between stations with the LabVIEW Shared Variable. Here's what I want to be able to do:
A node would start up, and begin publishing data to a network via a shared variable.
The shared variable is an array of clusters
The cluster information would hold things like:
Station Name
Station Location
Weather information cluster (temperature, rainfall, windspeed, wind direction, etc...)
Timestamp of last update
When a new node would like to enter, it would bind to the shared variable, grow the array, and add its information.
If a node's Station Name and Station Location is already in the shared variable, it would merely update the information in the cluster.
Viewing nodes could pop in, bind to the shared variable, and read/display the information at any time.
I am trying to enumerate problems with this before implementing, and I have run into a stinker of a problem that I am not sure how to solve. How do I synchronize accesses to the LabVIEW Shared Variable? If I read the variable, modify it, and write it back, I will undoubtedly run into a race condition where 2 nodes attempt to update its data and I will lose the data written by the first node - Node A reads, Node A modifies, Node B reads, Node A writes, Node B Modifies, Node B Writes, and thus the modifications made by Node A are lost. In my specific application losing some data isn't critical, but if not remedied this type of problem could cause massive amounts of data to be lost when there are numerous nodes, and that is definitely not acceptable.
Does anyone have any recommendations on how to synchronize the read-modify-write operations on the data in the Shared Variable?
-Danny

Wendy,
I am afraid Semaphores are not network-shared objects (to my knowledge), they are system-level objects that use operating-system synchronization mechanisms. If I were synchronizing on a single machine, a semaphore might be a valid mechanism; as an aside, most user-mode semaphores are designed to synchronize within a single process - to synchronize between processes you need to store the semaphore in the Kernel, and to synchronize over a network you would need a network node to handle serialization of requests. My Shared Variable is published over a network, and to my knowledge there are no network-published synchronization mechanisms available - mostly because there is no way to currently perform an atomic test-and-set on the Shared Variable (am I correct?) and there isn't a mechanism for blocking access to a Shared Variable from another network device/machine (or is there?). I've been looking for some way to implement an atomic test-and-set but I am running into a wall; I know that if I select the "single writer" attribute of the Shared Variable I can get LabVIEW to force a single writer allowing me to have an atomic "set", but I need more than that.
If only there was a network-shared Semaphore or some way to block other network accesses to the Shared Variable I would be in business - something like what I want doesn't exist, does it?
Thanks!
-Danny
Message Edited by texasdiaz on 02-23-2006 02:52 AM

Shared Variable Crashing LabVIEW

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