LabVIEW

Revision 2 as of 2008-02-09 20:05:47

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Readers of the German computer magazine c't can download a free (as in beer, for private usage) version of LabVIEW 6.1 (see http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/89763).

Installation on Ubuntu

The download is a zip-file. Unzip it with Archive Manager or on the command line:

unzip -x labviewlinux.zip
cd LabVIEW61Linux/

Convert the included .rpm packages to .deb packages:

sudo apt-get install alien fakeroot
fakeroot alien labview61-app-6.1-1.i386.rpm
...

(repeat fakeroot alien for all the .rpm files) You can now install the new .deb files by double-clicking on them, or on the command line:

sudo dpkg -i labview61-app_6.1-2_i386.deb
...

You can now throw away the rpm files or the whole LabVIEW61Linux directory. You may want to keep your new .deb files in case you need to reinstall or use them on another Ubuntu/Debian computer.

Starting LabVIEW

Start LabVIEW from the command line with:

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lv61/linux /usr/local/lv61/labview

You can also create a desktop file with this contents:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Labview 6.1
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Exec=env LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lv61/linux /usr/local/lv61/labview
Icon=/usr/local/lv61/linux/icons/labview.xpm

(or just download this desktop file: attachment:Labview6.1.desktop)

Package overview

  • labview61-app: Contains the LabVIEW executable, support files necessary for proper operation, and the standard VI (Virtual Instrument) library, including support for serial, TCP/IP, GPIB, and VISA. Also includes tools for building Code Interface Nodes (CIN's) for calling external code from LabVIEW.

  • labview61-desktop: LabVIEW icons and MIME config files for use under the KDE or GNOME desktop environments.

  • labview61-examples: Contains a variety of example VI's which demonstrate various aspects of programming in G, and the Activity directory for use with the LabVIEW Tutorial.

  • labview61-help: Contains LabVIEW on-line help files and the HyperHelp viewer licensed from Bristol Technology.

  • labview61-pro: Contains tools for large LabVIEW application development, such as the LabVIEW Source Code Control toolkit, a VI Documentation tool, a tool for obtaining VI Metrics, and a tool for comparing VI's or hierarchies of VI's (a graphical "differ").

  • labview61-ref: Contains the following LabVIEW manuals in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format: LabVIEW User Manual, QuickStart Guide, Upgrade Notes, G Programming Reference Manual, CIN Reference Manual, VXI Reference Manual, and LabVIEW Function and VI Reference Manual. Not all manuals may be applicable to all platforms (e.g. NI-DAQ is not supported in Linux.) These manuals are readable using the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available on the CD in the acrobat subdirectory, or on Adobe's Web site at http://www.adobe.com. If 'acroread' is in your path, you may launch the browser directly from LabVIEW via the help menu.

  • labview61-rt: Allows the user to build stand-alone applications using LabVIEW.

  • labview61-rte: Run-time libraries required to run LabVIEW or LabVIEW-built stand-alone applications.

  • labview61-vxi: Contains LabVIEW support for NI-VXI.

  • nicvirte: The National Instruments LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine for Linux.

  • nivisa: NI-VISA is a shared library which provides an abtraction layer allowing access to GPIB/IEEE-488.2, Serial, VXI, and MXI resources attached to the computer. Applications such as LabVIEW can load this library dynamically the first time a VISA resource is accessed.

  • nivisaserver: NI-VISA server allows access to local VISA resources via Ethernet. Other machines can access local resources like they were their own. Access privileges can be set using the Visaconf application.