NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS SCXI-1120 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual Product Information

: May 15, 2024
: NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Table of Contents

SCXI-1120 Measure Data Acquisition
Product Information
Specifications
Product Usage Instructions
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Chapter 3: Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How do I obtain warranty service for the SCXI-1120?
Q: Can I reproduce or transmit the user manual in any
Q: How can I contact National Instruments for support?

SCXI-1120 Measure Data Acquisition

Product Information

Specifications

Product Name: SCXI-1120
Edition: August 1996
Part Number: 321004B -01

Product Usage Instructions

Chapter 1: Introduction

Using Measure with Your DAQ Device:

Overview of the DAQ Device
Installing Measure
Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In
Uninstalling Measure

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Selecting a Data Acquisition Task:

Configuring an Analog Input Task
Configuring an Analog Output Task
Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
Saving Tasks
Managing Tasks in a Workbook

Chapter 3: Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

SCXI Operating Modes:

SCXI Analog Input
Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis
SCXI Analog Output

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I obtain warranty service for the SCXI-1120?

A: To obtain warranty service, you must first obtain a Return
Material Authorization (RMA) number from the factory. This number
should be clearly marked on the package before sending the
equipment for warranty work. National Instruments will cover the
shipping costs for returning parts covered by the warranty.

Q: Can I reproduce or transmit the user manual in any

form?

A: Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be
reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written
consent of National Instruments Corporation.

Q: How can I contact National Instruments for support?

A: You can contact National Instruments through various means
including email, telephone, and fax. Refer to the user manual for
specific contact information based on your location.

SCXI-1120

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Measure® Data Acquisition
User Manual
August 1996 Edition Part Number 321004B -01
© Copyright 1995, 1996 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

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

Important Information

Warranty

The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by warranty.
National Instruments believes that the information in this manual is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.
EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMER’S RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE PAID BY THE CUSTOMER. NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, USE OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. This limitation of the liability of National Instruments will apply regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or tort, including negligence. Any action against National Instruments must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the National Instruments installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside reasonable control.

Copyright

Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments Corporation.

Trademarks

Measure® and NI-DAQTM are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

WARNING REGARDING MEDICAL AND CLINICAL USE
OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS
National Instruments products are not designed with components and testing intended to ensure a level of reliability suitable for use in treatment and diagnosis of humans. Applications of National Instruments products involving medical or clinical treatment can create a potential for accidental injury caused by product failure, or by errors on the part of the user or application designer. Any use or application of National Instruments products for or involving medical or clinical treatment must be performed by properly trained and qualified medical personnel, and all traditional medical safeguards, equipment, and procedures that are appropriate in the particular situation to prevent serious injury or death should always continue to be used when National Instruments products are being used. National Instruments products are NOT intended to be a substitute for any form of established process, procedure, or equipment used to monitor or safeguard human health and safety in medical or clinical treatment.

About This Manual

Organization of This Manual

Conventions Used in This Manual

Customer Communication

xi

Chapter 1
Introduction
Using Measure with Your DAQ Device DAQ Device Overview Installing Measure
Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In Uninstalling Measure

Chapter 2
Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Selecting a Data Acquisition Task Configuring an Analog Input Task Configuring an Analog Output Task Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu Saving Tasks Managing Tasks in a Workbook

Chapter 3
Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
SCXI Operating Modes SCXI Analog Input Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis SCXI Analog Output

v

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Table of Contents
Chapter 4 Analog Input Reference
DAQ Device Overview Analog Input Configuration Overview
Analog Input Scan List Channels High Limit Low Limit
Scan Information Number of scans Scale to volts
Timing Settings Scans/second External scan clock
Display At cell In Columns In Rows
Trigger Reference Mode Reference Advanced Timing Settings
Chapter 5 Analog Output Reference
Analog Output Configuration Overview Advanced Configuration
Chapter 6 Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA
Function Reference DAQ GetDAQErrorMessage
Appendix A DAQ Hardware Capabilities
SCXI Information MIO and AI Device Hardware Capabilities
Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices Hardware Capabilities SCXI Module Hardware Capabilities Analog Output Only Devices Hardware Capabilities

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

vi

Appendix B Error Codes

Appendix C Trouble Shooting

Appendix D Customer Communication

Glossary

Index

Figures
Figure 1-1. Add-Ins Dialog Box

Figure 2-1. Figure 2-2. Figure 2-3. Figure 2-4. Figure 2-5. Figure 2-6. Figure 2-7. Figure 2-8. Figure 2-9.

DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Analog Input Configuration Task Description Dialog Box DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu The DAQ Menu DAQ Tasks Dialog Box

Figure 3-1. Selecting the Add>> button

Figure 4-1. Figure 4-2. Figure 4-3. Figure 4-4. Figure 4-5. Figure 4-6.

Analog Input Configuration Dialog Box Scan Clock and Channel Clock Round Robin Scanning Hardware Digital Trigger Dialog Box Analog Input Mode Dialog Box Advanced Timing Settings Option

Figure 5-1. Analog Output Configuration Figure 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box

Table of Contents

vii

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Table of Contents

Tables
Table 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Options

Table 3-1. SCXI Channel Strings Syntax

Table 4-1. Table 4-2. Table 4-3. Table 4-4. Table 4-5. Table 5-1. Table 5-2.

Examples of Valid Channel Strings Analog Input Configuration Buttons/Options Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger Choices for Analog Input Mode Dialog Box Choices for Advanced Timing Analog Output Configuration Reference Advanced Analog Output Configuration Options

Table A-1. Table A-2. Table A-3. Table A-4. Table A-5.
Table A-6. Table A-7. Table A-8. Table A-9. Table A-10. Table A-11.

Analog Input Configuration Programmability–MIO and AI Devices Analog Input Characteristics–MIO and AI Devices (Part 1) Analog Input Characteristics–MIO and AI Devices (Part 2) Analog Output Characteristics–MIO and AI Devices Analog Input Configuration Programmability–Lab,
1200 Series, Portable Devices Analog Input Characteristics–Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 1) Analog Input Characteristics–Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 2) Analog Output Characteristics–Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices Analog Input Characteristics–SCXI Modules Terminal Block Selection Guide–SCXI Modules Analog Output Characteristics–Analog Output Only Devices

Table B-1. Data Acquisition Error Codes

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

viii

The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual describes how to use the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In with National Instruments data acquisition boards to acquire data into Microsoft Excel. You should be familiar with the operation of Microsoft Excel, your computer, your computer’s operating system, and your data acquisition (DAQ) board.
Organization of This Manual
The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual is organized as follows.
· Chapter 1, Introduction, helps you install the Measure Data Acquisition (DAQ) Add-In. You should have installed and configured your DAQ hardware already.
· Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, contains a tutorial for the following basic functions: Selecting a data acquisition task, configuring an analog input task, configuring an analog output task, adding tasks to the DAQ menu, saving tasks, and managing tasks in a workbook.
· Chapter 3, Using SCXI with Measure DAQ, describes how to use the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In in Excel with your Signal Conditioning Extension for Instrumentation (SCXI) equipment.
· Chapter 4, Analog Input Reference, introduces some basic concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for analog input configuration, hardware digital triggering, analog input modes, and advanced timing. You should be familiar with the hardware characteristics of your data acquisition device.
· Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference, introduces some concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for basic and advanced Analog Output Configuration.

ix

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

About This Manual

· Chapter 6, Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA, describes how to run tasks from within Visual Basic for Applications.
· Appendix A, DAQ Hardware Capabilities, contains SCXI information and tables that summarize the analog I/O capabilities of National Instruments data acquisition devices you might use with Measure for Windows.
· Appendix B, Error Codes, describes the errors that can occur while using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
· Appendix C, Troubleshooting, describes solutions to problems that you might encounter using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
· Appendix D, Customer Communication, contains forms you can use to request help from National Instruments or to comment on our products and manuals.
· The Glossary contains an alphabetical list and descriptions of terms used in this manual, including abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes, mnemonics, and symbols.
· The Index contains an alphabetical list of key terms and topics in this manual, including the page where you can find each one.

Conventions Used in This Manual

bold italic bold italic

The following conventions are used in this manual.
Bold text denotes a parameter, or the introduction of menus, menu items, or dialog box buttons or options.
Italic text denotes emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction to a key concept.
Bold italic text denotes a note, caution, or warning.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

x

About This Manual

monospace

Text in this font denotes text or characters that are to be literally input from the keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, variables, filenames, and extensions, and for statements and comments taken from program code.

»

The » symbol leads you through nested menu items, and dialog box

options to a final action. The sequence

Files»Page Setup»Options»Substitute Fonts

directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, select Options, and finally select the Substitute Fonts option from the last dialog box.

Note: This icon to the left of bold italicized text denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

Customer Communication
National Instruments wants to receive your comments on our products and manuals. We are interested in the applications you develop with our products, and we want to help if you have problems with them. To make it easy for you to contact us, this manual contains comment and configuration forms for you to complete. These forms are in Appendix D, Customer Communication, at the end of this manual.
Related Documentation
The following document contains information that you may find helpful as you read this manual: · NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles

xi

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Introduction
This chapter helps you install the Measure Data Acquisition (DAQ) Add-In. You should have installed and configured your DAQ hardware already. If you have not done so, please refer to the NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles that came with your device for instructions on installation and configuration.
Using Measure with Your DAQ Device
Measure is designed to work with many different National Instruments DAQ devices. Before you can use Measure, you must install and configure your DAQ device and the NI-DAQ driver software that came with your DAQ device. NI-DAQ is the low-level driver software that controls your DAQ device. Measure is a higher-level software development tool that communicates to your DAQ device through NI-DAQ. Refer to the documentation that comes with your DAQ device to learn how to install it properly.
Once you install your DAQ device, you must install and configure your NI-DAQ driver software.
You use the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (WDAQCONF.EXE) to set up your DAQ device. For some DAQ devices, such as the E Series boards, you do not have to configure many settings. For other devices, you might be required to set jumpers or switches on your device to configure it to work in your system. Refer to the documentation that came with your DAQ device to install your NI- DAQ driver software and run WDAQCONF.EXE.

1-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 1

Introduction

DAQ Device Overview
Measure is an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface for acquiring data with a wide range of National Instruments DAQ devices. Because Measure works with so many different devices, the functionality and performance of the software often varies based on the particular DAQ device you use. Although Measure senses the type of DAQ device you are using, you might select options in the task configuration that are not supported by your particular device. Measure notifies you when such a conflict occurs when you close the configuration window, or when you test the task you have defined. Make sure to test each task once you define it.
The following pages contain a tutorial to show you how to use Measure. Refer to the Managing Tasks in a Workbook section in Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, for detailed information on the analog input and output settings you can configure with Measure.
Installing Measure
1. Insert the Measure for Windows diskette into a 3½ inch floppy drive.
2. Select Start»Run from the taskbar in Windows 95 or File»Run from the Program Manager in other versions of Windows.
3. Type A:SETUP in the box labeled Command Line, and then select OK.
4. Select a location for the setup program to install Measure for Windows.
5. Deselect any Add-Ins that you do not want to install. 6. Select OK.
The setup program copies the program files and on-line help files to the directory that you choose and creates a program group. Setup also automatically configures Excel to load the DAQ Add-In when you launch Excel.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

1-2

Chapter 1

Introduction

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

Figure 1-1. Add-Ins Dialog Box
Uninstalling Measure
To uninstall Measure, remove both the Serial Add-In and the Data Acquisition Add-In from the Add-Ins list in Excel. Double-click the Uninstall icon in the Measure folder to remove Measure from your computer.

1-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
After you install and configure your hardware and install the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In, you are ready to acquire data. This chapter contains a tutorial for each of the following basic functions. · Selecting a Data Acquisition task · Configuring an Analog Input task · Configuring an Analog Output task · Adding tasks to the DAQ menu · Saving tasks · Managing tasks in a workbook
You only need to read the sections for the functions that you use in your application.
Selecting a Data Acquisition Task
This section contains step-by-step instructions for configuring analog input and output tasks with Measure. To configure tasks, complete the following steps. 1. Launch Excel. 2. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Task to display the DAQ Tasks
dialog box, shown in Figure 2-1.

2-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Figure 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
The DAQ Tasks dialog box manages the I/O operations, or tasks, that you define with Measure. From this dialog box, you can create new tasks, edit existing tasks, and run I/O tasks interactively to test their operation.
3. Select a DAQ device from the Data acquisition device drop-down listbox at the top of the dialog box. The list of devices available in the drop-down listbox is taken from the devices that you have configured. If you have not run the configuration utility yet, refer to the documentation that came with your DAQ hardware.
4. Click on the AI button under the heading Create a task to display the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, shown in figure 2-2.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

2-2

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Figure 2-2. Analog Input Configuration
Configuring an Analog Input Task
From the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, you can specify all the parameters for an analog input operation. In the following steps, you create a simple analog input task. Refer to Chapter 4, Analog Input Reference, for more detailed information about the different options for analog input. 1. The Analog Input Scan List at the top of the dialog box is where
you specify the input channels on your DAQ device from which you would like to acquire data. For each input channel you add to the scan list, you must specify a high and low voltage limit for the signals that you read. Measure puts default values for your device in the high and low limit fields. Measure uses these limits to configure the gain settings on your DAQ device for maximum measurement accuracy. Type 0 in the Channel field and click on the Add>> button to place the channel into your scan list.
2. In the Scan Information section of the dialog box, you specify how many scans of your channel list are to be acquired. A scan is a single measurement from each channel in your scan list. In this

2-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

example in which there is only one channel specified, the number of scans is equal to the number of points acquired from channel 0. If you were to specify two channels in your channel list, 100 scans would result in 200 points of data acquired (100 from each channel).
Type 100 in the Number of Scans field.
3. The Scan Rate section of the dialog box is where you specify how fast you would like to acquire the data. The default setting of 1000 scans per second means that you acquire a single point from each channel in your channel list 1000 times per second.
Type 1000 in the Scans/second field.
4. The Display section of the dialog box is where you specify the cells on your worksheet to contain the acquired data. You manually can type in a spreadsheet address, such as $A$1, or you can highlight the input field and use your mouse to select an area on the spreadsheet to place your acquired data. Measure begins with the upper-left most cell in the range that you supply and places the data in rows or columns from that point in the worksheet.
Type $A$1 to place the 100 elements of data in the first column of your worksheet.
5. Type the name Read Channel 0 in the Task Name field.
6. Click on the Description button to add a description for your task under development, shown in Figure 2-3. Type Acquire 100 points of data from channel 0 in the Task Description dialog box, and click on the OK button.
Now you have finished specifying your first Measure analog input task.

Figure 2-3. Task Description Dialog Box

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

2-4

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

7. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box, shown in Figure 2-4. Notice that you now have a task named Read Channel 0 in your task list. Notice also that the description for this new task appears in the dialog box as well.

Figure 2-4. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
8. Click on the Run button to execute the task. When the task completes, there are 100 datapoints in column A of your worksheet.
Configuring an Analog Output Task
If your DAQ device has analog output channels, you can use Measure to generate analog output signals based on values in your spreadsheet. Analog output tasks operate exactly opposite of analog input tasks. You specify an area on your worksheet that contains data values, and Measure converts these values to voltages and outputs them through an analog output channel of your DAQ device. For more information on analog output tasks, refer to Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference.

2-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

1. From the DAQ Task dialog box, select AO from the Create a task section of the dialog box to display the Analog Output Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 2-5.

Figure 2-5. Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
2. Type 0 in the Channel input field.
3. Type $A$1:$A$10 in the Data cells input field. You manually can type this range, or highlight the input field and drag particular areas of your worksheet to specify a cell range. This parameter specifies which cell values are used as analog output values.
4. Click on the Add button.
5. Type 10 in the Number of iterations input field. The number of iterations determines how many times Measure outputs the values specified in the cell range. You can type a value of 0 in this field for continuous output of the values.
6. Type 1000 in the Updates per second input field. As in acquiring data, you must specify an update rate to determine how fast the data outputs through the analog output channel.
7. Type Output 10 iterations in the Task Name input field.
8. Click on the Description button, and type Output 10 iterations of data on analog output Channel 0 for the description of your analog output task. Click on the OK button.
9. Now you have finished configuring your first Measure analog output task. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

2-6

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

dialog box. Notice that your new analog output task appears in the task list, shown in Figure 2-6.

Figure 2-6. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
10. Highlight the Output 10 iterations task and click on the Run button to execute the analog output task. Make sure you have valid voltage data in cells A1:A10 before running the task.
Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
Now that the two tasks are configured and tested from the DAQ Tasks dialog box, you may want to make them more accessible from your spreadsheet. With Measure, you can easily add these tasks to the DAQ menu. 1. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Tasks. 2. Click on the Edit Menu button to display the Edit DAQ Menu
dialog box, shown in Figure 2-7.

2-7

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Figure 2-7. Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
3. Highlight each of the tasks in the window on the right and click on the Add button to add them to the DAQ menu.
4. Click on the OK button to return to the Configure DAQ Tasks menu. Click on the OK button to return to the Excel worksheet.
5. Pull down the DAQ menu. Notice that two new entries now appear in the DAQ menu, shown in Figure 2-8. Now you can select these tasks and execute them from the worksheet without going into the Measure dialog boxes.

Saving Tasks

Figure 2-8. The DAQ Menu

Each of your tasks are stored in your workbook automatically when you click on the OK button in the DAQ Tasks dialog box. If you configure a new task, but click on the Cancel button from the DAQ Tasks dialog box, Measure does not store your new task in your workbook.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

2-8

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Your tasks are saved as part of the Excel workbook. Each time you launch Excel and open a workbook that contains Measure tasks, they appear in the task list of the DAQ tasks dialog box.
Managing Tasks in a Workbook
This section describes how to use the DAQ Tasks dialog box, shown in Figure 2-9, to manage the tasks in a workbook. You can open this dialog box by selecting DAQ»ConfigureDAQTasks from the menu bar.

Figure 2-9. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box

2-9

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks

Table 2-1 contains a list of the DAQ Tasks dialog box options with descriptions of their use.

Table 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Options

Option/Button
Data acquisition device
Data acquisition tasks
Task Description
Edit Menu AI AO Run Edit Delete OK
Cancel

Description
Select the National Instrument data acquisition device for which you want to create a task. Measure scans your NI-DAQ configuration for installed devices and lists only those devices that Measure supports.
Measure lists all the tasks that you have created for a data acquisition device. Select a task if you wish to run, edit, or delete it.
Measure displays the description of the selected task. You can assign a description to a task when you create or edit it.
Add or delete tasks from the DAQ menu.
Create an Analog Input task for the selected data acquisition device.
Create an Analog Output task for the selected data acquisition device.
Run the selected data acquisition task.
Edit the selected data acquisition task.
Delete the selected data acquisition task.
Store in the active workbook all the changes that you made (creation of tasks, changes to existing tasks, deletions of tasks, additions or deletions to the DAQ menu).
Ignore all the changes that you made (creation of tasks, changes to existing tasks, deletions of tasks, additions or deletions to the DAQ menu).

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

2-10

Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

This chapter describes how to use the Measure data acquisition (DAQ) Add-in in Excel with your Signal Conditioning Extension for Instrumentation (SCXI) equipment.
SCXI is a set of modules and terminal blocks used as a signal condition front- end for your data acquisition devices. These modules perform tasks such as multiplexing large numbers of signals, amplifying lowlevel signals, providing isolation between your data acquisition devices and transducers, and so on.
To use your SCXI modules with Measure, first you must configure all your DAQ hardware using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (WDAQCONF.EXE). In the configuration utility, you must assign a device number to each of your DAQ devices and define the connections to your SCXI modules. In most cases, your DAQ device is a plug-in board in your computer although it also can be a PC Card (PCMCIA) format DAQCard or a SCXI-1200 module. You use the DAQ devices for the actual A/D conversions of your analog input signals, and for controlling SCXI modules. Each SCXI module is controlled by one DAQ device, and is assigned as such in the configuration utility. If you have any questions about the configuration utility, consult the NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles.
Once you have configured the SCXI system, using the Measure DAQ Add-In is very similar to using a simple DAQ device. The only difference in the operation is the use of the channel string in the scan list to specify the channels on specific SCXI modules you want to acquire. All other parameters of the DAQ Add-In operate the same.
SCXI Operating Modes
You can operate SCXI modules in two different modes-multiplexed and parallel. In the multiplexed mode, all analog input channels for each SCXI module are multiplexed (routed) onto one input channel of

3-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 3

Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

your data acquisition device. The multiplexed mode is the default and recommended mode to use with SCXI. In the parallel mode, each SCXI module is directly connected to one data acquisition device and each analog input channel on a SCXI module is connected to a separate analog input channel on the data acquisition device. Not all data acquisition devices or SCXI modules support the parallel mode. Consult your data acquisition hardware user manual for more information.
SCXI Analog Input
To configure channels on a SCXI analog input module in the DAQ task configuration, first select the DAQ device in the main DAQ Tasks dialog box to which the SCXI module is directly or indirectly connected. Then, select the AI button to create an AI task or the Edit button to modify an existing AI task. In the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, specify the SCXI channel(s) you want to acquire in the Channels field by entering a channel string. This channel string provides information about the DAQ device channel, SCXI chassis number, SCXI module number, and SCXI channel number. The channel string has the following format:
ob0!scx!mdy!z
In the SCXI channel string, x represents the chassis number, y the module number, and z the channel number.
ob0′ in the SCXI channel string indicates which onboard channel (on the DAQ device) to use to acquire the data. In the SCXI multiplexed mode (default mode), all SCXI channels from one SCXI chassis are multiplexed onto one onboard channel. Usually, this is channel 0 (ob0 in the SCXI string), unless you are using more than one SCXI chassis; in which case each additional chassis uses the next onboard channel (i.e. Chassis 2 uses onboard channel 1, and so on). scx’ represents the chassis number where x is replaced by the actual number (e.g. sc1). The chassis are numbered starting with 1 and the chassis number is assigned in the NI-DAQ configuration utility.
`mdy’ represents the module number where y is replaced with the actual number (e.g. md2). The modules are numbered 1 through n on each SCXI chassis with module 1 being in the left-most slot of the SCXI chassis and module n in the right-most slot.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

3-2

Chapter 3

Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

`z’ in the SCXI channel string represents the actual channel number (e.g. 3). Channels on the SCXI modules are numbered starting at zero. You specify a range of channels on your SCXI modules by listing the first and last channel separated with a colon (e.g. 0:5).
You only use the SCXI channel string when the SCXI is operating in multiplexed mode and channels are multiplexed onto one or more channels of the data acquisition device. In parallel mode, specify the channel of your data acquisition device to acquire. Each channel on your DAQ device is mapped in hardware to one channel on a SCXI module in parallel mode.
Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis
In the scan list of your DAQ AI task, you can specify channels from multiple SCXI modules or chassis by adding multiple entries to the scan list. Repeat the Add operation for each SCXI module. However, you can specify only one group of consecutive channels per SCXI module in the scan list. You must specify consecutive channels in an incremental order (e.g. ob0!sc1!md1!0:5, ob0!sc1!md2!10:19). In the Measure DAQ Task Dialog Box, the channel setting would be listed as follows. The two lines in the scan list on the right are added separately by twice filling in the channel field on the left and clicking on the Add>> button, as shown in Figure 3-1.

3-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 3

Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

Figure 3-1. Selecting the Add>> button

Table 3-1 lists other possible combinations for SCXI channel strings.

Table 3-1. SCXI Channel Strings Syntax

String Syntax

Description

ob0!sc1!md2!5

Channel 5 on module 2 of SCXI chassis 1 is read through onboard channel 0.

ob0!sc1!md2!0:7 ob0!sc1!md4!5:12

Channels 0-7 on module 2 and channels 5-12 on module 4 of chassis 1 are read through onboard channel 0.

ob0!sc1!md3!3:4 ob1!sc2!md1!20:24

Channels 3 and 4 of module 3 of chassis 1 are read through onboard channel 0, and channels 20-24 of module 1 on chassis 2 are read through onboard channel

In the parallel mode, each analog input SCXI module is connected directly to a DAQ device and you must specify the channels of your DAQ device in the channel list, not the SCXI channel string.
Note: The SCXI-1200 does not support the parallel mode with other SCXI modules.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

3-4

Chapter 3

Using SCXI with Measure DAQ

SCXI Analog Output
The current version of Measure does not support the use of analog output (AO) channels on the SCXI-1124 module. You can use the analog output channels of the SCXI-1200 module by selecting the device number and the AO channel number as you would with any other DAQ device.

3-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Analog Input Reference
This chapter introduces some basic concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for analog input configuration, hardware digital triggering, analog input modes, and advanced timing. You should be familiar with the hardware capabilities of your data acquisition device.
DAQ Device Overview
Measure works with a wide variety of National Instrument DAQ devices. This chapter provides a technical overview and reference information about using Measure for analog input operations. Many of the parameters that you can set up with Measure vary depending on your DAQ device. For example, DAQ devices vary in acquisition speed which affects how fast you can acquire data using Measure. In addition, some DAQ devices have more extensive triggering capabilities than other DAQ devices. Measure does not disable any of its options according to the selected DAQ device. When selecting options which are not supported by a particular DAQ device, you get an error message during configuration or testing. Refer to the documentation included with your DAQ hardware to learn more about the particular capabilities of your DAQ device.

4-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

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

Figure 4-1. Analog Input Configuration Dialog Box
Analog Input Scan List
To configure an acquisition, first you must select the channels that you want to scan by entering a channel string in the Channels field. A scan is one acquisition or reading from each channel in the Analog Input Scan List. The scan list can have multiple entries of one or more channels. Each entry has its own set of high and low limits which determines the gains on the channels in the entry.
Channels
Specify channels to add to the scan list. A channel string can consist of a single channel, a list of channels delimited by commas, a range of channels denoted by the first and last channel of the range separated by a colon, or any combination of the previous three types of syntax. The order that you specify the channels in your channel string from

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

4-2

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

left-to-right is the order that Measure scans the channels. The following is a table of valid channel strings.

Table 4-1. Examples of Valid Channel Strings

Valid Channel Strings

Channels in the Scan List

9

3,1

4:7

4,5,6,7

9,4:7,3,1

9,4,5,6,7,3,1

0,1 (using one AMUX board)

0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 on the AMUX board

0 (using two AMUX boards)

0,1,2,3 on the first AMUX board and 0,1,2,3 on the second AMUX board

ob0!sc1!md1!0:3

0,1,2,3 on the SCXI module in the first slot of the first chassis

0b0!sc1!md3!0:4, ob0!sc!md4!7

01,2,3,4 on the SCXI module in the third slot of the first chassis and 7 on the SCXI module in the fourth slot of the first chassis

ob0!sc1!md2!20:22, ob1!sc2!md3!5:8

20,21,22 on the SCXI module in the second slot of the first chassis and 5,6,7,8 on the SCXI module in the third slot of the second chassis

For more information about using SCXI, refer to Chapter 3, Using SCXI with Measure DAQ.

Note:

Some devices, such as the 1200-Series, have a fixed scanning order. If you are using a device that has a fixed scanning order and you want to scan multiple channels, you must list the channels in the scan list in descending order with the last channel in the scan list being channel 0 (for example, 3,2,1,0). If you are using such a device in differential mode, you must use the even- numbered channels (for example, 6,4,2,0).

High Limit
Enter the upper voltage limit for the channels in the channel string. This voltage is the maximum voltage that is measured at any of the analog input channels that you specify in the channel string. You may add more than one channel string to your scan list and each channel string may have a different set of high and low limits. When you create an AI task, Measure enters the default value for the device.

4-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

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

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

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

Scale to volts
Select this option if you want Measure to display the acquired data in volts. Otherwise, Measure displays the data as the binary values read from the analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

Timing Settings

You can think of a scan as a snapshot of the voltages present on your channels at one time. The scan rate determines how many scans per second Measure executes, which means that Measure samples each channel at the scan rate you choose. If you set your scan rate to 10 scans per second, you are taking 10 snapshots each second of all the channels in you scan list. If channel 2 is in your scan list, you sample channel 2 ten times per second. You can think of your scan rate as your sampling rate per channel.
In reality, your device does not take a snapshot of all your channels instantaneously, unless it has the capability to do simultaneous sampling. Rather, for each scan (as timed by the scan clock), the device proceeds from one channel in the scan list to the next depending on the channel clock rate. The faster the channel clock rate, the more closely

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

4-4

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

in time the channels are sampled within each scan. The reciprocal of the channel clock rate is called the interchannel delay, or channel interval, shown in Figure 4-2.

01 2 3

channel interval

scan interval
Figure 4-2. Scan Clock and Channel Clock

Measure automatically calculates the smallest, safe interchannel delay for your given configuration and device. If you select a scan rate that requires an interchannel delay smaller than the safest interchannel delay, Measure returns a warning and uses round-robin scanning. Round-robin scanning means that the interval between the last channel in one scan and the first channel of the following scan is the same as the interval between any two channels in the middle of the scan, shown in Figure 4-3.

012301230123

channel interval

Figure 4-3. Round Robin Scanning

Scans/second
Enter a scan rate for the acquisition in this field.

External scan clock
Select this option if you want to use an external signal for generating the scan rate. Measure uses the signal on an I/O line on the connector of your DAQ device for generating the scan clock.

Note:

For MIO-E Series devices, the external scan clock signal is connected to the PFI7 pin. For most other devices, the external scan clock signal is connected to the OUT2 line. See the user manual for your DAQ device for more information.

4-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

Display

When determining where to display the acquired data, Measure uses three pieces of information you specify. · Address of the upper-left cell in the range you select · Orientation of the channels you select (in rows or in columns) · Number of channels in the scan list

For example, if your scan list has four channels and the upper-left cell of the range has the address A5 and you specify In columns for the orientation, Measure displays the first scan of data in cells A5:D5, the second in A6:D6 and so on. The acquired data from the first channel in your scan list is displayed in the column headed by cell A5, the acquired data from the second channel in your scan list is displayed in the column headed by cell B5, and so on.

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

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

Option/Button Task Name
Trigger

In Rows
Select this option if you want to display your data in a channel per row orientation.
Table 4-2 contains a list of the choices for the Analog Input Configuration dialog box with descriptions of their use.
Table 4-2. Analog Input Configuration Buttons/Options
Description
When you create a new AI task, Measure suggests a unique name for your new task. You can specify a name that is unique to the currently active workbook for this task. Most data acquisition devices have a hardware digital trigger 0-5V. Click this button to configure a digital trigger for your device.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

4-6

Mode Description
OK Cancel

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

Change the analog input mode from the setting that you specify when you run the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility, WDAQCONF.EXE. Measure automatically selects the option that reflects the current setting for your device.
Enter a short description of your task. Measure displays a description of a task below the task list in the DAQ Tasks dialog box. Also, if you add your task to the DAQ menu, Measure displays the task description in the Excel status bar at the bottom of its window when you select the task in the menu.
Verify configuration and add a new task or update an existing task in the data acquisition tasks lists. Return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.
Ignore changes and return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.

Trigger Reference
On most DAQ Series devices, you can configure a digital trigger that starts an acquisition, that stops an acquisition, or both. To set up a hardware trigger, select Analog Input Configuration»Trigger to open the Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, shown in Figure 4-4.

Figure 4-4. Hardware Digital Trigger Dialog Box
Table 4-3 contains a list of Hardware Digital Trigger choices with descriptions of their use.

4-7

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

Table 4-3. Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger

Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger

Description

Start acquisition on trigger

Select this option if you want to start your acquisition on the rising edge of the PFI0/EXTTRIG/STARTTRIG (depending on the board you are using) input on the connector. Otherwise, Measure starts the acquisition with a software trigger.

Acquire until trigger

Select this option if you want to stop your acquisition on the rising edge of the PFI1/EXTTRIG/STOPTRIG (depending on the board you are using) signal on the connector. Otherwise, the acquisition ends after Measure acquires all the scans.

scans after trigger

Specify the number of scans to acquire after the stop trigger occurs.

Timeout (seconds)

Specify a timeout value in seconds. If you want Measure to calculate a timeout value for you, enter -1. If you specify an external scan clock and a timeout value of -1, Measure configures a timeout of one second.

Mode Reference

The Analog Input Mode applies to all the channels in your scan list. Select Analog Input Configuration»Mode to open the Analog Input Mode dialog box, shown in Figure 4-5.

Figure 4-5. Analog Input Mode Dialog Box

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

4-8

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

Table 4-4 contains a list Analog Input Mode choices with descriptions of their use.

Table 4-4. Choices for Analog Input Mode Dialog Box

Choices for Analog Input Mode

Description

Differential Channels

Select this option if you want each channel to use two analog channel input lines. One line connects to the positive input of the device amplifier, and the other connects to the negative input of the amplifier. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.

Referenced Single-Ended Channels

Select this option if you want each channel to use one analog input channel line, which connects to the positive input of the amplifier. The negative input of the amplifier is internally tied to analog input ground AIGND. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.

Non-Referenced Single-Ended Channels

Select this option if you want each channel to use one analog input channel line, which connects to the positive input of the amplifier. The negative input of the amplifier connects to the analog input sense AISENSE input. Refer to the user manual for your DAQ device for more information about input modes available on your device.

Note:

The Analog Input Mode on some devices is not configurable within Measure. If you have such a device, you must exit Measure and change the mode using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility. If you have a device with jumpers, you must exit Measure, power down your computer, change the jumpers, and run the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (WDAQCONF.EXE) to configure the new setting. Refer to the NI-DAQ User Manual that came with your device for more information.

4-9

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 4

Analog Input Reference

Advanced Timing Settings
Most of the time, you do not have to configure the advanced timing settings because Measure automatically selects reasonable values for you. In some cases, however, you might want to select an interchannel delay or even use an external channel clock. You can configure these settings through the Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, shown in Figure 4-6.

Figure 4-6. Advanced Timing Settings Option

Table 4-5 contains a list of the Advanced timing settings with descriptions of their use.

Table 4-5. Choices for Advanced Timing

Choice for Advanced Timing

Description

Let NI-DAQ choose an interchannel delay

NI-DAQ calculates an interchannel delay for you, based on your hardware, the limit settings for the task, and the scan rate for the task.

Specify interchannel delay (µS)

Measure uses the interchannel delay you specify in microseconds.

Use external channel clock

Measure configures your DAQ device to use an external channel clock.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

4-10

Analog Output Reference
This chapter introduces some concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for basic and advanced Analog Output Configuration. You should be familiar with the hardware capabilities of your data acquisition device.
Analog Output Configuration Overview
To configure an analog output task, first you must select the channels on which you want to generate your signals. Refer to Table 5-1 for detailed information.

Figure 5-1. Analog Output Configuration

5-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 5

Analog Output Reference

Option Channel Data cells
Add>> Remove Number of iterations
Updates per second Task Name Description
Advanced OK Cancel

Table 5-1. Analog Output Configuration Reference
Description
Specify the analog output channel on which to generate a signal. You may only specify one channel at a time.
Specify the source range of the voltage values to write to the digital- toanalog converter (DAC) for the channel. Either explicitly type the cell address, or highlight the text in this field and then select a row of cells or a column of cells on any worksheet in the workbook. Measure automatically records the address of your selection in this field.
Click this button after specifying a channel and a data cells range.
Click this button to remove any channels or source ranges that you selected in the list box.
Specify the number of times Measure should iterate through the waveform that you specified for a channel. If you specify 0 for the number of iterations, Measure indefinitely iterates through the waveform until you run another signal generation task on that same device or until you exit Excel.
Specify the rate at which Measure writes the voltage values to the DAC. If you specified more than one channel in your channel list, all channels will have the same update rate.
When you create a new AO task, Measure suggests a unique name for your new task. You can change the name in the Task name edit box; However, the name must be unique to the active workbook.
Click on this button to enter a short description of your task. Measure displays a description of a task below the task list in the DAQ Tasks dialog box. Also, if you add your task to the DAQ menu, Measure displays the task description in the Excel status bar at the bottom of its window when you select the task from the menu.
Click on this button to configure more of the advanced properties for the analog output task.
Verify configuration and add a new task or update an existing task in the data acquisition tasks lists. Return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.
Ignore changes and return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

5-2

Chapter 5

Analog Output Reference

Note:

If you want to generate waveforms on more than one channel, each channel must be added separately to the channel list. Also, Measure requires that all channels have the same number of voltage values to generate. If the range of data for one channel is larger than for another channel in the scan list, the shorter range of data is padded with the value 0 when Measure generates the waveforms.

Advanced Configuration

For most of your tasks, you do not need to use the Advanced Analog Output Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 5-2. With this dialog box, you may change the output range of your device by specifying new high and low limits or you may specify a current channel type, if your device supports it. Refer to Table 5-2 for detailed information.

Figure 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box

5-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 5

Analog Output Reference

Option High Limit (volts)
Low Limit (volts) External Voltage
Reference

Table 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Options
Description
The high limit is equal to your reference voltage and is the maximum voltage the DAC can produce. If you have an AT-AO-6/10 board and your Channel Type is current, you can calculate the maximum possible current with the following equation. Imax = Vref + 2.5/0.625 mA The following list contains the default settings for high limit. If you want to use a high limit that differs from the ones given in this list, you must supply an external voltage reference on the EXTREF pin of the connector and select the External Voltage Reference option. Most devices: 10.0 V Lab/1200 Series: -5.0 V or 10.0 V
The low limit is either 0.0 Volts or a value equal to, but opposite in sign, to the upper limit.
Select this option if you want to supply an external voltage reference on the EXTREF pin of the connector.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

5-4

Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA
This chapter describes how to run tasks from within Visual Basic for Applications. There are two ways to execute DAQ Add-In functions in a VBA module. 1. Indirectly, you can use Application.Run
returnValue=Application.Run(“FuncName”, arg1) Application.Run “FuncName”, arg1 2. Directly, after you add a reference to the DAQ Add-In. To add a reference to the DAQ Add-In, select Tools»References and select the checkbox next to the Data Acquisition Add-In. returnValue = FuncName(arg1) FuncName arg1
Function Reference
The DAQ Add-In has one function that you can call to run a task that has been configured already and one function to translate an error code to an error description.
DAQ
Runs the task named TaskName.
Syntax
Function DAQ(TaskName as String, [NewTargetRange as String], [ReferenceStyle as Variant]) as Integer

6-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Chapter 6

Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA

Parameters
Option TaskName NewTargetRange
ReferenceStyle

Description
The name of a task in the active workbook.
The address of a range on a worksheet that receives the acquired data. If you fail to specify a worksheet explicitly in the address of this macro, Measure assumes that the range is on the active worksheet. If no worksheet is active, Measure returns an error. If this parameter is missing, Measure uses the previously configured range
Use either xlA1 or xlR1C1 to indicate the type of range address being passed into NewTargetRange. If this parameter is missing, then Excel’s current reference type is assumed.

Return Value
Returns 0 if successful, otherwise returns an error code. See Appendix B, Error Codes for more information.
Example
`Referenced not added to DAQ Add-In; use indirect method Sub RunMyTask()
Dim iErr As Integer iErr = Appliction.Run(“DAQ”, “AI1”) If iErr <> 0 Then
MsgBox Application.Run(“GetDAQErrorMessage”, iErr) End If End Sub

`Referenced added to DAQ Add-In; use direct method Sub RunMyTask()
Dim iErr As Integer iErr = DAQ(“AI1”) If iErr <> 0 Then
MsgBox GetDAQErrorMessage(iErr) End If End Sub

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

6-2

Chapter 6

Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA

GetDAQErrorMessage

Finds and returns a description of an error code returned by the DAQ function.

Syntax
Function GetDAQErrorMessage(ErrorCode As Integer) As String

Parameters
Option ErrorCode

Description
A non-zero number returned by the DAQ function that indicates an error.

Return Value
A short description of the error code.
Example
See the previous example for the DAQ function.

6-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

This appendix contains SCXI information, and tables that summarize the analog I/O capabilities of National Instruments data acquisition (DAQ) devices you might use with Measure for Windows. The devices in this appendix are grouped into categories. The DAQ device categories for these tables include the following. · MIO and AI Devices · Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices · SCXI Modules · Analog Output Only Devices
SCXI Information
You cannot use the SCXI Analog Output Module (SCXI-1124) with Measure.
Measure works with all Data Acquisition devices supported by NIDAQ except EISA-A2000, AT-A2150, and AT-DSP 2200.
MIO and AI Device Hardware Capabilities

Table A-1. Analog Input Configuration ProgrammabilityMIO and AI Devices

Device

Gain

Range

Polarity SE/DIFF

coupling

All MIO-E Series Devices All AI-E Series Devices
AT-MIO-16F-5
AT-MIO-64F-5 AT-MIO-16X

By Channel By Channel By Channel By Channel DC
By Channel By Group By Group By Group DC By Channel By Channel By Channel By Channel DC

A-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

AT-MIO-16/16D

By Channel By Device By Device By Device DC

Note:

“By device” means you select the value of a parameter with hardware jumpers, and the selection affects any group of channels on the device. “By group” means you program the selection through software, and the selection affects all the channels used at the same time. “By channel” means you program the selection with hardware jumpers or through software on a per channel basis. When a specific value for a parameter is shown, that parameter value is fixed.

Device

Table A-2. Analog Input CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices (Part 1)

Number of Resolution Gains1 Range (V)1 Input FIFO Scanning2

Channels

(words)

AT-MIO-16E-1 AT-MIO-16E-2 AT-MIO-16E-10 AT-MIO-16DE-10 NEC-MIO-16E-4 NEC-AI- 16E-4

16SE, 8DI 12 bits

0.5, 1, 2, ±5, 0 to 10 5, 10, 20, 50, 100

512; E-1:

Up to 512

8,192; E-2 and

E4: 2,048

AT-MIO-64E-3

64SE, 32DI 12 bits

NEC-MIO-16XE-50 NEC-AI-16XE-50 AT-MIO-16XE-50 DAQPad-MIO-16XE-50 PCI-MIO- 16XE-50

16SE, 8DI

16 bits

0.5, 1, 2, ±5, 0 to 10 5, 10, 20, 50, 100

2,048

1, 2,10, ±10, 0 to 10 512 100

Up to 512 Up to 512

AT-MIO-16F-5 AT-MIO-64F-5
AT-MIO-16X
AT-MIO-16(L) AT-MIO-16(H) AT-MIO-16D(L) AT-MIO-16D(H)

16SE, 8DI 12 bits 64SE, 32DI 16SE, 8DI 16
16SE, 8DI 12

0.5, 1, 2, ±5, ±10, 0 to 16F-5: 256;

5, 10, 20, 10

64F-5: 512

50, 100

Up to 512

1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100

±10, 0 to 10 512

Up to 512

(L) 1, 10, 100, 500; (H): 1, 2, 4, 8

±5, ±10, 0 to 16 (L,H);

10

512 (DL, DH)

Up to 16

1 You can determine the limit settings of your device by dividing the range by the desired gain.

2 Scanning = channels, in any order.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

A-2

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Table A-3. Analog Input CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices (Part 2)

Device

Triggers1

Max Sampling Rate (S/s)

AT-MIO-16E-1 AT-MIO-16E-2 AT-MIO-64E-3 AT-MIO-16E-10 AT-MIO-16DE-10 NEC-AI- 16E-4 NEC-MIO-16E-4
SB-MIO-16E-4
All MIO-16XE-50 Devices NEC-AI-16XE-50
AT-MIO-16F-5 AT-MIO-64F-5
AT-MIO-16X AT-MIO-16/16D
1 Pre=Pretrigger, Post=Posttrigger.

Pre, Post
Pre, Post Pre, Post Pre, Post Pre, Post

E-1: 1 M, E-2 and E-3: 500 k, E-4: 250 k, E-10 and DE-10: 100 k
250 k 20 k
200 k
100 k

Device

Table A-4. Analog Output CharacteristicsMIO and AI Devices

Channel Numbers

DAC Type

Output Limits (V) Waveform Grouping

All MIO-16E Devices 0, 1 AT-MIO-16DE-10 AT-MIO-64 E-3 AT-MIO-16XE-50 DAQPad- MIO-16XE50 PCI-MIO-16XE-50

AT-MIO-16F-5

0, 1

AT-MIO-64F-5

AT-MIO-16X

0, 1

AT-MIO-16/16D

0, 1

12-bit double buffered 0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref, 0, 1, or 0 and 1

(E-1, E-2, 64E-3, and 0 to Vref (only ±10

E-4: 2 K FIFO)

on XE-50 devices)

12-bit double buffered 0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref, 0, 1, or 0 and 1 (64F-5: 2 K FIFO) 0 to Vref

16-bit double buffered ±10, 0 to 10, ±Vref, 0, 1, or 0 and 1

(2 K FIFO)

0 to Vref

12-bit double buffered 0 to 10, ±10, ±Vref, 0, 1, or 0 and 1 0 to Vref

A-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices Hardware Capabilities

Table A-5. Analog Input Configuration ProgrammabilityLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices

Device

Gain

Range

Polarity SE/DIFF coupling

Lab-PC+
SCXI-1200 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200 PCI-1200
DAQCard-500
DAQCard-700
PC-LPM-16

By group By group
1 1 1

By group By group

By device By device DC

By group By group

DC

Only 1 range available Bipolar

By group

Bipolar

By device

Bipolar

SE

DC

By group DC

SE

DC

Note:

“By device” means you select the value of a parameter with hardware jumpers, and the selection affects any group of channels on the device. “By group” means you program the selection through software, and the selection affects all the channels used at the same time. “By channel” means you program the selection with hardware jumpers or through software on a per channel basis. When a specific value for a parameter is shown, that parameter value is fixed.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

A-4

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Table A-6. Analog Input CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 1)

Device

Number of Resolution

Channels

(bits)

Gains1

Range (V)1

Input FIFO (samples)

Lab-PC+

8SE, 4DI 12

SCXI-1200

DAQPad-1200

DAQCard-1200

PCI-1200

1, 2, 5, 10 20, 50, ±5, 0 to 10 100

2,048; Lab-PC: 512

DAQCard-500 8SE

12

1

±5

16

DAQCard-700 16SE, 8DI 12

1

±10, ±5, ±2.5 512

PC-LPM-16

16SE

12

1

±5, ±2.5,

16

0 to 10,

0 to 5

1 You can determine the limit settings of your device by dividing the range by the desired gain.

Table A-7. Analog Input CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 2)

Device

Scanning

Triggers

Max Sampling Rate (S/s)

Lab-PC+ SCXI-1200 DAQPad-1200 DAQCard-1200 DAQCard-500
DAQCard-700
PC-LPM-16

Any single channel; for

Pretrigger, and posttrigger with 100 k;

multiple channels, N through digital trigger

Lab-PC+: 83 k

0, where N=7

Any single channel; for

—

multiple channels, N through

0, where N=7

Any single channel; for

—

multiple channels, N through

0, where N=15

Any single channel; for

—

multiple channels, N through

0, where N=15

50 k 100 k 50 k

A-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Table A-8. Analog Output CharacteristicsLab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices

Device

Channel #s

DAC Type

Output Limits (V)

Waveform Grouping

Lab-PC+

0, 1

SCXI-1200

DAQPad-1200

DAQCard-1200

PCI-1200

12-bit double-buffered 0 to 10, ±5

0, 1, or 0 and 1

SCXI Module Hardware Capabilities

Table A-9. Analog Input CharacteristicsSCXI Modules

Module

Number of Input Channels Voltage
Range (V)

Gains1

Filter1

Excitation Channels1

Mode Support

SCXI-1100 32 DI

±10

SCXI-1102 32 DI

±10

SCXI-1120 8 DI

±5

SCXI-1121 (SCXI-

4 DI

(SCXI-

SCXI-1122

16 DI or 8 ±10
DI and 8
excitation SW/M1 channels

SCXI-1140

8 DI,

±10

sample and

hold

1, 2, 5, 10, 20,
50, 100, 200,
500, 1,000,
2,000 (SW/M)1

lowpass filter — (or no filter) with 10 kHz or 4 Hz cutoff frequency (JS/M)1

1, 100 (SW/C)1 1 Hz lowpass — on each channel

multiplexed multiplexed

1, 2, 5, 10, 20,
50, 100, 200,
500, 1,000, and
2,000 (JS/C)1

lowpass filter
with 10 kHz or
4 Hz cutoff
frequency (JS/C)1

SCXI-1121

multiplexed

only: 4 voltage or parallel

or current

excitation channels (JS/C)1

0.01, 0.02, 0.05, lowpass filter 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, with 4kHz or 4 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, Hz cutoff 100, 200, 500, frequency 1,000, 2,000 (SW/M)1

8 voltage or current excitation channels in 4-wire scanning mode

multiplexed

1, 10, 100, 200, none

—

500 (DS/C)1

multiplexed or parallel

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

A-6

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

SCXI-1141 8 DI

±5

1, 2, 5, 10, 20,
50, 100 (SW/C)1

elliptic lowpass — filter with 10Hz to 25KHz cutoff frequency2 (SW/M)1
(disabled on a per channel
basis)

multiplexed or parallel

1 DS/C = dip switch-selectable per channel, JS/C = jumper-selectable per channel, JS/M = jumper-selectable per module, SW/C = software-selectable per channel, SW/M = software-selectable per module
2 The SCXI-1141 has an automatic filter setting. NI-DAQ sets the filter frequency based on the scan rates used with the module.

Table A-10. Terminal Block Selection GuideSCXI Modules

SCXI Module

Terminal Blocks

Cold-Junction Compensation Sensor
(CJC)

SCXI-1100 SCXI-1102 SCXI-1120 SCXI-1121
SCXI-1122 SCXI-1140
SCXI-1141 SCXI-1180
SCXI-1181
SCXI-1200 1 SCXI-1121 only

SCXI-1303 SCXI-1300

Thermistor IC Sensor

SCXI-1320 SCXI-13211 SCXI-1327 SCXI-1328

IC Sensor IC Sensor Thermistor Thermistor

SCXI-1322

Thermistor

SCXI-1301

—

SCXI-1304

—

SCXI-1304

—

SCXI-1302

—

with NB1 cable

SCXI-1300 SCXI-1301

IC Sensor —

SCXI-1302

—

CB-50 with NB1 cable —

A-7

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix A

DAQ Hardware Capabilities

Analog Output Only Devices Hardware Capabilities

Device

Table A-11. Analog Output CharacteristicsAnalog Output Only Devices

Channel #s DAC Type

Output Limits (V)

Waveform Grouping Transfer Method

AT-AO-6 AT-AO-10

0 through 5, 6 through 9*

12-bit double- ±10V, ±Vref1,

buffered

0 to 10,

with 1 K FIFO 0 to Vref1,

for update clock 1 4 to 20 mA,

channels

4 to

Vref1 + 2.5 mA 0.625

For update clock 1 channels are any one channel N or set of channel pairs: 0-N; for update clock 2 channels are 2-N, same rules as above: N=6, N=10*

Update clock 1 channels: DMA, interrupts; update clock 2 channels: interrupts

PC-AO-2DC

0, 1

(Plug and Play)

DAQCard-AO-2DC 0, 1

0 to 10V, ±5V, 0-20mA sink software-selectable
0 to 10V, ±5V, 0-10mA sink software-selectable

*AT-AO-10 only

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

A-8

Error Codes

This appendix describes the errors that can occur while using the Measure DAQ Add-In.

Error Code -10001
-10002
-10003 -10004 -10005 -10006 -10007
-10008 -10009

Table B-1. Data Acquisition Error Codes

Error

Description

syntaxErr
semanticsErr
invalidValueErr valueConflictErr DSPbadDeviceErr badLineErr badChanErr
badGroupErr badCounterErr

An error was detected in the input string; the arrangement or ordering of the characters in the string was not consistent with the expected ordering.
An error was detected in the input string; the syntax of the string was correct, but certain values specified in the string were inconsistent with other values specified in the string.
The value of a numeric parameter is invalid.
The value of a numeric parameter is inconsistent with another one, and therefore the combination is invalid.
The device is invalid.
The line is invalid.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows. · A channel is out-of-range for the
device type or input configuration. · The combination of channels is not
allowed. · The scan order must be reversed
(0 last).
The group is invalid.
The counter is invalid.

B-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10010 badCountErr

-10011 badIntervalErr

-10012 badRangeErr

-10013 badErrorCodeErr

-10014 -10015 -10016 -10017 -10018 -10019 -10020 -10021

groupTooLargeErr badTimeLimitErr badReadCountErr badReadModeErr badReadOffsetErr badClkFrequencyErr badTimebaseErr badLimitsErr

-10022 badWriteCountErr

-10023 badWriteModeErr -10024 badWriteOffsetErr -10025 limitsOutOfRange
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

The count is too large or too small for the specified counter, or the given I/O transfer count is not appropriate for the current buffer or channel configuration.
The analog input scan rate is too fast for the number of channels and the channel clock rate, or the given clock rate is not supported by the associated counter channel or I/O channel.
The analog input or analog output voltage range is invalid for the specified channel.
The driver returned an unrecognized or unlisted error code.
The group size is too large for the device.
The time limit is invalid.
The read count is invalid.
The read mode is invalid.
The offset is unreachable.
The frequency is invalid.
The timebase is invalid.
The limits are beyond the range of the device.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows. · Your data array contains incomplete
update. · You are trying to write past the end
of the internal buffer. · Your output operation is continuous
and the length of your array is not a multiple of one-half the internal buffer size.
The write mode is out-of-range or is not allowed.
Adding the write offset to the write mark places the write mark outside the internal buffer.
The requested input limits exceed the device’s capability or configuration. Alternative limits were selected.

B-2

-10026 badBufferSpec -10027 badDAQEventErr

-10028 badFilterCutoffErr -10029 obsoleteFunctionError -10030 badBaudRateError

-10031 badChassisIDError -10032 badModuleSlotError

-10033 invalidWinHandleError

-10034 noSuchMessageError

-10080 -10081 -10082 -10083 -10084 -10085

badGainErr badPretrigCountErr badPosttrigCountErr badTrigModeErr badTrigCountErr badTrigRangeErr

-10086 -10087 -10088 -10089

badExtRefErr badTrigTypeErr badTrigLevelErr badTotalCountErr

Appendix B Error Codes
The requested number of buffers or the buffer size is not allowed; e.g., Lab- PC buffer limit is 64K samples, or the device does not support multiple buffers. For DAQEvents 0 and 1, general value A must be greater than zero and less than the internal buffer size. If DMA is used for DAQEvent 1, general value A must divide the internal buffer size evenly, with no remainder. If you use TIO-10 for DAQEvent 4, general value A must be one or two. The cutoff frequency specified is not valid for this device. The function you are calling is no longer supported in this version of the driver. The specified baud rate for communicating with the serial port is not valid on this platform. The specified SCXI chassis does not correspond to a configured SCXI chassis. The SCXI module slot that was specified is invalid or corresponds to an empty slot. The window handle passed to the function is invalid. No configured message matches the one you tried to delete. The gain is invalid. The pretrigger sample count is invalid. The post-trigger sample count is invalid. The trigger mode is invalid. The trigger count is invalid. The trigger range or trigger hysteresis window is invalid. The external reference is invalid. The trigger type is invalid. The trigger level is invalid. The total count is inconsistent with the buffer size and pretrigger scan count or

B-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10090 badRPGErr -10091 badIterationsErr

-10092 lowScanIntervalError

-10093 fifoModeError

-10100 badPortWidthErr

-10120 -10121 -10122 -10123 -10124 -10125 -10200 -10201 -10240

gpctrBadApplicationError gpctrBadCtrNumberError gpctrBadParamValueError gpctrBadParamIDError gpctrBadEntityIDError gpctrBadActionError EEPROMreadError EEPROMwriteError noDriverErr

-10241 oldDriverErr

-10242 functionNotFoundErr

-10243 DSPconfigFileErr

with the device type.
The individual range, polarity, and gain settings are valid, but the combination is not allowed.
You have attempted to use an invalid setting for the iterations parameter. The iterations value must be 0 or greater. Your device may be limited to only two values, zero and one.
Some devices require a time gap between the last sample in a scan and the start of the next scan. The scan interval you have specified does not provide a large enough gap for the device. See the SCAN_Start function in the language interface API for an explanation.
FIFO mode waveform generation cannot be used because at least one condition is not satisfied.
The requested digital port width is not a multiple of the hardware port width.
Invalid application used.
Invalid counterNumber used.
Invalid paramValue used.
Invalid paramID used.
Invalid entityID used.
Invalid action used.
Unable to read data from EEPROM.
Unable to write data to EEPROM.
The driver interface could not locate or open the driver.
One of the driver files or the configuration utility is out-of-date.
The specified function is not located in the driver.
The driver could not locate or open the configuration file, or the format of the configuration file is not compatible with the currently installed driver.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-4

-10244 deviceInitErr -10245 osInitErr
-10246 communicationsErr -10247 DSPcmosConfigErr
-10248 dupAddressErr -10249 intConfigErr -10250 dupIntErr -10251 dmaConfigErr -10252 dupDMAErr -10253 jumperlessBoardErr

Appendix B Error Codes
The driver encountered a hardwareinitialization error while attempting to configure the specified device.
The driver encountered an operatingsystem error while attempting to perform an operation, or the operating system does not support an operation performed by the driver.
The driver is unable to communicate with the specified external device.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows. · The CMOS configuration- memory
for the device is empty or invalid. · The configuration specified does not
agree with the current configuration of the device. · The EISA system configuration is invalid.
The base addresses for two or more devices are the same; consequently, the driver is unable to access the specified device.
The interrupt configuration is incorrect given the capabilities of the computer or device.
The interrupt levels for two or more devices are the same.
The DMA configuration is incorrect given the capabilities of the computer/DMA controller or device.
The DMA channels for two or more devices are the same.
The driver is unable to find one or more jumperless devices that you have configured using WDAQCONF.EXE.

B-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10254 DAQCardConfErr

-10256 dmaChannel1Error -10257 baseAddressError -10258 dmaChannel1Error -10259 dmaChannel2Error -10260 dmaChannel3Error -10340 noConnectErr -10341 badConnectErr -10342 multConnectErr
-10343 SCXIConfigErr
-10360 DSPInitErr

The DAQCard cannot be configured because 1) the correct version of the card and socket services software is not installed, 2) the card in the PCMCIA socket is not a DAQCard, or 3) the base address and/or interrupt level requested are not available according to the card and socket services resource manager. Try different settings or use AutoAssign in the NI-DAQ configuration utility.
Bad DMA channel 1 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad base address specified in the configuration utility.
Bad DMA channel 1 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad DMA channel 2 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
Bad DMA channel 3 specified in the configuration utility or by the operating system.
No RTSI signal/line is connected, or the specified signal and the specified line are not connected.
The RTSI signal/line cannot be connected as specified.
The specified RTSI signal is already being driven by a RTSI line, or the specified RTSI line is already being driven by a RTSI signal.
The specified SCXI configuration parameters are invalid, or the function cannot be executed with the current SCXI configuration.
The DSP driver was unable to load the kernel for its operating system.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-6

Appendix B Error Codes

-10370 badScanListErr

-10400 userOwnedRsrcErr -10401 DSPunknownDeviceErr

-10402 deviceNotFoundErr -10403 DSPdeviceSupportErr

-10404 -10405 -10406 -10407 -10408 -10409 -10410

noLineAvailErr noChanAvailErr noGroupAvailErr lineBusyErr chanBusyErr groupBusyErr relatedLCGBusyErr

-10411 counterBusyErr -10412 noGroupAssignErr

Possible reasons for this error are as follows. · The scan list is invalid; for example,
you are mixing AMUX-64T channels and onboard channels. · You are scanning SCXI channels out of order. · The driver attempts to achieve complicated gain distributions over SCXI channels on the same module by manipulating the scan list, and returns this error message if it fails.
The specified resource is owned by the user and cannot be accessed or modified by the driver.
The specified device is not a National Instruments product, or the driver does not support the device (e.g., the driver was released before the device was supported).
No device is located in the specified slot or at the specified address.
The specified device does not support the requested action (the driver recognizes the device, but the action is inappropriate for the device).
No line is available.
No channel is available.
No group is available.
The specified line is in use.
The specified channel is in use.
The specified group is in use.
A related line, channel, or group is in use. If the driver configures the specified line, channel, or group, the configuration, data, or handshaking lines for the related line, channel, or group are disturbed.
The specified counter is in use.
No group is assigned, or the specified line or channel cannot be assigned to a

B-7

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10413 groupAssignErr -10414 reservedPinErr
-10416 DSPDataPathBusyError -10417 SCXIModuleNotSupportedErr
or -10344 chassisSynchedError
-10345 chassisMemAllocError -10346 badPacketError -10347 chassisCommunicationError -10348 waitingForReprogError
-10349 SCXIModuleTypeConflictErr or
-10440 sysOwnedRsrcErr

group.
A group is already assigned, or the specified line or channel is already assigned to a group.
The selected signal requires a pin that is reserved and configured only by NI- DAQ. You cannot configure this pin yourself.
Either DAQ or WFM can use a PC memory buffer, but not both at the same time.
At least one of the SCXI modules specified is not supported for the operation.
The Remote SCXI unit is not synchronized with the host. Reset the chassis again to resynchronize it with the host.
The required amount of memory cannot be allocated on the Remote SCXI unit for the specified operation.
The packet received by the Remote SCXI unit is invalid. Check your serial port cable connections.
There was an error in sending a packet to the remote chassis. Check your serial port cable connections.
The Remote SCXI unit is in reprogramming mode and is waiting for reprogramming commands from the host (NI-DAQ Configuration Utility).
The module ID read from the SCXI module conflicts with the configured module type.
The specified resource is owned by the driver and cannot be accessed or modified by the user.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-8

-10441 memConfigErr
-10442 memDisabledErr -10443 memAlignmentErr
-10444 DSPmemFullErr
-10445 memLockErr -10446 memPageErr -10447 memPageLockErr -10448 stackMemErr -10449 cacheMemErr -10450 physicalMemErr
© National Instruments Corporation

Appendix B Error Codes
No memory is configured to support the current data-transfer mode, or the configured memory does not support the current data-transfer mode. (If block transfers are in use, the memory must be capable of performing block transfers.)
The specified memory is disabled or is unavailable given the current addressing mode.
The transfer buffer is not aligned properly for the current data-transfer mode; e.g., the buffer is at an odd address, is not aligned to a 32-bit boundary, is not aligned to a 512bit boundary, and so on. Alternatively, this error can occur if the driver is unable to align the buffer because the buffer is too small.
Possible reasons for this error are as follows. · No more system memory is available
on the heap. · No more memory is available on the
device. · You have insufficient disk space
available.
The transfer buffer cannot be locked into physical memory.
The transfer buffer contains a page break; system resources may require reprogramming when the page break is encountered.
The operating environment is unable to grant a page lock.
The driver is unable to continue parsing a string input due to stack limitations.
A cache-related error occurred, or caching is not supported in the current mode.
A hardware error occurred in physical memory, or no memory is located at the specified address.

B-9

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10451 virtualMemErr
-10452 noIntAvailErr -10453 intInUseErr -10454 noDMACErr -10455 noDMAAvailErr -10456 DMAInUseErr -10457 badDMAGroupErr
-10458 diskFullError -10459 DSPDLLInterfaceErr -10460 interfaceInteractionErr
-10480 muxMemFullError -10481 bufferNotInterleavedError -10560 invalidDSPhandleErr -10600 noSetupErr -10601 multSetupErr

The driver is unable to make the transfer buffer contiguous in virtual memory and therefore cannot lock it into physical memory. Thus, the buffer cannot be used for DMA transfers.
No interrupt level is available for use.
The specified interrupt level is already in use by another device.
No DMA controller is available in the system.
No DMA channel is available for use.
The specified DMA channel is already in use by another device.
The DMA cannot be configured for the specified group because it is too small, too large, or misaligned. Consult your device user manual to determine group ramifications with respect to DMA.
The storage disk you specified is full.
The DLL could not be called because of an interface error.
You have mixed Vis from the DAQ library and the _DAQ compatibility library (LabVIEW 2.2 Vis). You may switch between the two libraries only by running the DAQ VI Device Reset before calling the _DAQ compatibility Vis, or by running the compatibility VI Board Reset before calling DAQ Vis.
The scan list is too large to fit into the muxgain memory of the device.
You cannot use DMA to transfer data from two buffers. You may be able to use interrupts.
The DSP handle input is not valid.
A setup operation has not been performed the specified resources.
The specified resources have already been configured by a setup operation.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-10

-10602 noWriteErr -10603 groupWriteErr
-10604 activeWriteErr

-10605 endWriteErr

-10606 -10607 -10608

notArmedErr armedErr noTransferInProgErr

-10609 transferInProgErr

-10610 transferPauseErr

-10611 badDirOnSomeLinesErr

-10612 badLineDirErr -10613 badChanDirErr -10614 badGroupDirErr -10615 masterClkErr

Appendix B Error Codes
No output data has been written into the transfer buffer. The output data associated with a group must be for a single channel or must be for consecutive channels. Once data generation has started, only the transfer buffers originally written to can be updated. If DMA is active and a single transfer buffer contains interleaved channel-data, you must provide new data for all output channels currently using the DMA channel. No data was written to the transfer buffer because the final data block has already been loaded. The specified resource is not armed. The specified resource is already armed. No transfer is in progress for the specified resource. A transfer is already in progress for the specified resource. A single output channel in a group cannot be paused if the output data for the group is interleaved. Some of the lines in the specified channel are not configured for the transfer direction specified. For a write transfer, some lines are configured for input. For a read transfer, some lines are configured for output. The specified line does not support the specified transfer direction. The specified channel does not support the specified transfer direction. The specified group does not support the specified transfer direction. The clock configuration for the clock master is invalid.

B-11

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10616 slaveClkErr -10617 noClkSrcErr -10618 badClkSrcErr -10619 multClkSrcErr -10620 noTrigErr -10621 badTrigErr -10622 preTrigErr

-10623 postTrigErr -10624 delayTrigErr

-10625 masterTrigErr -10626 slaveTrigErr -10627 noTrigDrvErr -10628 multTrigDrvErr -10629 invalidOpModeErr

-10630 invalidReadErr

-10631 noInfiniteModeErr

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

The clock configuration for the clock slave is invalid.
No source signal has been assigned to the clock resource.
The specified source signal cannot be assigned to the clock resource.
A source signal has already been assigned to the clock resource.
No trigger signal has been assigned to the trigger resource.
The specified trigger signal cannot be assigned to the trigger resource.
The pretrigger mode is not supported or is not available in the current configuration, or no pretrigger source has been assigned.
No posttrigger source has been assigned.
The delayed trigger mode is not supported or is not available in the current configuration, or no delay source has been assigned.
The trigger configuration for the trigger master is invalid.
The trigger configuration for the trigger slave is invalid.
No signal has been assigned to the trigger resource.
A signal has already been assigned to the trigger resource.
The specified operating mode is invalid, or the resources have not been configured for the specified operating mode.
An attempt was made to read 0-bytes from the transfer buffer, or an attempt was made to read past the end of the transfer buffer.
Continuous input or output transfers are not allowed in the current operating mode.

B-12

Appendix B Error Codes

-10632 someInputsIgnoredErr
-10633 invalidRegenModeErr
-10634 noContTransferInProgressE rror
-10635 invalidSCXIOpModeError
-10636 noContWithSynchError
-10637 bufferAlreadyConfigError
-10680 badChanGainErr -10681 badChanRangeErr -10682 badChanPolarityErr -10683 badChanCouplingErr -10684 badChanInputModeErr -10685 clkExceedsBrdsMaxConvRate -10686 scanListInvalidErr -10687 bufferInvalidErr

Certain inputs were ignored because they were not relevant in the current operating mode.
The specified analog output regeneration mode is not allowed for this device.
No continuous (double buffered) transfer is in progress for the specified resource.
Either the SCXI operating mode specified in a configuration call is invalid, or a module is in the wrong operating mode to execute the function call.
You cannot start a continuous (doublebuffered) operation with a synchronous function call.
Attempted to configure a buffer after the buffer had already been configured. You can configure a buffer only once.
All channels of this device must have the same gain.
All channels of this device must have the same range.
All channels of this device must have the same polarity.
All channels of this device must have the same coupling.
All channels of this device must have the same input mode.
The clock rate exceeded the device’s recommended maximum rate.
A configuration change has invalidated the scan list.
A configuration change has invalidated the allocated buffer.

B-13

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10688 noTrigEnabledErr

-10689 digitalTrigBErr -10690 digitalTrigAandBErr -10691 extConvRestrictionErr -10692 chanClockDisabledErr -10693 extScanClockErr -10694 unsafeSamplingFreqErr -10695 DMAnotAllowedErr -10696 multiRateModeErr -10697 rateNotSupportedErr

-10698 timebaseConflictErr -10699 polarityConflictErr -10700 signalConflictErr

The number of total scans and pretrigger scans implies that a triggered start is intended, but triggering is not enabled.
Digital trigger B is illegal for the number of total scans and pretrigger scans specified.
This device does not allow digital triggers A and B to be enabled at the same time.
This device does not allow an external sample clock with an external scan clock, start trigger, or stop trigger.
The acquisition cannot be started because the channel clock is disabled.
You cannot use an external scan clock when performing a single scan of a single channel.
The sample frequency exceeds the safe maximum rate for the hardware, gains, and filters used.
You have set up an operation that requires the use of interrupts. DMA is not allowed.
Multi-rate scanning cannot be used with the AMUX-64, SCXI, or pretriggered acquisitions.
Unable to convert your timebase/interval pair to match the actual hardware capabilities of this device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and sample clock timebases for this device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and sample clock source polarities for this operation and device.
You cannot use this combination of scan and convert clock signal sources for this operation and device.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-14

Appendix B Error Codes

-10701 noLaterUpdateError
-10702 prePostTriggerError
-10710 noHandshakeModeError -10720 noEventCtrError -10740 SCXITrackHoldErr
-10780 sc2040InputModeErr
-10781 outputTypeMustBeVoltageEr ror
-10782 sc2040HoldModeError
-10783 calConstPolarityConflictE rror
-10800 timeOutErr -10801 calibrationErr -10802 dataNotAvailErr -10803 transferStoppedErr -10804 earlyStopErr

The call had no effect because the specified channel had not been set for later internal update.
Pretriggering and posttriggering cannot be used simultaneously on the Lab and 1200 series devices.
The specified port has not been configured for handshaking.
The specified counter is not configured for event-counting operation.
A signal has already been assigned to the SCXI track-and-hold trigger line, or a control call was inappropriate because the specified module was not configured for one-channel operation.
When you have an SC2040 attached to your device, all analog input channels must be configured for differential input mode.
The polarity of the output channel cannot be bipolar when outputting currents.
The specified operation cannot be performed with the SC-2040 configured in hold mode.
Calibration constants in the load area have a different polarity from the current configuration. Therefore, you should load constants from factory.
The operation could not complete within the time limit.
An error occurred during the calibration process.
The requested amount of data has not yet been acquired.
The transfer has been stopped to prevent regeneration of output data.
The transfer stopped prior to reaching the end of the transfer buffer.

B-15

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10805 overRunErr

-10806 noTrigFoundErr -10807 earlyTrigErr -10808 LPTCommunicationErr -10809 gateSignalErr
-10810 internalDriverError -10811 internalKernelError -10840 softwareErr -10841 firmwareErr
-10842 hardwareErr
-10843 underFlowErr

The clock source for the input task is faster than the maximum clock rate the device supports. If you allow the driver to calculate the analog input channel clock rate, the driver bases the clock rate on the device type. For this reason, you should check the configuration utility to make certain that you have the correct device type.
No trigger value was found in the input transfer buffer.
The trigger occurred before acquiring sufficient pretrigger data.
An error occurred in the parallel port communication with the SCXI-1200.
Attempted to start a pulse width measurement with the pulse in the phase to be measured (e.g., high phase for high-level gating).
An unexpected error occurred inside the driver when performing this given operation.
An unexpected error occurred inside the kernel of the device while performing this operation.
The contents or the location of the driver file was changed between accesses to the driver.
The firmware does not support the specified operation, or the firmware operation could not complete due to a data-integrity problem.
The hardware is not responding to the specified operation, or the response from the hardware is not consistent with the functionality of the hardware.
Because of system limitations, the driver could not write data to the device fast enough to keep up with the device throughput.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-16

-10844 underWriteErr -10845 overFlowErr

-10846 overWriteErr -10847 dmaChainingErr

-10848 noDMACountAvailErr

-10849 OpenFileError

-10850 -10851 -10852 -10853 -10854 -10855

closeFileErr fileSeekErr readFileErr writeFileErr miscFileErr osUnsupportedError

-10856 osError

Appendix B Error Codes
New data was not written to the output transfer buffer before the driver attempted to transfer data to the device. Because of system limitations, the driver could not read data from the device fast enough to keep up with the device throughput. The onboard device memory reported an overflow error. The driver wrote new data into the input transfer buffer before the previously acquired data was read. New buffer information was not available at the time of the DMA chaining interrupt; DMA transfers will terminate at the end of the currently active transfer buffer. The driver could not obtain a valid reading from the transfer-count register in the DMA controller. The configuration file or DSP kernel file could not be opened. Unable to close a file. Unable to seek within a file. Unable to read from a file. Unable to write to a file. An error occurred accessing a file. NI-DAQ does not support the current operation on this particular version of the operating system. An unexpected error occurred from the operating system while performing the given operation.

B-17

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix B

Error Codes

-10880
-10881 -10882
-10883
-10884 -10920 -10940 -10941 -10942 -2001 -2002 -2003

updateRateChangeErr
partialTransferCompleteError daqPollDataLossError
wfmPollDataLossError
pretrigReorderError gpctrDataLossErr chassisResponseTimeoutError reprogrammingFailedError invalidResetSignatureError ERR_TASK_NOT_FOUND ERR_WORKSHEET_DOES_NOT_EXIST ERR_RANGE_IS_NOT_VALID

A change to the update rate is not possible at this time because 1) when waveform generation is in progress, you cannot change the interval timebase or 2) when you make several changes in a row, you must give each change enough time to take effect before requesting further changes.
You cannot perform another transfer after a successful partial transfer.
The data collected on the Remote SCXI unit was overwritten before it could be transferred to the buffer in the host. Try using a slower data acquisition rate if possible.
New data could not be transferred to the waveform buffer of the Remote SCXI unit to keep up with the waveform update rate. Try using a slower waveform update rate if possible.
Could not rearrange data after a pretrigger acquisition completed.
One or more data points may have been lost during buffered GPCTR operations due to speed limitations of your system.
No response was received from the Remote SCXI unit within the specified time limit.
Reprogramming the Remote SCXI unit was unsuccessful. Please try again.
An invalid reset signature was sent from the host to the Remote SCXI unit.
Unable to find task.
The worksheet that is specified in the task’s configuration does not exist.
The range that is specified in the task’s configuration is not valid.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

B-18

-2101 iERR_AO_MULTIPLECHANS PER_STRING

Appendix B Error Codes
An analog output channel string represents multiple analog output channels. Measure requires that each analog output channel string contain only one analog output channel.

B-19

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Troubleshooting

This appendix describes solutions to problems that you might encounter using the Measure DAQ Add-In.

Problem:

No DAQ menu appears.

Solution:

From the Tools»Add-Ins. Click on the Browse button and look for DAQ.XLA in the directory where you installed Measure. Once you find it, select it and click on the OK button. If a dialog box appears with the message Replace existing `DAQ.XLA’? click on the Yes button. You will see a Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry in the list box and the checkbox next to it will be checked. Click on the OK button.

Problem: Solution:

The list of data acquisition devices is empty.
Verify with the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (WDAQCONF.EXE) that you have properly installed and configured your device. Verify that your device is supported by Measure. Refer to Appendix B, DAQ Hardware Capabilities.

C-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix C

Troubleshooting

Problem:

Solution:
Problem: Solution:
Problem: Solution:

You are using Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and you get a dialog box entitled Measure with the message, Error -10243 The driver could not locate or open the configuration file, or the format of the configuration file is not compatible with the currently installed driver.
Delete the WDAQCONF.CFG file in your Windows directory. Then reconfigure your hardware using the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility. If the problem persists, contact National Instruments for an updated version of the NI-DAQ driver.
You get a dialog box entitled Measure with a message that begins Fatal error.
Congratulations! It is likely that you have found a deficiency in our code! Please write down the information in the dialog box as well as the actions that you took preceding the error. Try to reproduce the error. Then, call National Instruments technical support.
After you remove the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In in the Add-Ins dialog box, a dialog box entitled Microsoft Excel appears with the message Cannot access `DAQ.XLA’.
Click on the Cancel button. This behavior, which occurs because of Microsoft Excel or the OLE libraries, is harmless and you can safely ignore it.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

C-2

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/

Customer Communication
For your convenience, this appendix contains forms to help you gather the information necessary to help us solve technical problems you might have as well as a form you can use to comment on the product documentation. Filling out a copy of the Technical Support Form before contacting National Instruments helps us help you better and faster.
National Instruments provides comprehensive technical assistance around the world. In the U.S. and Canada, applications engineers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (central time). In other countries, contact the nearest branch office. You may fax questions to us at any time.
Electronic Services
Bulletin Board Support
National Instruments has BBS and FTP sites dedicated for 24-hour support with a collection of files and documents to answer most common customer questions. From these sites, you can also download the latest instrument drivers, updates, and example programs. For recorded instructions on how to use the bulletin board and FTP services and for BBS automated information, call 512-795-6990. You can access these services at:
United States: 512-794-5422 or 800-327-3077 Up to 14,400 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
United Kingdom: 01635 551422 Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
France: 1 48 65 15 59 Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
FTP Support
To access our FTP site, log on to our Internet host, ftp.natinst.com, as anonymous and use your Internet address, such as joesmith@anywhere.com, as your password. The support files and documents are located in the /support directories.

D-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Appendix D

Customer Communication

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/

FaxBack Support
FaxBack is a 24-hour information retrieval system containing a library of documents on a wide range of technical information. You can access FaxBack from a touch-tone telephone at the following numbers:
512-418-1111
E-Mail Support (currently U.S. only)
You can submit technical support questions to the appropriate applications engineering team through e-mail at the Internet addresses listed below. Remember to include your name, address, and phone number so we can contact you with solutions and suggestions.
measure.support@natinst.com
Fax and Telephone Support
National Instruments has branch offices all over the world. Use the list below to find the technical support number for your country. If there is no National Instruments office in your country, contact the source from which you purchased your software to obtain support.

Australia Austria Belgium Canada (Ontario) Canada (Quebec) Denmark Finland France Germany Hong Kong Italy Japan Korea Mexico Netherlands Norway Singapore Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan U.K.

Telephone
03 9 879 9422 0662 45 79 90 0 02 757 00 20 519 622 9310 514 694 8521 45 76 26 00 90 527 2321 1 48 14 24 24 089 741 31 30 2645 3186 02 413091 03 5472 2970 02 596 7456 95 800 010 0793 0348 433466 32 84 84 00 2265886 91 640 0085 08 730 49 70 056 200 51 51 02 377 1200 01635 523545

Fax
03 9 879 9179 0662 45 79 90 19 02 757 03 11
514 694 4399 45 76 26 02 90 502 2930 1 48 14 24 14 089 714 60 35 2686 8505 02 41309215 03 5472 2977 02 596 7455 5 520 3282 0348 430673 32 84 86 00 2265887 91 640 0533 08 730 43 70 056 200 51 55 02 737 4644 01635 523154

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

D-2

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Technical Support Form
Photocopy this form and update it each time you make changes to your software or hardware, and use the completed copy of this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form accurately before contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications engineers answer your questions more efficiently.
If you are using any National Instruments hardware or software products related to this problem, include the configuration forms from their user manuals. Include additional pages if necessary.
Name Company Address

Fax ( )

Phone ( )

Computer brand

Model

Processor

Operating system: Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows NT 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, Windows 95, other (include version number)

Version of Excel (look at Excel’s About box): 5.0, 5.0c, other

Clock Speed

MHz RAM

MB Display adapter

Mouse

yes

no Other adapters installed

Hard disk capacity

MB Brand

Instruments used

National Instruments hardware product model

Revision

Configuration

National Instruments software product

Version

Configuration

The problem is

List any error messages

The following steps will reproduce the problem

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Hardware and Software Configuration Form
Record the settings and revisions of your hardware and software on the line to the right of each item. Complete a new copy of this form each time you revise your software or hardware configuration, and use this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form accurately before contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications engineers answer your questions more efficiently.
National Instruments Products
Data Acquisition Hardware Revision ____ Interrupt Level of Hardware DMA Channels of Hardware ____ Base I/O Address of Hardware NI- DAQ Version ____
Other Products
Computer Make and Model Microprocessor ____ Clock Frequency ____ Type of Video Board Installed Operating System ____ Operating System Version ____ Operating System Mode __ Programming Language __ Programming Language Version Other Boards in System __ Base I/O Address of Other Boards __ DMA Channels of Other Boards ___ Interrupt Level of Other Boards ____

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at
http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
For each instrument you are using: Name of instrument __ Manufacturer of instrument ____ Parity: None, Even, Odd, Mark, Space Baud rate __ Stop bits Data bits Flow control: Hardware, Software, None Version of Measure: (look at the about box) ___

Click here to comment on this document via the National Instruments website at http://www.natinst.com/documentation/daq/
Documentation Comment Form
National Instruments encourages you to comment on the documentation supplied with our products. This information helps us provide quality products to meet your needs.
Title: Measure® Data Acquisition User Manual Edition Date: August 1996 Part Number: 321004B-01
Please comment on the completeness, clarity, and organization of the manual.

If you find errors in the manual, please record the page numbers and describe the errors.

Thank you for your help. Name Title Company Address

Phone (

)

Mail to:

Technical Publications National Instruments Corporation 6504 Bridge Point Parkway Austin, TX 78730-5039

Fax to:

Technical Publications National Instruments Corporation 512-794-5678

Prefix
pnµmkM-

Meaning
piconanomicromillikilomega-

Value
10-12 10-9 10-6 10-3 103 106

Numbers/Symbols
1D 2D
A
A/D ADC
ADC resolution
AI

One-dimensional. Two-dimensional.
Analog-to-digital. Analog-to-digital converter. An electronic device, often an integrated circuit, that converts an analog voltage to a digital number. The resolution of the ADC, which is measured in bits. An ADC with 16 bits has a higher resolution, and thus a higher degree of accuracy than a 12-bit ADC. Analog input.

G-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Glossary
Analog Input Configuration Analog Output Configuration analog trigger
AO array Asynchronous
B
bipolar buffer Byte

The specification of the analog input channels, input limits, input mode, and scan rate that Measure will use to acquire a waveform.
The specification of the analog output channels, output limits, data points, and update rate that Measure will use to generate a waveform.
A trigger that occurs at a user-selected point on an incoming analog signal. Triggering can be set to occur at a specified level on either an increasing or a decreasing signal (positive or negative slope). Analog triggering can be implemented either in software or in hardware. When implemented in software (Measure), all data is collected, transferred into system memory, and analyzed for the trigger condition. When analog triggering is implemented in hardware, no data is transferred to system memory until the trigger condition has occurred.
Analog output.
Ordered, indexed set of data elements of the same type.
A method of data communications in which information is transmitted one character at a time. A start bit precedes each character and a stop bit follows each character. The start bit signals the beginning of the character transmission and the stop bit indicates its completion. The Serial Add-In uses asynchronous communications in its data exchanges.
A signal range that includes both positive and negative values for example, -5 to 5 V.
Temporary storage for acquired or generated data.
The standard method of representing numbers or characters in a computers. Eight binary digits (bits) make up a byte.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

G-2

C
channel
channel clock
clock conversion device
coupling
D
D/A DAC
data acquisition device device number DIFF

Glossary
Pin or wire lead to which you apply or from which you read the analog or digital signal. Analog signals can be single-ended or differential. For digital signals, you group channels to form ports. Ports usually consist of either four or eight digital channels.
The clock controlling the time interval between individual channel sampling within a scan. Boards with simultaneous sampling do not have this clock.
Hardware component that controls timing for reading from or writing to groups.
Device that transforms a signal from one form to another. For example, analog- to-digital converters (ADCs) for analog input, digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for analog output, digital input or output ports, and counter/timers are conversion devices.
The manner in which a signal is connected from one location to another.
Digital-to-analog.
Digital-to-analog converter. An electronic device, often an integrated circuit, that converts a digital number into a corresponding analog voltage or current.
Process of acquiring data, typically from A/D or digital input plug-in boards.
A plug-in data acquisition board that can contain multiple channels and conversion devices.
The slot number or board ID number assigned to the board when you configured it.
Differential. A differential input is an analog input consisting of two terminals, both of which are isolated from computer ground and whose difference you measure.

G-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Glossary
DMA
driver
E
EISA external trigger
F
FIFO
G
gain
I
input limits
input range

Direct memory access. A method by which data you can transfer data to computer memory from a device or memory on the bus (or from computer memory to a device) while the processor does something else. DMA is the fastest method of transferring data to or from computer memory. Software that controls a specific hardware device, such as a data acquisition board.
Extended Industry Standard Architecture. A voltage pulse from an external source that triggers an event such as A/D conversion.
A first-in-first-out memory buffer. In a FIFO, the first data stored is the first data sent to the acceptor.
The factor by which a signal is amplified, sometimes expressed in decibels.
The upper and lower voltage inputs for a channel. You must use a pair of numbers to express the input limits. The VIs can infer the input limits from the input range, input polarity, and input gain(s). Similarly, if you wire the input limits, range, and polarity, the VIs can infer the onboard gains when you do not use SCXI. The difference between the maximum and minimum voltages an analog input channel can measure at a gain of 1. The input range is a scalar value, not a pair of numbers. By itself the input range

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

G-4

interrupt I/O
ISA
K
Kwords
M
MB multiplexer
N
NRSE
O
onboard channels

Glossary
does not uniquely determine the upper and lower voltage limits. An input range of 10 V could mean an upper limit of +10 V and a lower of 0 V or an upper limit of +5 V and a lower limit of -5 V. The combination of input range, polarity, and gain determines the input limits of an analog input channel. For some boards, jumpers set the input range and polarity, while you can program them for other boards. Most boards have programmable gains. When you use SCXI modules, you also need their gains to determine the input limits. A signal indicating that the central processing unit should suspend its current task to service a designated activity. Input/output. The transfer of data to or from a computer system involving communications channels, operator interface devices, and/or data acquisition and control interfaces. Industry Standard Architecture.
1,024 words of memory.
megabytes of memory A set of semiconductor or electromechanical switches with a common output that can select one of a number of input signals and that you commonly use to increase the number of signals measured by one ADC.
Nonreferenced single-ended.
Channels provided by the plug-in data acquisition board.

G-5

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Glossary
output limits
P
PGIA postriggering pretriggering
R
Range RMS RSE
S
scan scan clock
scan rate
scan width

The upper and lower voltage or current outputs for an analog output channel. The output limits determine the polarity and voltage reference settings for a board.
Programmable gain instrumentation amplifier. The technique you use on a data acquisition board to acquire a programmed number of samples after trigger conditions are met. The technique you use on a data acquisition board to keep a continuous buffer filled with data, so that when the trigger conditions are met, the sample includes the data leading up to the trigger condition.
A group of rows and columns on a spreadsheet. Root mean square. Referenced single-ended.
One reading from each channel or port in an analog or digital input group. The clock controlling the time interval between scans. On boards with interval scanning support (for example, the AT-MIO-16F-5), this clock gates the channel clock on and off. On boards with simultaneous sampling (for example, the EISA-A2000), this clock clocks the track-and-hold circuitry. The number of scans per second. For example, at a scan rate of 10Hz, Measure samples each channel in a group 10 times per second. The number of channels in the channel list or number of ports in the port list you use to configure an analog or digital input group.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

G-6

SCXI
sec single-ended inputs software trigger Synchronous
T
trigger
U
unipolar update
update rate update width

Glossary
Signal Conditioning eXtensions for Instrumentation. The National Instruments product line for conditional low-level signals within an external chassis near sensors, so only high-level signals in a noisy environment are sent to data acquisition boards.
Seconds
Analog inputs that you measure with respect to a common ground.
A programmed event that triggers an event such as data acquisition.
A method of data communications in which a prearranged number of bits are transferred per second. Synchronization occurs before and after the transmission of blocks of data, rather than before and after every character. There are no start bits or stop bits, as there are in asynchronous communications. All transmitted bits represent information or are parity bits. See Asynchronous.
A condition for starting or stopping clocks.
A signal range that is always positive–for example, 0 to 10 V.
The output equivalent of a scan. One update is one write to each channel or port in the group. Updates apply to both analog output and digital output groups.
The number of output updates per second.
The number of channels in the channel list or number of ports in the port list you use to configure an analog or digital output group.

G-7

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Glossary
V
V Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Vref
W
waveform

volts. The programming language built into Microsoft Excel. Voltage reference.
Multiple voltage readings taken at a specific sampling rate.

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

G-8

A
Acquire until trigger option, Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-7
Add button Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 2-3, 3-4 Analog Output Configuration dialog box, 5-1
adding DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 adding tasks to DAQ menu, 2-7 to 2-8 Advanced Analog Output configuration
dialog box, 5-3 to 5-4 illustration, 5-3 options (table), 5-4 Advanced button, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 5-1 Advanced Timing Settings dialog box
illustration, 4-10 options (table), 4-10 AI option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-2, 2-10 analog input, SCXI modules, 3-2 to 3-4 channel strings syntax (table), 3-4 multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3
to 3-4 analog input characteristics
Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices (table), A-5
MIO and AI devices (table), A-2 to A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6 analog input configuration. See also Analog
Input Configuration dialog box. advanced timing settings, 4-10 display, 4-6

mode reference, 4-8 to 4-9 scan information, 4-4 selecting channels for scanning, 4-2 to 4-3 task configuration, 2-3 to 2-5 timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8 Analog Input Configuration dialog box Analog Input Scan List, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-4 At Cell, 4-6 Cancel, 4-7 Channels, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-3 Description, 2-4, 4-7 Display section, 2-4, 4-6 to 4-7 External scan clock, 4-5 Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-7
to 4-8 High limit, 4-3 illustration, 4-2 In Columns, 4-6 In Rows, 4-6 Low Limit, 4-4 Mode, 4-7 multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3
to 3-4 Number of scans, 4-4 OK, 4-7 Scale to volts, 4-4 Scan Information section, 2-3 to 2-4, 4-4
to 4-5 Scan Rate section, 2-4, 4-4 to 4-5 Scans/second, 2-4, 4-5 Task Name, 2-4, 4-6 Trigger, 4-6

I-1

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Index
analog input configuration programmability Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices (table), A-4 MIO and AI devices (table), A-1 to A-2
Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-8 to 4-9 Differential Channels, 4-9 Non- Referenced Single-Ended Channels, 4-9 Referenced Single-Ended Channels, 4-9
analog output, SCXI modules, 3-5 analog output characteristics
analog output only devices (table), A-8 Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices
(table), A-6 MIO and AI devices (table), A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6 to A-7 analog output configuration. See also
Analog Output Configuration dialog box. advanced configuration, 5-3 to 5-4 task configuration, 2-5 to 2-7 Analog Output Configuration dialog box Add, 5-2 Advanced, 5-2 Cancel, 5-2 Channel, 2-6, 5-2 Data cells, 2-6, 5-2 Description, 5-2 illustration, 5-1 Number of Iterations, 2-6, 5-2 OK, 5-2 Remove, 5-2 Task Name, 2-6, 5-2 Updates per Second, 2-6, 5-2 AO option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-7, 2-10 At Cell field, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-6
B
boards. See DAQ devices. bulletin board support, D-1

C
channel clock and scan clock (figure), 4-5 Channel field, Analog Output Configuration
dialog box, 2-6, 5-2 channel strings
SCXI analog input, 3-2 to 3-3 valid (table), 3-4, 4-3 Channels field, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-3 clocks
External scan clock option, 4-5 scan clock and channel clock (figure), 4-5 Use external channel clock option, 4-10 configuration. See analog input
configuration; analog output configuration. customer communication, xi, D-1 to D-2
D
DAQ devices. See also DAQ hardware capabilities.
configuration error message, C-2 list of data acquisition devices is empty,
C-1 overview, 1-2, 4-1 selecting from DAQ Tasks dialog box,
2-1 to 2-2 using with Measure, 1-1 DAQ function, 6-1 to 6-2 DAQ hardware capabilities, A-1 to A-8 analog input characteristics
Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices (table), A-4
MIO and AI devices (table), A-2 to A-3 SCXI modules (table), A-6 analog input configuration
programmability Lab and 1200 Series and portable
devices (table), A-4 MIO and AI devices (table), A-1 to A-2 analog output characteristics analog output only devices (table), A-8

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

I-2

Lab and 1200 Series and portable devices (table), A-4
MIO and AI devices (table), A-3 terminal block selection guide, SCXI
modules (table), A-7 DAQ menu
adding tasks, 2-7 to 2-8 no menu appears, C-1 DAQ Tasks dialog box managing tasks in workbook, 2-9 to 2-10 options (table), 2-10 purpose and use, 2-2 data acquisition boards. See DAQ devices. Data acquisition device option, DAQ Tasks
dialog box, 2-10 data acquisition tasks. See tasks. Data acquisition tasks option, DAQ Tasks
dialog box, 2-10 Data cells field, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2 Delete option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-10 Description button
Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 2-4, 4-7
Analog Output Configuration dialog box, 5-1
devices. See DAQ devices. Differential Channels option, Analog Input
Mode dialog box, 4-9 displaying acquired data, 4-6 documentation
conventions used in manual, x-xi organization of manual, ix-x
E
Edit DAQ Menu dialog box, 2-8 Edit Menu option, DAQ Tasks dialog box,
2-10 Edit option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-10 e-mail support, D-2 error codes, B-1 to B-18

Index
Excel error message after removing DAQ Add-In manually, C-2
external clock advanced timing settings, 4-10 External scan clock option, 4-5 MIO-E Series devices (note), 4-5 Use external channel clock option, 4-10
External scan clock option, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-5
External Voltage Reference checkbox, Advanced Analog Output configuration dialog box, 5-4
F
Fatal error message, C-2 fax and telephone support, D-2 FaxBack support, D-2 FTP support, D-1 functions
DAQ, 6-1 to 6-2 GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3
G
GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3
H
Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box Acquire until trigger, 4-8 scans after trigger, 4-8 Start acquisition on trigger, 4-8 Timeout (seconds), 4-8
High Limit field Advanced Analog Output configuration dialog box, 5-4 Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-3
I
In Columns option, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-6

I-3

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

Index
In Rows option, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-6
installation adding DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 removing DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 steps for installation, 1-2 uninstalling Measure, 1-3
interchannel delay specifying, 4-10
L
Low Limit field Advanced Analog Output configuration dialog box, 5-4 Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-4
M
manual. See documentation. Measure
installing, 1-2 to 1-3 overview, 1-2 uninstalling, 1-3 using with DAQ devices, 1-1 Microsoft Excel error message after
removing DAQ Add-In manually, C-2 Mode button, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 4-7 mode selection, in Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-8 to 4-9 multiplexed operating mode, SCXI, 3-1
N
NI-DAQ driver software, configuring, 1-1 Non-Referenced Single-Ended Channels
option, Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-9 Number of iterations field, Analog Output Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2

Number of scans field, Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 2-4, 4-4
O
operating modes, SCXI modules, 3-1 to 3-3
P
parallel operating mode, SCXI, 3-1
R
Referenced Single-Ended Channels field, Analog Input Mode dialog box, 4-9
Remove button, Analog Output Configuration dialog box, 5-2
removing DAQ Add-In manually, 1-3 Excel error message, C-2
round robin scanning (figure), 4-5 Run button
DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-5, 2-7, 2-10
S
saving tasks, 2-8 to 2-9 Scale to volts checkbox, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 4-4 scan clock, external. See clocks. scan list, analog input, 2-3, 4-2 to 4-4 scan rate
selecting number of scans per second, 4-5 setting, 2-4, 4-4 to 4-5 scans, specifying number for acquisition,
2-3 to 2-4, 4-4 scans after trigger field, Hardware Digital
Trigger dialog box, 4-8 Scans/second field, Analog Input
Configuration dialog box, 2-4, 4-5 SCXI modules. See also DAQ hardware
capabilities. analog input, 3-2 to 3-4
channel strings syntax (table), 3-4

Measure Data Acquisition User Manual

I-4

multiple SCXI modules and chassis, 3-3 to 3-4
analog output, 3-5 configuration, 3-1 operating modes, 3-1 to 3-2 overview, 3-1 Signal Conditioning Extension for
Instrumentation (SCXI). See SCXI modules. Specify interchannel delay option, Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, 4-10 Start acquisition on trigger option, Hardware Digital Trigger dialog box, 4-8
T
Task Description option, DAQ Tasks dialog box, 2-10
Task Name Analog Input Configuration dialog box, 2-3, 4-2, 4-6 Analog Output Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-1 to 5-2
tasks. See also DAQ Tasks dialog box. acquisition tasks with VBA, 6-1 adding to DAQ menu, 2-7 to 2-8 configuring advanced analog output configuration, 5-3 to 5-4 advanced timing settings, 4-10 analog input task, 2-3 to 2-5, 4-2 to 4-7 analog output task, 2-5 to 2-7, 5-1 to 5-3 mode reference, 4-8 to 4-9
timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8 managing tasks in workbook, 2-9 to 2-10 saving, 2-8 to 2-9 selecting, 2-1 to 2-3

Index
technical support, D-1 to D-2 terminal block selection guide, SCXI
modules (table), A-7 Timeout (seconds) field, Hardware Digital
Trigger dialog box, 4-8 timing settings, 4-4 to 4-5
Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, 4-10
external scan clock, 4-5 round robin scanning (figure), 4-5 scan clock and channel clock (figure), 4-5 scan rate, 4-5 Trigger button, Analog Input Configuration
dialog box, 4-6 trigger reference, 4-7 to 4-8 troubleshooting, C-1 to C-2
U
uninstalling Measure, 1-3 Updates per second field, Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, 2-6, 5-2 Use external channel clock option,
Advanced Timing Settings dialog box, 4-10
V
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) DAQ function, 6-1 to 6-2 GetDAQErrorMessage function, 6-3 running tasks from, 6-1
voltage limits analog input high, 4-3 low, 4-4 analog output high, 5-4 low, 5-4
voltage reference, external, 5-4 volts, scale for displaying acquired data in,
4-4