What You Can Do with the FPGA Interface C API

What You Can Do with the FPGA Interface C API

The FPGA Interface C API enables C/C++ applications to interact directly with compiled LabVIEW FPGA VIs on RIO devices without using LabVIEW. C/C++ applications can download a VI to a RIO target, perform DMA data transfers, wait on and acknowledge interrupts, and read from and write to named controls and indicators using C function calls.

A C/C++ application created with the C API can run on the real-time processor of a CompactRIO or NI Single-Board RIO device, and interact with VIs running on the FPGA of the RIO system. Alternatively, a C/C++ application can run on the real-time processor of a PXI system or the processor of a Windows or Linux PC, and interact with VIs running on the FPGA of a PXI or PCI RIO device.

What You Cannot Do with the C API

The current version of the C API does not support the following features.

• Scan Interface mode and I/O variables
• Reading from and writing to controls, indicators, and FIFOs containing the following:
  • Fixed-point types
  • Floating-point types
  • Clusters
  • Arrays containing anything other than supported scalar types
• The following methods callable from an Invoke Method node:
  • Read TEDS
  • NI 9802 methods
    • Mount SD Card
    • Unmount SD Card
  • NI FlexRIO Adapter Module methods
    • Control IO Module Power
    • IO Module Status
    • Redetect IO Module