LabWindows/CVI Environment

LabWindows/CVI provides an environment to create and test applications that use the LabWindows/CVI libraries. The environment is a combination editor, compiler, and debugger with extensive run-time checking. LabWindows/CVI also includes function panels, which make the task of developing programs much easier. Using a function panel, you can execute a LabWindows/CVI library function interactively and generate code that calls the function. Function panels also contain help for the functions and function parameters. You can build, execute, test, and debug the source code for your application in the LabWindows/CVI environment.

The LabWindows/CVI environment also has a User Interface Editor for creating a graphical user interface for your application programs. You can control the user interface using functions in the User Interface Library.

Also, you can use the LabWindows/CVI environment to create instrument drivers.

The LabWindows/CVI environment has the following windows:

• Workspace window—This window appears when you start LabWindows/CVI. Use the Workspace window to open, edit, build, run, and save application project (.prj) files and to open, edit, and save workspace (.cws) files. A project contains a list of files your application uses. A workspace file contains the settings that do not affect the way a project builds. Workspaces can contain multiple projects.
• User Interface Editor—Use the User Interface Editor to build user interfaces with pull-down menus, dialog boxes, controls, graphs, and strip charts and save them to user interface resource (.uir) files.
• Source window—Use Source windows to create, edit, run, debug, and save source code.
• Interactive Execution window—Use the Interactive Execution window to execute selected portions of code. You do not need to have a complete program in the Interactive Execution window, as is the case in a Source window. For instance, you can execute variable declarations and assignment statements in C without declaring a main function.
• Function panels—Use function panels to interactively execute library functions and insert code into a Source window.
• Variables and Call Stack, Array Display, Resource Tracking, Watch, Memory, Modules, Threads, and Graphical Array View windows—Use these windows to debug programs. You can view values of program variables in the Variables and Call Stack and Watch windows. The Array Display window shows contents of arrays and string variables at breakpoints. The Resource Tracking window, available in the LabWindows/CVI Full Development System, detects memory leaks in a program. The Memory window allows you to view and edit the memory of the program. The Modules window displays the loaded information you are debugging. The Threads window displays the threads being debugged based on thread ID, current function, and function ID. The Graphical Array View displays the values of 1D and 2D arrays you are debugging.
• Function Tree Editor—Use the Function Tree Editor windows to build the tree structure of function panel files.
• Function Panel Editor windows—Use Function Panel Editor windows to build function panels.
• Function Tree Help Editor and Function Panel Help Editor windows—Use the Help Editor windows to add help to function panels, instruments, and classes.

Many windows in the LabWindows/CVI environment have menu bars specific to the context of the window. Pressing <F1> in the menu displays the help for the context-specific menus.

You develop applications in the LabWindows/CVI environment using the ANSI C programming language. LabWindows/CVI complies with the ANSI X3.159-1989 and the ISO/IEC 9899:1990 standards for the C programming language.

You also can use LabWindows/CVI libraries with other compilers and linkers.