Deployment refers to developing an application so that it can be distributed, or deployed, on a different computer than the one on which the application was developed. To deploy an application, you need the saved application and any configuration information the application and system requires.

When deploying an NI-DAQmx-based application, you may need to transfer configuration items that are shared across multiple tasks. These items include:
  • Tasks
  • Channels
  • Scales
  • Device setups

You can use the NI MAX Export Wizard to save and transfer this configuration data. The wizard allows you to export settings to a file that can be imported on another system.

Note The Export Wizard is only available when MAX is run with administrator privileges.

For detailed instructions on exporting and importing configuration data in NI MAX, see the official Knowledge Base article, Export/Import the System Configuration in NI MAX.

Developing Applications for Deployment

You can deploy NI-DAQmx applications in several ways:

  • You can use the MAX Export Wizard to deploy an entire setup to another computer, including tasks, channels, scales, and devices.
  • You can use the MAX Export Wizard to deploy an entire setup, except the device configurations, to another computer. You might choose to do this if the target computer already has tasks that rely on existing device configurations. In this case, you might have to make modifications after deployment so that your tasks and channels refer to the device configurations on the target computer.
  • You can use the MAX Export Wizard initially to deploy a fixed set of device, scale, and global virtual channel configurations among a group of users. Each member of the group can create tasks that rely on the shared configurations, then create applications that use these tasks, and finally share the applications within the group. In some cases, the tasks deploy with the applications automatically. In other cases, you must deploy the tasks separately from the applications. Refer to the Deploying Tasks and Channels section for more information.

Deploying Tasks and Channels

Your tasks and channels deploy automatically with your application under the following circumstances:

  • You use LabVIEW Express VIs for your DAQ applications, and the tasks use local channels only.
  • You save your tasks within a LabWindows/CVI or Measurement Studio project, and the tasks use local channels only.
  • You create your tasks and channels programmatically using the NI-DAQmx API.

You must deploy your tasks and channels using the MAX Export Wizard if you create your tasks and channels in the following ways:

  • You create your tasks and channels directly in MAX.
  • You create your tasks and channels in LabVIEW from the Task Name and Channel Name controls and do not generate configuration code.
  • You create your tasks in LabWindows/CVI and neither generate configuration code nor copy the tasks to your project.
  • You create a SignalExpress project that includes a global virtual channel.
  • You use LabVIEW Express VIs for your DAQ applications with tasks that use global virtual channels, but do not use code generation.
    Note If your project uses global virtual channels that were added, not copied, generating a LabVIEW diagram from SignalExpress still requires deployment of channels using the MAX Export Wizard.