National Instruments DAQCard-1200 - Manual (Page 14)

Chapter 1 Introduction
© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 DAQCard-1200 User Manual
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI Application Software
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI are innovative program development
software packages for data acquisition and control applications. LabVIEW
uses graphical programming, whereas LabWindows/CVI enhances
traditional programming languages. Both packages include extensive
libraries for data acquisition, instrument control, data analysis, and
graphical data presentation.
LabVIEW features interactive graphics, a state-of-the-art user interface,
and a powerful graphical programming language. The LabVIEW Data
Acquisition VI Library, a series of VIs for using LabVIEW with National
Instruments boards, is included with LabVIEW. The LabVIEW Data
Acquisition VI Libraries are functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ
software.
LabWindows/CVI features interactive graphics and a state-of-the-art user
interface and uses the ANSI standard C programming language. The
LabWindows/CVI Data Acquisition Library, a series of functions for using
LabWindows/CVI with National Instruments boards, is included with your
NI-DAQ software kit. The LabWindows/CVI Data Acquisition libraries are
functionally equivalent to the NI-DAQ software.
Using LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI software will greatly reduce the
development time for your data acquisition and control application.
NI-DAQ Driver Software
The NI-DAQ driver software is included at no charge with all National
Instruments DAQ hardware. NI-DAQ has an extensive library of functions
that you can call from your application programming environment. These
functions include routines for analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data
acquisition (high-speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion),
waveform generation, digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI, RTSI,
self-calibration, messaging, and acquiring data to extended memory.
NI-DAQ also internally addresses many of the complex issues between the
computer and the plug-in board, such as programming interrupts and
DMA controllers. NI-DAQ maintains a consistent software interface
among its different versions so that you can change platforms with minimal
modifications to your code. Figure 1-1 illustrates the relationship between
NI-DAQ and LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI. You can see that the data
acquisition parts of LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI are functionally
equivalent to the NI-DAQ software.