Labview Desktop Application

[JoeyTNT280]

Because I haven't actually tried to look for this and I am away from my programming computer is there anyway to create a program in LabVIEW that can be run without any LabVIEW software on the computer? (I.E. - Scouting programs and such) Thanks for your time

[Mark McLeod]

Yes, you can make a regular Windows executable.

P.S.
You can test just such an executable only program that's posted in CD whitepapers http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2177

[JoeyTNT280]

Wow, thank you. You have solved two of our issues in one post thanks a lot.

[Mark McLeod]

In LabVIEW the option to create a stand-alone executable is in your code's Project Explorer window under "My Computer" under "Build Specifications"
Right click on Build Specifications -> New and you'll see the option "Application (EXE)"

You won't see that same option under Build Specs for "RT CompactRIO...". You only get it when the target is a Windows machine, i.e., My Computer.

[Uberbots]

Every time ive built a windows executable, ive needed to have a labview framework installed on the client computer. Its a 50 megabyte download from national instrument's site, and i havent found a way around making the end user download this (short of bundling it with the application)

[dqmot17]

Originally Posted by Uberbots

Every time ive built a windows executable, ive needed to have a labview framework installed on the client computer. Its a 50 megabyte download from national instrument's site, and i havent found a way around making the end user download this (short of bundling it with the application)

i think there is a way to make an app in say c++ that opens the labview app in a kind of virtualization with the framework inside of it...but i doubt anyone understands what i just said and it make life a lot harder....
just download the framework....

[JoeyTNT280]

Ryan what you said sadly made sense. However that is really complicated and doesn't do anything for you

[dqmot17]

Originally Posted by JoeyTNT280

Ryan what you said sadly made sense. However that is really complicated and doesn't do anything for you

it would get you a labview app on some without labviews framework installed....but besides scouting there would be really no point...

[JoeyTNT280]

There would be no point even with scouting. you might as well have it with the program in a Zipped file like someone else suggested

[Greg McKaskle]

Originally Posted by dqmot17

i think there is a way to make an app in say c++ that opens the labview app in a kind of virtualization with the framework inside of it...but i doubt anyone understands what i just said and it make life a lot harder....
just download the framework....

What you described is pretty much what that download delivers. A LV executable is a small C++ app that bootstraps the LV execution engine and enqueues the various main routines you've selected. The execution engine as well as the controls and indicators and other support code are in the runtime DLL that is downloaded.

If you want more control, you can build more in C++, and build the LV stuff into a DLL instead, but the windowing stuff gets a bit tricky.

As for what to download and install, your choices are ...
Install the development tools -- they are essentially free for any FIRST related activities, which includes homework, programming in off season, etc.
Install the runtime support -- it will let you run apps, but then you need a development system to build them.

If someone is a complete software newbie, then perhaps the runtime is right for them, but just because someone isn't the team programmer doesn't mean they fit this category. LV, after all, was designed to be a programming tool for engineers and scientists, not just computer scientists. In years to come, hopefully the mechanical, electrical, and scouting teams will get as much use out of it as the programmers.

Greg McKaskle