LabVIEW 5.0 to add UI, instrument tools; new wizards due in update

MacWeek, Feb 16, 1998 by John Poultney

National Instruments Corp. this month announced Version 5.0 of LabVIEW, its scientific-application development and data-acquisition package. The new version will have several automation features aimed at creating custom applications.

LabVIEW 5.0 will include two new wizards -- one for designing data acquisition (DAQ) interfaces and another for integrating outboard instruments.

The DAQ Solution Wizard will let users describe their intended application by completing a series of dialog boxes. These will contain common options such as choosing between analog or digital I/O, transducer type, scaling- and unit-conversion factors, and output file type. Once an outline is complete, LabVIEW will generate its own source code in National Instruments' proprietary G language.

An Instrument Wizard will let users determine which outboard instruments are connected to their systems and will automatically install drivers and application examples for these devices, the company said. Users will also be able to configure distributed systems for processes that need multiple machines for complex calculations or for remote data gathering.

For Web-savvy developers, Version 5.0 will include translation tools to generate HTML documentation and other types of online help. These tools will let users choose a language at runtime, National Instruments said, thus saving time when creating localized versions of applications.

The company did not have a specific ship date for LabVIEW 5.0 but said it will be available during the first quarter for $1,995. Upgrades will be $295.

National Instruments Corp. of Austin, Texas, can be reached at (512) 794-0100 or (800) 433-3488; fax (512) 794-8411; info@natinst.com; www.natinst.com.

LabVIEW 5.0 will have wizards to help users implement common tasks. Shown here, the software is being configured to run a single-point thermocoupler application.