Configuring the Device

NI-DCPower has two configuration modes—Immediate mode and Delayed Configuration mode. Configuration modes determine how configuration calls are applied to the device. In Immediate mode, every configuration call is immediately applied to the device. In Delayed Configuration mode all configuration changes are cached, and the device continues to operate in its last configured state until you execute the niDCPower Initiate VI or the niDCPower_Initiate function.

The first configuration or measurement call in a session not preceded by a call to the niDCPower Abort VI or the niDCPower_Abort function places the device in Immediate mode.

Execute the niDCPower Initiate VI or the niDCPower_Initiate function to place the device in Immediate mode. Execute the niDCPower Abort VI or the niDCPower_Abort function to place the device in Delayed Configuration mode.

Note  When you execute the niDCPower Initialize VI or the niDCPower_init function with the reset device parameter set to TRUE (default value), a new session is opened in Immediate mode. Refer to Opening a Session for more information about opening sessions.

You can also use the niDCPower Initiate VI or the niDCPower_Initiate function and the niDCPower Abort VI or the niDCPower_Abort function to move between configuration modes. For example, execute the niDCPower Abort VI or the niDCPower_Abort function to move from Immediate mode to Delayed Configuration mode. To apply cached configuration changes to the device, execute the niDCPower Initiate VI or the niDCPower_Initiate function.

Tip  In Immediate mode, configuration calls to multiple channels are performed sequentially, not simultaneously. Use the Delayed Configuration mode to simultaneously configure multiple attributes on one or more channels.

Attribute values do not persist between sessions. If you close a session and open a new one, all attributes assume their default values; however, the default values are not committed to the device until the session enters the Immediate mode.

Tip   To open a session and leave the device in its existing configuration without passing through a transitional output state, execute the niDCPower Initialize VI or the niDCPower_init function with the reset device parameter set to FALSE, and then immediately execute the niDCPower Abort VI or the niDCPower_Abort function. To apply a new configuration without disrupting the output channels of the device, configure the device in Delayed Configuration mode as in the previous session changing only the desired settings, and then execute the niDCPower Initiate VI or the niDCPower_Initiate function.