Acquiring Signals Using the Channel View

If you use LabVIEW SignalExpress with installed or simulated NI-DAQmx devices or with an NI-DMM device or NI Switch module, you can use the Channel View to acquire signals from all analog input (AI) channels available for the devices or modules. LabVIEW SignalExpress automatically detects all the devices the Channel View supports and displays them in the Channel View. You can install NI-DAQmx, NI-DMM, or NI Switch software from the National Instruments Device Driver DVD, or you can download the latest version of NI-DAQmx, NI-DMM, or NI Switch software from ni.com/downloads.

Note  The Channel View does not display analog output (AO) channels.

Complete the following steps to acquire signals from a supported device or module using the Channel View.

1. Install the device and connect it to the PC, or use Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) to create a simulated device. Refer to the device documentation for more information about installing a device.

Note  MAX installs with most National Instruments software applications. Refer to the Measurement & Automation Explorer Help for more information about creating NI-DAQmx simulated devices.

2. In LabVIEW SignalExpress, select View»Channel View to display the Channel View. LabVIEW SignalExpress displays the devices it detects in the Physical Channel column. If you do not see the device you want to use, click the Refresh button to update the Channel View.
3. Click the expand symbol for the device from which you want to acquire signals to display the device channels.
4. Place a checkmark in the Acquire checkbox for each channel from which you want to acquire a signal. If you want to acquire signals from all channels, place a checkmark in the Acquire checkbox for the device itself.
   
   When you place a checkmark in an Acquire checkbox, additional measurement configuration options appear in the Channel View table, and LabVIEW SignalExpress automatically places a data acquisition step in the Project View. The measurement configuration options that appear depend on the device you use.
5. (Optional) Use the measurement configuration options to configure settings for the acquisition. For example, for most devices you can specify the Measurement Type and Scaled Units to use for the measurement. You also can use the Properties window to configure multiple channels simultaneously.
6. Drag the outputs of the data acquisition step to the Data View and click the Run button to run the project. LabVIEW SignalExpress acquires signals from the device and displays the signals in the Data View.