Acquiring Signals Using USB Plug-and-Play

If you use LabVIEW SignalExpress with an NI USB device, such as NI CompactDAQ, the NI Device Monitor detects when you connect the device to the PC. LabVIEW SignalExpress then can set up a project automatically and begin acquiring signals from the device with minimal user input.

Note  The NI Device Monitor installs with NI-DAQmx. You can install NI-DAQmx software from the National Instruments Device Driver DVD, or you can download the latest version of NI-DAQmx software from ni.com/downloads. After you install NI-DAQmx, refer to the NI-DAQmx Help for more information about using NI-DAQmx.

Complete the following steps to acquire signals from an NI USB device using LabVIEW SignalExpress.

1. Use a USB cable to connect the device to the PC.
2. Turn on the device.
3. (Optional) If you have not already done so, install any necessary software for the device. Windows Vista installs device-specific software automatically when it detects a new device. On Windows XP and earlier, the Found New Hardware wizard prompts you to install the software.
4. In the New Data Acquisition Device dialog box that appears, select Begin a Measurement with This Device Using NI LabVIEW SignalExpress and click the OK button. A LabVIEW SignalExpress window with an image of the device appears.
   
   You can add modules to the device at this time and the image automatically updates to display the new modules. Refer to the device documentation for more information about the modules you can use with a specific device.
5. Select the modules from which to acquire signals and click the OK button. LabVIEW SignalExpress launches and runs a project that acquires signals from the modules you selected.

Note  If you select modules that generate signals, such as analog output (AO) modules, LabVIEW SignalExpress prompts you for input signals to use for the generated signals.