Initialization
The configuration panels in Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) allow you to set a large number of NI motion controller attributes such as motor type, limit switch active state, position mode, and maximum velocity. Most of the attributes are one-time configuration settings that does not change. By setting these attributes one time in MAX, your programming is much simpler, and you can concentrate on the motion-specific part of the application.
When you call the Initialize Controller function, all the attributes stored in MAX are retrieved and sent to the motion controller. After the controller has been initialized, you do not need to initialize each time you run the application. National Instruments recommends you call Initialize Controller one time after restarting the computer or resetting the motion hardware. The motors are temporarily disabled (killed) while this initialization process takes place.
In most cases, you call Initialize Controller with the Settings Name terminal unwired, which causes the current initialization settings in MAX to be used. You also can initialize the controller with alternate initialization settings by passing in the name of the alternate setting as specified in MAX.