National Instruments Measure Data Acquisition User manual

Measure®
Data Acquisition
User Manual
August 1996 Edition
Part Number 321004B-01
© Copyright 1995,1996 National Instruments Corporation.
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© National Instruments Corporation v Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
About This Manual
Organization of This Manual
Conventions Used in This Manual
Customer Communication xi
Chapter 1
Introduction
Using Measure with Your DAQ Device
DAQ Device Overview
Installing Measure
Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In
Uninstalling Measure
Chapter 2
Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Selecting a Data Acquisition Task
Configuring an Analog Input Task
Configuring an Analog Output Task
Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
Saving Tasks
Managing Tasks in a Workbook
Chapter 3
Using SCXI with Measure DAQ
SCXI Operating Modes
SCXI Analog Input
Multiple SCXI Modules and Chassis
SCXI Analog Output

Table of Contents
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual vi © National Instruments Corporation
Chapter 4
Analog Input Reference
DAQ Device Overview
Analog Input Configuration Overview
Analog Input Scan List
Channels
High Limit
Low Limit
Scan Information
Number of scans
Scale to volts
Timing Settings
Scans/second
External scan clock
Display At cell
In Columns
In Rows
Trigger Reference
Mode Reference
Advanced Timing Settings
Chapter 5
Analog Output Reference
Analog Output Configuration Overview
Advanced Configuration
Chapter 6
Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA
Function Reference
DAQ
GetDAQErrorMessage
Appendix A
DAQ Hardware Capabilities
SCXI Information
MIO and AI Device Hardware Capabilities
Lab and 1200 Series and Portable Devices Hardware Capabilities
SCXI Module Hardware Capabilities
Analog Output Only Devices Hardware Capabilities

Table of Contents
© National Instruments Corporation vii Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Appendix B
Error Codes
Appendix C
Trouble Shooting
Appendix D
Customer Communication
Glossary
Index
Figures
Figure 1-1. Add-Ins Dialog Box
Figure 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Figure 2-2. Analog Input Configuration
Figure 2-3. Task Description Dialog Box
Figure 2-4. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Figure 2-5. Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
Figure 2-6. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Figure 2-7. Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
Figure 2-8. The DAQ Menu
Figure 2-9. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
Figure 3-1. Selecting the Add>> button
Figure 4-1. Analog Input Configuration Dialog Box
Figure 4-2. Scan Clock and Channel Clock
Figure 4-3. Round Robin Scanning
Figure 4-4. Hardware Digital Trigger Dialog Box
Figure 4-5. Analog Input Mode Dialog Box
Figure 4-6. Advanced Timing Settings Option
Figure 5-1. Analog Output Configuration
Figure 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box

Table of Contents
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual viii © National Instruments Corporation
Tables
Table 2-1. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box Options
Table 3-1. SCXI Channel Strings Syntax
Table 4-1. Examples of Valid Channel Strings
Table 4-2. Analog Input Configuration Buttons/Options
Table 4-3. Choices for Hardware Digital Trigger
Table 4-4. Choices for Analog Input Mode Dialog Box
Table 4-5. Choices for Advanced Timing
Table 5-1. Analog Output Configuration Reference
Table 5-2. Advanced Analog Output Configuration Options
Table A-1. Analog Input Configuration Programmability—MIO and AI Devices
Table A-2. Analog Input Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices (Part 1)
Table A-3. Analog Input Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices (Part 2)
Table A-4. Analog Output Characteristics—MIO and AI Devices
Table A-5. Analog Input Configuration Programmability—Lab,
1200 Series, Portable Devices
Table A-6. Analog Input Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 1)
Table A-7. Analog Input Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices (Part 2)
Table A-8. Analog Output Characteristics—Lab, 1200 Series, Portable Devices
Table A-9. Analog Input Characteristics—SCXI Modules
Table A-10. Terminal Block Selection Guide—SCXI Modules
Table A-11. Analog Output Characteristics—Analog Output Only Devices
Table B-1. Data Acquisition Error Codes

© National Instruments Corporation ix Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual describes how to use the
Measure Data Acquisition Add-In with National Instruments data
acquisition boards to acquire data into Microsoft Excel. You should be
familiar with the operation of Microsoft Excel, your computer, your
computer’s operating system, and your data acquisition (DAQ) board.
Organization of This Manual
The Measure Data Acquisition User Manual is organized as follows.
• Chapter 1, Introduction, helps you install the Measure Data
Acquisition (DAQ) Add-In. You should have installed and
configured your DAQ hardware already.
• Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, contains a
tutorial for the following basic functions: Selecting a data
acquisition task, configuring an analog input task, configuring an
analog output task, adding tasks to the DAQ menu, saving tasks,
and managing tasks in a workbook.
• Chapter 3, Using SCXI with Measure DAQ, describes how to use
the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In in Excel with your Signal
Conditioning Extension for Instrumentation (SCXI) equipment.
• Chapter 4, Analog Input Reference, introduces some basic
concepts of data acquisition and contains a reference for analog
input configuration, hardware digital triggering, analog input
modes, and advanced timing. You should be familiar with the
hardware characteristics of your data acquisition device.
• Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference, introduces some concepts of
data acquisition and contains a reference for basic and advanced
Analog Output Configuration.

About This Manual
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual x © National Instruments Corporation
• Chapter 6, Using Measure Data Acquisition Tasks with VBA,
describes how to run tasks from within Visual Basic for
Applications.
• Appendix A, DAQ Hardware Capabilities, contains SCXI
information and tables that summarize the analog I/O capabilities
of National Instruments data acquisition devices you might use
with Measure for Windows.
• Appendix B, Error Codes, describes the errors that can occur
while using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
• Appendix C, Troubleshooting, describes solutions to problems that
you might encounter using the Measure DAQ Add-In.
• Appendix D, Customer Communication, contains forms you can
use to request help from National Instruments or to comment on
our products and manuals.
• The Glossary contains an alphabetical list and descriptions of
terms used in this manual, including abbreviations, acronyms,
metric prefixes, mnemonics, and symbols.
• The Index contains an alphabetical list of key terms and topics in
this manual, including the page where you can find each one.
Conventions Used in This Manual
The following conventions are used in this manual.
bold Bold text denotes a parameter, or the introduction of menus, menu
items, or dialog box buttons or options.
italic Italic text denotes emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction to a
key concept.
bold italic Bold italic text denotes a note, caution, or warning.

About This Manual
© National Instruments Corporation xi Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that are to be literally input
from the keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and
syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk
drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device
names, functions, variables, filenames, and extensions, and for
statements and comments taken from program code.
» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items, and dialog box
options to a final action. The sequence
Files»Page Setup»Options»Substitute Fonts
directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item,
select Options, and finally select the Substitute Fonts option from the
last dialog box.
Note: This icon to the left of bold italicized text denotes a note, which alerts
you to important information.
Customer Communication
National Instruments wants to receive your comments on our products
and manuals. We are interested in the applications you develop with
our products, and we want to help if you have problems with them. To
make it easy for you to contact us, this manual contains comment and
configuration forms for you to complete. These forms are in
Appendix D, Customer Communication, at the end of this manual.
Related Documentation
The following document contains information that you may find
helpful as you read this manual:
• NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Introduction
This chapter helps you install the Measure Data Acquisition (DAQ)
Add-In. You should have installed and configured your DAQ hardware
already. If you have not done so, please refer to the NI-DAQ User
Manual for PC Compatibles that came with your device for
instructions on installation and configuration.
Using Measure with Your DAQ Device
Measure is designed to work with many different National Instruments
DAQ devices. Before you can use Measure, you must install and
configure your DAQ device and the NI-DAQ driver software that came
with your DAQ device. NI-DAQ is the low-level driver software that
controls your DAQ device. Measure is a higher-level software
development tool that communicates to your DAQ device through
NI-DAQ. Refer to the documentation that comes with your DAQ
device to learn how to install it properly.
Once you install your DAQ device, you must install and configure your
NI-DAQ driver software.
You use the NI-DAQ Configuration Utility (WDAQCONF.EXE) to set
up your DAQ device. For some DAQ devices, such as the E Series
boards, you do not have to configure many settings. For other devices,
you might be required to set jumpers or switches on your device to
configure it to work in your system. Refer to the documentation that
came with your DAQ device to install your NI-DAQ driver software
and run WDAQCONF.EXE.

Chapter 1 Introduction
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 1-2 © National Instruments Corporation
DAQ Device Overview
Measure is an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface for acquiring data with
a wide range of National Instruments DAQ devices. Because Measure
works with so many different devices, the functionality and
performance of the software often varies based on the particular DAQ
device you use. Although Measure senses the type of DAQ device you
are using, you might select options in the task configuration that are not
supported by your particular device. Measure notifies you when such a
conflict occurs when you close the configuration window, or when you
test the task you have defined. Make sure to test each task once you
define it.
The following pages contain a tutorial to show you how to use
Measure. Refer to the Managing Tasks in a Workbook section in
Chapter 2, Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks, for detailed
information on the analog input and output settings you can configure
with Measure.
Installing Measure
1. Insert the Measure for Windows diskette into a 3½ inch floppy
drive.
2. Select Start»Run from the taskbar in Windows 95 or File»Run
from the Program Manager in other versions of Windows.
3. Type A:\SETUP in the box labeled Command Line, and then
select OK.
4. Select a location for the setup program to install Measure for
Windows.
5. Deselect any Add-Ins that you do not want to install.
6. Select OK.
The setup program copies the program files and on-line help files to the
directory that you choose and creates a program group. Setup also
automatically configures Excel to load the DAQ Add-In when you
launch Excel.

Chapter 1 Introduction
© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Manually Adding or Removing the DAQ Add-In
To add the DAQ Add-In manually, complete the following steps.
1. Select Tools»Add-Ins.
2. In the Add-Ins dialog box, search the Add-Ins Available list box
for the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry. Click in the
checkbox next to the Measure Data Acquisition Add-In entry. If
you cannot find the entry, click the Browse button and look for
DAQ.XLA in the directory where you installed Measure.
To remove the DAQ Add-In manually, deselect the checkbox next to it,
shown in Figure 1-1. The next time you launch Excel, Excel will not
load the DAQ Add-In automatically.
Figure 1-1 . Add-Ins Dialog Box
Uninstalling Measure
To uninstall Measure, remove both the Serial Add-In and the Data
Acquisition Add-In from the Add-Ins list in Excel. Double-click the
Uninstall icon in the Measure folder to remove Measure from your
computer.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-1 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Getting Started with
Data Acquisition Tasks
After you install and configure your hardware and install the Measure
Data Acquisition Add-In, you are ready to acquire data. This chapter
contains a tutorial for each of the following basic functions.
• Selecting a Data Acquisition task
• Configuring an Analog Input task
• Configuring an Analog Output task
• Adding tasks to the DAQ menu
• Saving tasks
• Managing tasks in a workbook
You only need to read the sections for the functions that you use in
your application.
Selecting a Data Acquisition Task
This section contains step-by-step instructions for configuring analog
input and output tasks with Measure. To configure tasks, complete the
following steps.
1. Launch Excel.
2. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Task to display the DAQ Tasks
dialog box, shown in Figure 2-1.

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-2 © National Instruments Corporation
Figure 2-1 . DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
The DAQ Tasks dialog box manages the I/O operations, or tasks,
that you define with Measure. From this dialog box, you can create
new tasks, edit existing tasks, and run I/O tasks interactively to test
their operation.
3. Select a DAQ device from the Data acquisition device drop-down
listbox at the top of the dialog box. The list of devices available in
the drop-down listbox is taken from the devices that you have
configured. If you have not run the configuration utility yet, refer
to the documentation that came with your DAQ hardware.
4. Click on the AI button under the heading Create a task to display
the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, shown in figure 2-2.

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
© National Instruments Corporation 2-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
Figure 2-2. Analog Input Configuration
Configuring an Analog Input Task
From the Analog Input Configuration dialog box, you can specify all
the parameters for an analog input operation. In the following steps,
you create a simple analog input task. Refer to Chapter 4, Analog Input
Reference, for more detailed information about the different options for
analog input.
1. The Analog Input Scan List at the top of the dialog box is where
you specify the input channels on your DAQ device from which
you would like to acquire data. For each input channel you add to
the scan list, you must specify a high and low voltage limit for the
signals that you read. Measure puts default values for your device
in the high and low limit fields. Measure uses these limits to
configure the gain settings on your DAQ device for maximum
measurement accuracy.
Type 0in the Channel field and click on the Add>> button to
place the channel into your scan list.
2. In the Scan Information section of the dialog box, you specify how
many scans of your channel list are to be acquired. A scan is a
single measurement from each channel in your scan list. In this

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-4 © National Instruments Corporation
example in which there is only one channel specified, the number
of scans is equal to the number of points acquired from channel 0.
If you were to specify two channels in your channel list, 100 scans
would result in 200 points of data acquired (100 from each
channel).
Type 100 in the Number of Scans field.
3. The Scan Rate section of the dialog box is where you specify how
fast you would like to acquire the data. The default setting of 1000
scans per second means that you acquire a single point from each
channel in your channel list 1000 times per second.
Type 1000 in the Scans/second field.
4. The Display section of the dialog box is where you specify the
cells on your worksheet to contain the acquired data. You
manually can type in a spreadsheet address, such as $A$1, or you
can highlight the input field and use your mouse to select an area
on the spreadsheet to place your acquired data. Measure begins
with the upper-left most cell in the range that you supply and
places the data in rows or columns from that point in the
worksheet.
Type $A$1 to place the 100 elements of data in the first column of
your worksheet.
5. Type the name Read Channel 0 in the Task Name field.
6. Click on the Description button to add a description for your task
under development, shown in Figure 2-3. Type Acquire 100
points of data from channel 0 in the Task
Description dialog box, and click on the OK button.
Now you have finished specifying your first Measure analog input
task.
Figure 2-3. Task Description Dialog Box

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
© National Instruments Corporation 2-5 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
7. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks dialog box,
shown in Figure 2-4. Notice that you now have a task named
Read Channel 0 in your task list. Notice also that the
description for this new task appears in the dialog box as well.
Figure 2-4. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
8. Click on the Run button to execute the task. When the task
completes, there are 100 datapoints in column A of your
worksheet.
Configuring an Analog Output Task
If your DAQ device has analog output channels, you can use Measure
to generate analog output signals based on values in your spreadsheet.
Analog output tasks operate exactly opposite of analog input tasks.
You specify an area on your worksheet that contains data values, and
Measure converts these values to voltages and outputs them through an
analog output channel of your DAQ device. For more information on
analog output tasks, refer to Chapter 5, Analog Output Reference.

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
Measure Data Acquisition User Manual 2-6 © National Instruments Corporation
1. From the DAQ Task dialog box, select AO from the Create a task
section of the dialog box to display the Analog Output
Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 2-5.
Figure 2-5. Analog Output Configuration Dialog Box
2. Type 0in the Channel input field.
3. Type $A$1:$A$10 in the Data cells input field. You manually
can type this range, or highlight the input field and drag particular
areas of your worksheet to specify a cell range. This parameter
specifies which cell values are used as analog output values.
4. Click on the Add button.
5. Type 10 in the Number of iterations input field. The number of
iterations determines how many times Measure outputs the values
specified in the cell range. You can type a value of 0in this field
for continuous output of the values.
6. Type 1000 in the Updates per second input field. As in acquiring
data, you must specify an update rate to determine how fast the
data outputs through the analog output channel.
7. Type Output 10 iterations in the Task Name input field.
8. Click on the Description button, and type Output 10
iterations of data on analog output Channel 0
for the description of your analog output task. Click on the OK
button.
9. Now you have finished configuring your first Measure analog
output task. Click on the OK button to return to the DAQ Tasks

Chapter 2 Getting Started with Data Acquisition Tasks
© National Instruments Corporation 2-7 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
dialog box. Notice that your new analog output task appears in the
task list, shown in Figure 2-6.
Figure 2-6. DAQ Tasks Dialog Box
10. Highlight the Output 10 iterations task and click on the
Run button to execute the analog output task. Make sure you have
valid voltage data in cells A1:A10 before running the task.
Adding Tasks to the DAQ Menu
Now that the two tasks are configured and tested from the DAQ Tasks
dialog box, you may want to make them more accessible from your
spreadsheet. With Measure, you can easily add these tasks to the DAQ
menu.
1. Select DAQ»Configure DAQ Tasks.
2. Click on the Edit Menu button to display the Edit DAQ Menu
dialog box, shown in Figure 2-7.