HOW TO CONNECT ARDUINO AND LABVIEW?

Well, LabVIEW is a powerful tool to Data acquisition and for become this action a
common practice we need to some hardware to connect it. However, NIs devices are really
very expensive. For everyones joy, there are low cost solutions and the LabVIEWs interface
for Arduino (LIFA) is an excellent example about to follow the low cost philosophy. LIFA
provides an easy interface between Microcontroller Arduino and LabVIEW being possible
connect uncountable sensors and devices. However we need to charge the libraries on
Arduinos IDE and come appearing a lot of problems to compiling the code.
Beyond of the LIFA, there is a new toolkit more recent and with more functions, the
LINX. LabVIEWs Interface for X allows connection with common embedded platforms and
with common sensors including accelerometers, temperature sensors, and ultrasonic distance
sensors. Linx has a very simple interface.
So, how connecting these tools?
First, Ill assume some things:
1 The LAbVIEWs software is installed on PC - The version from this tutorial is
2013;
2 Arduinos software is installed on PC The version which will be used is 1.6.0
(https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/OldSoftwareReleases#previous)
3 The user has an account on Nis website (https://lumen.ni.com/nicif/create.xhtml)
Now, some steps are needed:
4 Install the VI Package Manager (VIPM), whose function is manage and reusable
share VIs across multiple projects and computers. (http://jki.net/vipm)
5 - Install NI-Visa Universal I/O Interface Software that provides the programming
interface between hardware and application development environments such as NI LabVIEW.
(http://ftp.ni.com/support/softlib/visa/NI-VISA/14.0/Windows/NIVISA1400full.exe).
Hence, for download the LINX, is necessary only access this web page
http://www.ni.com/gate/gb/GB_EVALTLKTLINXLVH/US and follow the steps on the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=167&v=ZeHd7DvbMCk

Though the LINX provides really an easy interface to programming, there is other
way, more generic, to connect Arduino and LabVIEW using a function to configure USB
Serial communication, the VISA. For lovers programming in C++ or when LINX cant
resolve your problem, you can program on Arduinos IDE and make the data processing on
LabVIEW.
For access the VISAs pallet, you need to click using right-hand mouse button an
empty space of block diagram window and follow the next steps on Functions pallet:
Data Communication >> Protocols >> Serial

In Serial Pallet, there are some important functions, like:

Visa Serial Configure Serial Port;
Visa W Write a data on Serial Port;
Visa R Read a data from Serial Port;
Visa C Close an event by VISA

For start the communication, is necessary to select Visa Serial and configure Serial
Port.

The data from Serial Port is read through Arduino IDE:

Now, only put into practice your projects offering users a good interface!
More Information:
LINX Toolkit: https://www.labviewmakerhub.com/doku.php?
id=learn:tutorials:libraries:linx:start
NI Visa:
http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361E-01/lvinstio/visa_advanced_subpalette/