Programming NI-DAQ in Microsoft Visual

Basic .NET

Primary Software:
Primary Software Version: 1.0 Service Pack 1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Hardware: Multifunction DAQ (MIO)

Problem:
What options do I have when programming NI-DAQ in Visual Basic .NET?

Solution:
Using either the Traditional NI-DAQ or NI-DAQmx driver you can program with NI-DAQ in
Visual Basic .NET. With NI-DAQmx you can use Measurement Studio for Visual Studio which
provides additional tools for use with NI-DAQmx, though Measurement Studio is not required to
use NI-DAQmx in a text-based environment.

Traditional NI-DAQ

National Instruments does not provide native .NET components for Traditional NI-DAQ.

You can use the Traditional NI-DAQ ActiveX controls to perform data acquisition.
The CWDAQ ActiveX control is provided with the Traditional NI-DAQ Driver and does
not require Measurement Studio.

You can create a new VB project and use the ActiveX controls that are installed with
Traditional NI-DAQ. To add the CWDAQ ActiveX Controls to a .NET project, complete
the following steps:

1. Inside a .NET project, select View Toolbox from the pull-down menu.

2. The Toolbox will appear. Right-click in the toolbox and select Add/Remove
Items.

3. The Customize Toolbox will appear. Select the COM Components tab.

4. On this tab, you can select the specific CWDAQ control you want to use and
click OK.
 5. The control you selected will now show up in the toolbox, where you can drag
and drop it onto the form.

NI-DAQmx

National Instruments provides a native .NET API for NI-DAQmx. This is available as a
part of the NI-DAQmx driver and does not require Measurement Studio.

If Measurement Studio is installed it will provide support for Visual Studio provides
native .NET class libraries and integration and code generation tools for NI-DAQmx and
Visual Studio. For example, Measurement Studio 7.0 and later adds the DAQ Assistant
for code generation, integrated Visual Studio help, user interface .NET controls, and
project wizards.

Examples are included with NI-DAQmx and can be found at:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\National

Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\DotNET<.NET Framework Version>
or
C:\Users\<User Name>\Documents\National Instruments\NI-
DAQ\Examples\DotNET<.NET Framework Version>

Note: If the paths above do not exist, be sure you have .NET support installed for NI-
DAQmx.

Additional examples using Measurement Studio and NI-DAQmx are available.

These examples are available in the Measurement Studio help and can also be
found at:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\National

Instruments\MStudioVS<Visual Studio
Version>\DotNet\Examples
or
C:\Users\<User Name>\Documents\National
Instruments\MStudioVS<Visual Studio Version>\DotNet\Examples

For both NI-DAQmx and Measurement Studio examples, sub-folders named vb contain
Visual Basic examples.

Text Based NI-DAQmx Data Acquisition

Examples
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Table of Contents
Introduction

National Instruments high-performance data acquisition products include our premier NI-
DAQmx driver, delivering increased performance and productivity in a variety of programming
languages, including C#/Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET), Visual Basic 6.0 (VB 6),
LabWindows/CVI and ANSI C/C++. The following text-based NI-DAQmx examples include
both shipping and additional examples to help shorten your development time. These examples
are divided by programming language and measurement type. Examples without links are
shipping examples, and their locations are indicated under each section. Shipping examples may
not be installed by default; support for C/C++ and/or .NET must be checked at the beginning of
the NI-DAQmx driver installation process.

Choose Your Text Based Language

C#/Visual Basic.NET Visual Basic 6 CVI ANSI C

C#.NET and Visual Basic.NET (VB.NET)

We offer a number NI-DAQmx examples in C# and Visual Basic .NET (VB .NET). In the
following table, examples that are not linked are shipping examples. Shipping examples are
installed when you install NI-DAQmx and their default location is:

Windows XP and Prior: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared

Documents\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\

Windows Vista: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\National Instruments\NI-

DAQ\Examples.

Analog Analog Counter Digital Switche

ControlSynchronizationMisc
Input Output s I/O s
Analog Input Measure Voltage Acquire One Voltage Sample
Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock
 Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Analog Start Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital Reference
Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Analog Reference
Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital Start and
Reference Triggers
Acquire Multiple Voltage Samples - Software Timed
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Software
Trigger
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Save to
File
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Pause
Trigger
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Analog
Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock - Digital
Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Software Timed
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Configure Filter - SCXI
114x
Measure Continuously Acquire RTD Samples - Internal Clock
Temperature
Continuously Acquire Thermocouple Samples - Internal Clock
Continuously Acquire Thermocouple Samples - Software Timed
Measure Strain Acquire Strain Samples
Acquire Wheatstone Bridge Samples
Measure Sound Continuously Acquire Sound Pressure Samples
Pressure
Rotary Position Continuously Acquire RVDT Samples - Internal Clock
Linear Position Continuously Acquire LVDT Samples - Internal Clock
 Frequency Continuously Acquire Frequency - Internal Clock - SCXI 1126
Current Continuously Acquire 20mA Current Samples - Internal Clock
Acceleration Continuously Acquire Acceleration Sample - Internal Clock -
Analog Start
Analog Output Generate Voltage Continuously Generate Voltage Waveform - Internal Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage Waveform - Internal Clock -
Analog Start
Continuously Generate Voltage Waveform - External Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage Waveform - External Clock -
Digital Start
Generate Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock
Generate Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock - Digital Clock
Generate Multiple Voltage Updates - Software Timed
Generate Voltage Update
Counters Count Digital Count Digital Events
Events
Count Digital Events - Pause Trigger
Count Digital Events - Finite Buffered - External Clock
Count Digital Events - Continuous Buffered - External Clock
Measure Period or Measure Semi Period - Buffered Finite
Pulse Width
Measure Single Semi-Period
Measure Single Period - Low Frequency - 1 Counter
Measure Digital Periods - Buffered Continuous - High Frequency -
2 Counters
Measure Pulse Width
Measure Pulse Width - Buffered Continuous - Sample Clock
Measure GPS Measure GPS Timestamp
Timestamp
Measure Position Measure Angular Position - Buffered Continuous - External Clock
Measure Digital Measure Digital Frequency - Buffered Continuous - Large Range -
Frequency 2 Counters
Measure Digital Frequency - Low Frequency - 1 Counter
Measure Two Measure Two Edge Separation
 Edge Separation Measure Two Edge Separation - Buffered Continuous
Generate Pulse Generate Digital Pulse
Generate Single Pulse - Retriggerable
Generate Single Pulse - Digital Start Trigger
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Finite
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Finite - Retriggerable
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Finite - Digital Start Trigger
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Digital Start
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Pause Trigger
Digital I/O Generate Values Write Digital Port
Write Digital Channel
Write Digital Channel - External Clock
Write Digital Channel - Watchdog Timer
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Burst
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Pipe Sample Clock
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Pipe Sample Clock with
Handshake
Read Values Read Digital Port
Read Digital Port - External Clock
Read Digital Channel
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection - Digital Filter
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection - Events
Read Digital Channel - Internal Clock - Pattern Match Start
Continuously Read Digital Channel - External Clock
Continuously Read Digital Channel - Pipe Sample Clock with
Handshake
Switches Switch Connect - 2 Channels
Switch Connect - Multiple Channels
 Sequence Connections On Switch
Switch Controlling Individual Relay
Switch Scanning - Software Trigger
Control General PWM Counter Output
Synchronization Multi-Function Synchronize Analog Input and Read Digital Channel
Synchronize Analog Input and Analog Output - Digital Start
Multi-Device Analog Input Finite Acquisition
Analog Input Continuous Acquisition
Analog Input and Analog Output Shared Timebase and Trigger -
DSA
Other Advanced Properties List DAQmx Devices Present in System
Topics

Browse NI Developer Zone for More Examples...

Visual Basic 6.0 (VB 6)

The following is a list of our NI-DAQmx examples for Visual Basic 6.0. The default install
directory is for shipping examples is C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\Visual Basic 6.0.

Analog Input Measure Voltage

Measure Slow Varying Signal
Analog Generate Voltage
Output
Counter Count Digital Events
Generate Pulse
Digital I/O Generate Values
Read Values

Browse NI Developer Zone For More Examples...

LabWindows/CVI

The default installation directory for LabWindows/CVI examples is C:\Documents and

Settings\All Users\Documents\National Instruments\CVI\samples\DAQmx.
Analog Input Analog OutputCountersDigital I/OSwitchesControl Synchronization
Analog Input Measure Acquire One Voltage Sample
Voltage
Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Analog Start
Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital
Reference Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital Start and
Reference Triggers
Acquire Multiple Voltage Samples - Software Timed
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock -
Digital Pause Trigger
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock -
Analog Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock -
Digital Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Software Timed
Measure Continuously Acquire RTD Samples - Internal Clock
Temperature
Continuously Acquire Thermocouple Samples - Internal
Clock
Measure Strain Continuously Acquire Strain Samples
Measure Sound Continuously Acquire Sound Pressure Samples - Internal
Pressure Clock
Rotary Position Continuously Acquire RVDT Samples - Internal Clock -
SCXI 1540
Linear Position Continuously Acquire LVDT Samples - Internal Clock -
SCXI 1540
Frequency Continuously Acquire Frequency - Internal Clock -
SCXI 1126
Current Continuously Acquire 20mA Current Samples - Internal
Clock
Acceleration Continuously Acquire Acceleration Sample - Internal Clock -
Analog Start
Analog Output Voltage Generate Single Sample
Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock
Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock - Digital Start
Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock - Done Event
Multiple Voltage Updates - Software Timed
Continuously Generate Voltage - Internal Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage - Internal Clock - Analog
Start
Continuously Generate Voltage - External Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage - External Clock - Digital
Start
Current Multiple Current Updates - Internal Clock
Continuously Generate Current - Internal Clock
Generate 20mA Current
Counters Count Digital Count Digital Events
Events
Continuously Count Digital Events - Buffered - External
Clock
Digital Measure Digital Frequency - Low Frequency - 1 Counter
Frequency
Measure Digital Frequency - Buffered - Continuous - Large
Range - 2 Counters
GPS Time GPS Timestamp
Stamp
GPS Timestamp - Finite - Buffered
Period of Pulse Measure Pulse Width
Width
Measure Pulse Width - Buffered - Sample Clock
Measure Digital Periods - Buffered - Continuous - High
Frequency - 2 Counters
Measure Semi Period - Buffered - Finite
Position Measure Angular Position - Buffered - Continuous
Two-Signal Measure Two Edge Separation - Buffered - Continuous
Edge-
Measure Two Edge Separation
Separation
Generate Generate Digital Pulse
 Digital Pulses Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Digital Start
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Pause Trigger
Digital I/O Generate Write Digital Port
Values
Write Digital Channel
Write Digital Channel - Watchdog Timer
Write Digital Channel - External Clock
Continuously Write Digital Port - External Clock
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Burst
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Pipe Sample Clock
with Handshaking
Digital Read Digital Port
Measurements
Read Digital Port - External Clock
Read Digital Channel
Read Digital Channel - Internal Clock - Digital Reference
Trigger
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection Event
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection - Digital Filter
Continuously Read Digital Channel - External Clock
Continuously Read Digital Channel - Pipe Sample Clock
with Handshake
Switches Connect Multiple Channels
Connect Two Channels
Control Individual Relay
Sequence Connections On Switch
Switch Scan - Software Trigger
Control General PID Control - Single Channel
PWM - Counter Output
Synchronizatio Multi-Device Continuous Analog Input
n
DSA Shared Timebase and Triggered Analog Input and
 Analog Output
Finite Analog Input
Multi-Function Continuous Analog Input and Read Digital Channel

Browse NI Developer Zone For More Examples...

ANSI C

The default installation directory for ANSI C examples is:

Windows XP and Prior: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared

Documents\National Instruments\NI-DAQ\Examples\DAQmx ANSI C

Windows Vista: C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\National Instruments\NI-

DAQ\Examples\DAQmx ANSI C.

Analog Input Analog Output Counters Digital I/O Switches Synchronization

Analog Input Measure Voltage Acquire One Voltage Sample
Acquire Voltage Samples - External Clock
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Analog
Start Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital
Reference Trigger
Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal Clock - Digital
Start and Reference Triggers
Acquire Multiple Voltage Samples - Software Timed
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal
Clock
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal
Clock - Digital Pause Trigger
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Internal
Clock - Analog Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - External
Clock - Digital Start
Continuously Acquire Voltage Samples - Software
Timed
 Measure Temperature Continuously Acquire RTD Samples - Internal Clock
Continuously Acquire Thermocouple Samples -
Internal Clock
Measure Strain Continuously Acquire Strain Samples
Measure Sound Continuously Acquire Sound Pressure Samples -
Pressure Internal Clock
Rotary Position Continuously Acquire RVDT Samples - Internal
Clock - SCXI 1540
Linear Position Continuously Acquire LVDT Samples - Internal
Clock - SCXI 1540
Frequency Continuously Acquire Frequency - Internal Clock -
SCXI 1126
Current Continuously Acquire 20mA Current Samples -
Internal Clock
Acceleration Continuously Acquire Acceleration Sample - Internal
Clock - Analog Start
Analog Output Voltage Generate Single Sample
Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock
Multiple Voltage Updates - Internal Clock - Digital
Start
Multiple Voltage Updates - Software Timed
Continuously Generate Voltage - Internal Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage - Internal Clock -
Analog Start
Continuously Generate Voltage - External Clock
Continuously Generate Voltage - External Clock -
Digital Start
Current Multiple Current Updates - Internal Clock
Continuously Generate Current - Internal Clock
Generate 20mA Current
Counters Count Digital Events Count Digital Events
Continuously Count Digital Events - Buffered -
External Clock
Digital Frequency Measure Digital Frequency - Low Frequency - 1
 Counter
Measure Digital Frequency - Buffered - Continuous -
Large Range - 2 Counters
GPS Time Stamp GPS Timestamp
GPS Timestamp - Finite - Buffered
Period of Pulse Width Measure Pulse Width
Measure Pulse Width - Buffered - Sample Clock
Measure Digital Periods - Buffered - Continuous -
High Frequency - 2 Counters
Measure Semi Period - Buffered - Finite
Position Measure Angular Position - Buffered - Continuous
Two-Signal Edge- Measure Two Edge Separation - Buffered -
Separation Continuous
Measure Two Edge Separation
Generate Digital Generate Digital Pulse
Pulses
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Digital
Start
Generate Digital Pulse Train - Continuous - Pause
Trigger
Digital I/O Generate Values Write Digital Port
Write Digital Channel
Write Digital Channel - Watchdog Timer
Write Digital Channel - External Clock
Continuously Write Digital Port - External Clock
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Burst
Continuously Write Digital Channel - Pipe Sample
Clock with Handshaking
Digital Measurements Read Digital Port
Read Digital Port - External Clock
Read Digital Channel
Read Digital Channel - Internal Clock - Digital
 Reference Trigger
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection
Read Digital Channel - Change Detection - Digital
Filter
Continuously Read Digital Channel - External Clock
Continuously Read Digital Channel - Pipe Sample
Clock with Handshake
Switches Connect Multiple Channels
Connect Two Channels
Control Individual Relay
Sequence Connections On Switch
Switch Scan - Software Trigger
Synchronizatio Multi-Device Continuous Analog Input
n
DSA Shared Timebase and Triggered Analog Input
and Analog Output
Finite Analog Input
Multi-Function Continuous Analog Input and Read Digital Channel

Browse NI Developer Zone For More Examples...

Code Generation DAQ Assistant with LabWindows/CVI and Measurement

Studio

The DAQ Assistant is provided when using Measurement Studio or LabWindows/CVI with NI-
DAQmx. The DAQ Assistant is a graphical, interactive guide for configuring, testing, and
acquiring measurement data. With a single click, you can generate code based on your
configuration, making it easier and faster to develop complex operations. Because the DAQ
Assistant is completely menu-driven, the time from setup to first measurement can be drastically
reduced.