A Complete Guide to LabVIEW DSC Module 8.6: Download, Installation, Features, and Tips
LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are looking for a way to develop high-performance monitoring and control applications with LabVIEW, you might want to consider using the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) Module. This is a software add-on that extends the functionality of LabVIEW with features such as data logging, alarms and events, OPC connectivity, security, and more.
Dsc Module Labview 8.6 Download
In this guide, you will learn what the LabVIEW DSC Module is, how to install it, how to use it, how to troubleshoot it, and some frequently asked questions about it. By the end of this guide, you will have a better understanding of how the LabVIEW DSC Module can help you create powerful and scalable applications for your monitoring and control needs.
What is LabVIEW DSC Module?
The LabVIEW DSC Module is an add-on software for the LabVIEW programming environment that helps you develop distributed monitoring and control systems with tags ranging from a few dozen to tens of thousands. A tag is a named variable that represents a value or an I/O point in your system. You can use tags to access and pass data among several VIs in a LabVIEW project or across a network.
Features of LabVIEW DSC Module
The LabVIEW DSC Module offers many features that enhance your monitoring and control application development. Some of these features are:
Data logging: You can use the module to log data to a networked historical database, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or MySQL. You can also use the module to configure data logging properties, such as logging rate, data type, scaling, and compression. You can view and analyze the logged data using the Historical Trend Viewer or the Data Viewer tools.
Trends: You can use the module to create and display real-time and historical trends of your tag data. You can use the Trend Manager tool to configure trend properties, such as pen color, scale, range, and update rate. You can also use the Trend Display control to embed trends in your user interface.
Alarms and events: You can use the module to monitor and respond to abnormal conditions in your system. You can use the Alarm Manager tool to configure alarm properties, such as alarm type, priority, limit, deadband, and action. You can also use the Alarm Display control to show alarms in your user interface. You can use the Event Logger tool to log system events, such as user actions, tag changes, and alarm transitions. You can view and filter the logged events using the Event Viewer tool.
OPC connectivity: You can use the module to communicate with OPC servers and devices in your system. OPC is a standard protocol for data exchange in industrial automation. You can use the OPC Client I/O Server to browse, read, and write OPC items from LabVIEW. You can also use the OPC Quick Client tool to test OPC connections and monitor OPC data.
Security: You can use the module to protect your application from unauthorized access and modification. You can use the Security Manager tool to create and manage user accounts, groups, and permissions. You can also use the Login control to add login functionality to your user interface.
Benefits of LabVIEW DSC Module
The LabVIEW DSC Module offers many benefits that make your monitoring and control application development easier and more efficient. Some of these benefits are:
Productivity: You can use the module to quickly create and deploy scalable applications with minimal coding. You can use the graphical programming approach of LabVIEW to design your application logic and user interface. You can also use the built-in tools and controls of the module to configure and manage your tags, data logging, trends, alarms, events, OPC communication, and security.
Flexibility: You can use the module to customize your application according to your specific needs and preferences. You can use the LabVIEW programming environment to modify or extend the functionality of the module tools and controls. You can also use the LabVIEW APIs to access and manipulate tag data programmatically.
Compatibility: You can use the module to integrate your application with various hardware and software components in your system. You can use the LabVIEW Real-Time Module to run your application on real-time targets, such as CompactRIO, PXI, or industrial PCs. You can also use the LabVIEW Web Server or Web Services to access your application remotely via a web browser or a mobile device.
Reliability: You can use the module to ensure the performance and stability of your application. You can use the LabVIEW Real-Time Module to run your application deterministically and reliably on real-time targets. You can also use the LabVIEW DSC Module features to monitor and handle errors, exceptions, and failures in your system.
How to Install LabVIEW DSC Module?
If you want to use the LabVIEW DSC Module in your application development, you need to install it on your computer along with LabVIEW. The installation process is simple and straightforward, but you need to make sure that you meet the system requirements and follow the installation instructions carefully.
System Requirements
The LabVIEW DSC Module has some minimum system requirements that you need to meet before installing it on your computer. These requirements are:
Operating system: Windows 10/8.1/7 SP1 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Processor: Pentium 4M/Celeron 866 MHz (or equivalent) or later (32-bit); Pentium 4 G1 (or equivalent) or later (64-bit)
Memory: 1 GB RAM (32-bit); 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
Disk space: 620 MB free space for installation; additional space required for user files
Display: 1024 x 768 resolution (or higher) with 16-bit color depth (or higher)
Software: LabVIEW 8.6 or later; LabVIEW Real-Time Module 8.6 or later (optional); Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express Edition or later, Oracle Database 10g Express Edition or later, or MySQL 5.0 or later (optional)
You can check the detailed system requirements for the LabVIEW DSC Module on the NI website.
Installation Instructions
The installation process for the LabVIEW DSC Module is easy and fast. You just need to follow these steps:
Insert the LabVIEW DSC Module installation media into your computer, or download the installer from the NI website.
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to accept the license agreement, choose the installation directory, and select the components to install.
Restart your computer after the installation is complete.
You can also refer to the LabVIEW DSC Module Installation Guide for more information and troubleshooting tips.
Activation and Licensing
The LabVIEW DSC Module is a licensed product that requires activation and licensing to use. You can activate and license the module using one of these methods:
NI License Manager: This is a software tool that helps you manage your NI software licenses. You can use it to activate, deactivate, transfer, update, and renew your licenses. You can also use it to view your license information, such as serial number, product name, version, and expiration date. You can access the NI License Manager from the Start menu or from the LabVIEW Tools menu.
NI Activation Wizard: This is a software tool that helps you activate your NI software products. You can use it to activate your products online, by phone, by email, or by fax. You can access the NI Activation Wizard from the NI License Manager or from the LabVIEW Help menu.
NI Volume License Manager: This is a software tool that helps you manage your NI software licenses in a networked environment. You can use it to create and administer a volume license agreement, which allows you to share a pool of licenses among multiple users and computers. You can also use it to monitor and report the license usage and compliance in your organization. You can access the NI Volume License Manager from the Start menu or from the LabVIEW Tools menu.
You can also refer to the LabVIEW DSC Module Activation Instructions and the LabVIEW DSC Module Licensing FAQ for more information and troubleshooting tips.
How to Use LabVIEW DSC Module?
Once you have installed, activated, and licensed the LabVIEW DSC Module, you can start using it to develop your monitoring and control applications. The module provides you with various tools and controls that help you create, configure, deploy, and manage your applications. In this section, I will show you how to use some of these tools and controls in a general workflow.
Developing a DSC Module Application
The first step in using the LabVIEW DSC Module is to develop your application logic and user interface in LabVIEW. You can use the graphical programming approach of LabVIEW to design your VIs, which are the building blocks of your application. You can also use the built-in controls and indicators of LabVIEW to create your user interface elements, such as buttons, knobs, graphs, charts, etc.
In addition to the standard LabVIEW features, you can also use the specific features of the LabVIEW DSC Module to enhance your application development. Some of these features are:
Tag Configuration Editor: This is a tool that helps you create and configure tags for your application. You can use it to define tag properties, such as name, data type, scaling, logging rate, alarm settings, etc. You can also use it to import and export tag configurations from CSV files or OPC servers.
DSC Module Controls Palette: This is a palette that contains various controls and indicators that are specific to the LabVIEW DSC Module. You can use it to add features such as trends, alarms, events, login, security, etc. to your user interface.
DSC Module Functions Palette: This is a palette that contains various functions that are specific to the LabVIEW DSC Module. You can use it to access and manipulate tag data programmatically in your VIs.
LabVIEW DSC Module Examples: This is a collection of example VIs that demonstrate how to use the LabVIEW DSC Module features in various scenarios. You can use these examples as a reference or a starting point for your own application. You can access the LabVIEW DSC Module examples from the LabVIEW Help menu or from the labview\\examples\\lvdsc directory.
Building an Executable Application
The next step in using the LabVIEW DSC Module is to build your application into an executable file that you can run on your target computer. You can use the LabVIEW Application Builder to create an executable file from your VIs and other files in your LabVIEW project. You can also use the Application Builder to create an installer that includes the executable file and any necessary support files, such as drivers, DLLs, configuration files, etc.
To build an executable application with the LabVIEW DSC Module, you need to follow these steps:
Create a LabVIEW project that contains your VIs and other files for your application.
Add the LabVIEW DSC Module support files to your project. These files are required for your application to run properly with the module features. The support files include:
citadel.dll - Citadel database engine - development machine directory: labview\\resource\\lvdsc
citadel.ini - Citadel database configuration - development machine directory: windows (9x/Me) or winnt (NT/2000) or windows (XP)
lvrt.dll - LabVIEW Run-Time Engine - development machine directory: labview\\resource
lvrt.ini - LabVIEW Run-Time Engine configuration - development machine directory: windows (9x/Me) or winnt (NT/2000) or windows (XP)
lv_dsc.dll - LabVIEW DSC Module engine - development machine directory: labview\\resource\\lvdsc
lv_dsc.ini - LabVIEW DSC Module configuration - development machine directory: windows (9x/Me) or winnt (NT/2000) or windows (XP)
lookout.sec - user accounts configuration - development machine directory: windows\\system on (9x/Me) or winnt\\system32 (NT/2000) or windows\\system32 (XP)
Select FileBuild Specifications and create a new specification for an Application (EXE).
Configure the build specification properties, such as name, destination directory, source files, icon, version, etc.
Select the Additional Exclusions category and exclude any VIs that are not used by your application.
Select the Advanced category and enable the Use LabVIEW DSC Module run-time support option.
Click the Build button to create the executable file and any additional files.
If you want to create an installer for your application, select FileBuild Specifications and create a new specification for an Installer.
Configure the installer properties, such as name, destination directory, product name, version, etc.
Select the Source Files category and add the executable file and any other files that you want to include in the installer.
Select the Additional Installers category and add any additional installers that are required for your application, such as LabVIEW Run-Time Engine, NI-DAQmx, etc.
Select the Installer Settings category and configure any additional settings for your installer, such as license agreement, shortcuts, registry keys, etc.
Click the Build button to create the installer file.
You can also refer to the LabVIEW Application Builder User Guide and the LabVIEW DSC Module Application Development Guide for more information and troubleshooting tips. Deploying a DSC Module Application
The final step in using the LabVIEW DSC Module is to deploy your application to your target computer or computers. You can use the LabVIEW Project Explorer to deploy your application and any related files, such as tags, data logging settings, trends, alarms, events, security settings, etc. You can also use the LabVIEW Project Explorer to monitor and control your deployed application remotely.
To deploy a DSC Module application, you need to follow these steps:
Create a LabVIEW project that contains your executable file and any other files for your application.
Add the target computer or computers to your project. You can use the Add Targets and Devices option in the Project Explorer to browse and select the target computer or computers. You can also use the Scan for Targets option to automatically detect the available target computers on your network.
Configure the target properties, such as name, IP address, username, password, etc. You can use the Properties option in the Project Explorer to access and modify the target properties.
Drag and drop the executable file and any other files from the project tree to the target computer or computers. You can also use the Deploy option in the Project Explorer to deploy the selected files.
Wait for the deployment process to complete. You can use the Deployment Status window to monitor the progress and status of the deployment process.
Run the executable file on the target computer or computers. You can use the Run option in the Project Explorer to launch the executable file remotely.
You can also refer to the LabVIEW DSC Module Deployment Guide for more information and troubleshooting tips.
How to Troubleshoot LabVIEW DSC Module?
As with any software product, you might encounter some issues or errors when using the LabVIEW DSC Module. Fortunately, there are many ways to troubleshoot and resolve these issues or errors. In this section, I will show you some common issues and solutions that you might encounter when using the LabVIEW DSC Module.
Common Issues and Solutions
Here are some common issues and solutions that you might encounter when using the LabVIEW DSC Module:
IssueSolution
The LabVIEW DSC Module is not activated or licensed.Use the NI License Manager or the NI Activation Wizard to activate and license the LabVIEW DSC Module. Refer to the Activation and Licensing section for more details.
The LabVIEW DSC Module is not installed properly.Reinstall the LabVIEW DSC Module using the installer. Refer to the Installation Instructions section for more details.
The LabVIEW DSC Module tools or controls are not working properly.Check if you have configured the tools or controls correctly. Refer to the Developing a DSC Module Application section for more details. You can also check if you have installed any updates or patches for the LabVIEW DSC Module from NI website.
The executable file is not running properly on the target computer.Check if you have built and deployed the executable file correctly. Refer to the Building an Executable Application section and the Deploying a DSC Module Application section for more details. You can also check if you have installed any required software components on the target computer, such as LabVIEW Run-Time Engine, NI-DAQmx, etc.
The tag data is not logged or displayed correctly.Check if you have configured the tag properties correctly. Refer to the Tag Configuration Editor section for more details. You can also check if you have enough disk space and memory on the target computer to store and display the tag data.
The OPC communication is not working properly.Check if you have configured the OPC server and client settings correctly. Refer to the OPC Connectivity section for more details. You can also check if you have installed any required OPC software components on the target computer, such as RSLinx, KEPServer, etc.
The security settings are not working properly.Check if you have configured the user accounts, groups, and permissions correctly. Refer to the Security section for more details. You can also check if you have enabled the security option in the executable file properties.
If you encounter any other issues or errors that are not listed here, you can use the following resources and support options to troubleshoot and resolve them:
LabVIEW DSC Module Help: This is a comprehensive online help system that provides detailed information and instructions on how to use the LabVIEW DSC Module features and tools. You can access the LabVIEW DSC Module Help from the LabVIEW Help menu or from the labview\\help\\lvdsc.chm file.
LabVIEW DSC Module Manuals: These are PDF documents that provide add