Using LabWindows/CVI Libraries in External Compilers
You can use the LabWindows/CVI libraries in an external compiler by creating executables and DLLs that call the LabWindows/CVI libraries. LabWindows/CVI ships with the run-time DLLs that contain all the libraries, and executable files you create in LabWindows/CVI also use these DLLs.
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Note Static libraries you create in LabWindows/CVI with a debug configuration are not supported outside of LabWindows/CVI. |
LabWindows/CVI installs a startup library and DLL import libraries, all of which are compatible with your external compiler, in the msvc and msvc64 folders of following locations:
- CVIversion\extlib
- National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Extlib
- ProgramData\National Instruments\CVIversion\extlib
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Note Never use the .lib files in the CVIversion\bin\msvc, CVIversion\bin\msvc64, National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Bin\msvc, or National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Bin\msvc64 directories in an external compiler. |
You always must include the following two libraries in your external compiler project. These libraries are located in the CVIversion\extlib\msvc and CVIversion\extlib\msvc64 directory.
- cvisupp.lib—Startup library
- cvirt.lib—Import library to DLL containing the following libraries:
- User Interface Library
- Formatting and I/O Library
- RS-232 Library
- DDE Support Library
- TCP Support Library
- UDP Support Library
- Utility Library
The following table lists the DLL import library files you can add to your external compiler project and the directories where those files are located on your computer. The DLL import library files are located in the msvc and msvc64 folders of the directories listed in the table.
| Import Library File | Library | Location |
|---|---|---|
| analysis.lib | Analysis or Advanced Analysis Library | ProgramData\National Instruments\CVIversion\extlib |
| cviauto.lib | ActiveX Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| cvidotnet.lib | .NET Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| cvinetstreams.lib | Network Streams Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| cvinetv.lib | Network Variable Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| cvintwrk.lib | Internet Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| cvitdms.lib | TDM Streaming Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| dataacq.lib | Traditional NI-DAQ Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| gpib.lib | GPIB/GPIB 488.2 Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| ivi.lib | IVI Library | National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Extlib |
| nican.lib | NI-CAN Library | National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Extlib |
| nidaqmx.lib | NI-DAQmx Library | National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Extlib |
| nivxi.lib | VXI Library | CVIversion\extlib |
| visa.lib | VISA Library | National Instruments\Shared\CVI\Extlib |
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Note Import library files for National Instruments hardware libraries might be located in CVIversion\extlib instead. |
If you use an instrument driver that makes references to both the GPIB/GPIB 488.2 and VXI Libraries, you can include both gpib.lib and nivxi.lib to resolve the references to symbols in those libraries.
If you use functions in the Programmer's Toolbox, include CVIversion\toolslib\toolbox\msvc\toolbox.obj or CVIversion\toolslib\toolbox\msvc64\toolbox.obj in your external compiler project.
If you use an external compiler that requires a WinMain entry point, the optional library cviwmain.lib allows you to define only main in your program. The cviwmain.lib library file contains WinMain function that calls main.