Can I install the FTC Toolkit on "normal LabView 2010"?

[David_Fort]

If we have someone (say a LabView expert volunteering to help kids at our FTC Qualifying Tournament) who has "normal" LabView 2010 installed, not the stuff that comes in the FTC kit (aka LVLM), can they install the FTC Toolkit and program FTC Robots?

Or do they need to install something that gets them "baseline NXT stuff" and then add the FTC Toolkit on top of that.

for example is the software pile like this:

LabView 2010

The NXT .vi's like motor blocks and sensors

The FTC Toolkit - the Robot Design Studio, Joysticks, FTC specific .vi's (like reading the joystick values).

and if so, would adding this:

https://lumen.ni.com/nicif/us/nilabsnxtmodule/content.xhtml

to "normal LabView 2010" lay the correct foundation to add the FTC Toolkit?

Or does he need to install LabView from the CD in the kit?

[Kevin_F]

Hey David,

The way you will want to do this is to still install LVLM first.  This will add a new environment to LabVIEW 2010. You can then switch back and forth between regular LabVIEW and LabVIEW 2010 by going to Tools->Choose Environment (this is how we use it here in the office). This will get the baseline NXT stuff and then you can add the FTC toolkit on top of that to get full functionality for use with FTC. If you don't want to use the CDs to install you can also download them from here:https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-17997

[David_Fort]

Just to make sure I'm using the right words,

"LabVIEW for LEGO MINDSTORMS is a version of LabVIEW"

" LVLM is based on LabVIEW 2010 Service Pack 1 (SP1)"

So if I already have LabVIEW 2010 that I installed for work not related to NXT or FTC (example, I write LabVIEW programs to measure jet engine noise), I still need to install the LVLM from the DVD in the FTC KoP or download it from the link you gave (useful, for example on computers that have no DVD).

That gets me a different "getting started" screen and the function blocks for the NXT (NXT Module 2010) and the Robot Project Center.

This won't interfere with the existing LabVIEW 2010 - I can go to Tools->Choose Environment and switch back, and that will bring up the "usual" Getting Started screen that does not know about NXT (does not have the NXT training wheels).

After that, adding the FTC toolkit will put on the Field Control Stuff and Samantha support and stuff like that.

Do you know if Installing LVLM (which includes LV2010) will interfere with the existing LV2010 license?  Will LVLM need its own license (from the FTC DVD)? Or does the existing LV2010 license already cover it?

[Kevin_F]

Hey David,

I apologize for the acronym confusion.  LVLM and LabVIEW For LEGO MINDSTORMS are the same thing. If LabVIEW 2010 is not installed on a computer LVLM will install a stand alone copy of LabVIEW otherwise if LabVIEW is installed a new environment will just be installed which will not interfere with your existing LabVIEW(note this is not true for FRC LabVIEW which should be installed on its own machine without regular LabVIEW). You will still need to install LVLM from the DVD or the download.

As far as liscensing it won't interfere with the existing liscense but I believe you will need to enter the serial number provided with the KoP to use LVLM.