Comparision of LabVIEW with VB.NET

[Nishant]

Hiii, All

         Can anybody give me comparision chart of LabVIEW with .NET, we are in the Process Instrument field and looking for the Configuration software for the instrument, but confused which language to use? we are looking for the online trend, data acquisition, connectivity with the database for mass data storage.

Thanks,

Nishant

[Jesse_O]

Hello Nishant,

When comparing LabVIEW and VB.NET, it really depends on what exactly you are trying to accomplish.  Generally, LabVIEW will be easier to perform data acquisition and analysis as this is what it was designed for.  The following assumes that you are using NI hardware.

If you are using DAQmx, the functions/methods used in LabVIEW are available to VB.NET through the .net support included in the driver.  This makes programming in either language fairly easy, however LabVIEW will have more DAQ examples (example finder and online), online documentation, and it has the DAQ Assistant for quick and easy data acquisition.  You can look here to see how DAQmx programming works in LabVIEW.   If you have measurement studio 7.0+, the DAQ assistant is integrated into Visual Studio (for more information click here).  

It is a similar situation for VISA or 488.2 programming.  There is a native .net interface available for 488.2 and VISA in Visual Studio 2003.  Again, there are several advantages to using LabVIEW.  Besides the integration of VISA and 488.2 in LabVIEW, there are also drivers available to communicate with many common instruments.  You can find these drivers here.

If you are using Measurement Studio, then both LabVIEW and VB.net will have similar indicators and controls (i.e. graph and knobs).

Finally, LabVIEW has a database connectivity toolkit found here.

Regards,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[Nishant]

Dear Mr. Jesso,

          Thanks for the reply, but the thing is we are not using the DAQMX cards and we are neither using the DAQ system, we are just synchronously taking the data from the anpther instrument either from the RS-232/485, Ethernet,USB or by Modem, so we are also looking for the tool which can provide us a better communication interface, can you please post me your suggetions again?

Thanks,

Nishant

[Jesse_O]

Nishant,

Programming RS-232/485, Ethernet, USB etc is possible, however there are some things to keep in mind.

For rs232/485, when you install these devices they show up in windows as com ports, and NI-VISA can communicate with these devices.  You can find a serial communication tutorial here.

Ethernet communication is possible with the TCP or UDP communication VIs in LabVIEW.  You can see how this works in LabVIEW here.

NI-VISA also has supports USBTMC and RAQ USB communication in LabVIEW. You can see more information on this here. 

I hope the information and links above help you in your decision.

Regards,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[Nishant]

Hii, Jesse

             Thnks for such a good reply, we were already looking for the support in direction to develop the USB and Modem communication in LabVIEW and you have provided us with such a good information for the USB. if you dont mind, can you please provide us with the information of how to develop communication for the modem in the LabVIEW?

Thanks,
Nishant

[Jesse_O]

Nishant,

I do not completely understand what you are asking.  I do not know what you mean by "develop communication for the modem in LabVIEW". 

By modem I assume you are connecting to the internet through a dialup modem.  Once connected to the internet you can use TCP or UDP to communicate over the intenet.  I have given links for this above.  If you are trying to control the modem's hardware you might be able to communicate with the modem through DLL or API calls. 

Regards,

Jesse O.
Applications Engineering
National Instruments

[Nishant]

Hii, Jesse
             Thanks for the details of the modem also and i came to know about modem from the link later after i wrote the post to you, actually we are trying to connect PC and the Instrument through modem as a communication medium, like we are doing through the RS-232/485 or Ethernet etc..

Thanks,
Nishant