install NIDAQmx Windows 7 64-bit

[JGS]

I am trying to install the newest NIDAQmx driver 9.2 on Windows 7 64-bit. The installer is for several OS including Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit. When I try to install it, the installer suggests C:/Program Files (x86)/... When I try to force C:/Program Files/.... Windows itself refuses because the software is not compatible. I have seen simular behaviour of the installer for GPIB.

Question: does the driver include a 64-bit version or is it a 32-bit version that is compatible with Windows 7 64-bit ?

Question: if the installer has a 64-bit version, can I select which of these versions it installs ?

Question: if the installer has a 64-bit version but selects default 32-bit even for Windows 7 64-bit, what do I have to do different?

[Seth_B.]

What Application Development Environment (LabVIEW, Visual Studio, etc) are you using? If you are trying to just use the ANSI C functions, these are installed to C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Shared\ExternalCompilerSupport\C\lib64\msvc\NIDAQmx.lib and include native 64-bit functions.

[JGS]

For the immediate project, I am using MAX to define tasks for a.o. USB-6251. Subsequently I use matlab script to start a task and request the measured data. Additional I have to send commands via an GPIB-USB-HS to power supply, pulse generator, oscilloscope, etc.

After this works fine, I will explore the use of Labwindows/CVI applications for this OS. And - if possible - the use of an NI camera-link interface. But these are secondary to the immediate project.

[Seth_B.]

In that case, you will likely be using the ANSI C interface to begin with, so just install support for ANSI C and the 64-bit libraries will be in the folder I listed above.  For LabWindows/CVI, you'll need to repair your DAQmx installation once you've installed a 64-bit version of LabWindows/CVI and install 64-bit support from the NI-DAQmx Installation media.

[JGS]

Just installing as you proposes seems to work. Even while all the software is installed in a subdirectory that Windows 7 uses for 32-bit applications.

I have run manual within MAX a task for voltage acquisition by a USB-6251 and that works fine.

I have installed the GPIB software. The GPIB-USB-HS is recognized withour failures. I have build in LabWindows/CVI (32-bit) an DLL as an interface in matlab for my own tools. So I have also installed the newest Labwindows runtime engine that is compatible with Windows 7 64-bit. My tools include communication via GPIB interface and this also works fine. Note that I have used matlab 32-bit.

From the NI site, I have a set of mex-files as tool for matlab that communicates with Nidaqmx. These files require runtime engine Labview 7.0. I have  installed this but it does not show in MAX software overview. And matlab does not accept these mex files. (error from info.xml). Real pity !

If somebody re-builds these mex-files with a newer version of the Labview runtime engine ... I would gladly hear about this.

Thanks, Jos

[Ecleamus · Accepted solution]

Hi JGS,

Yes, this installer includes support for both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

The folder specified in the 'Destination Directory' dialog is the default location for all NI software to be installed. Please note that the NI-DAQmx installer has more than just the driver files* itself and much of these other files are either used by 32-bit applications or 32-bit software itself (i.e. NI MAX). This means (due to the way Windows works) that this folder cannot be (in) the 64-bit Program Files folder. However, you can change the default location to any place else (i.e. C:\ni or C:\Program Files (x86)\myFolder). 

*For the actual driver files, they are automatically installed to the appropriate SystemFolder locations (i.e. sysWOW64 or system32). This allows you to run 32-bit applications on both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems using the same NI-DAQmx installer.

I hope this makes sense. Let me know if it doesn't.

Cheers,

Ecleamus R.

Software Eng.

[Ketaki]

I was using NI-DAQmx in Visual Studio 2005 for 32 bit OS. I am building my application for 64 bit OS. The old NIDAQmx.lib (32 bit lib) doesnot work for 64 it configuaration.  I have downloaded NI-DAQmx 9.3 but still that does not work.

[Brad_K]

Hi Ketaki,

Here's an article explaining where to find the 64-bit import library: Where is the 64-bit DAQmx C Lib File?

Brad