Text-Based Language Examples for NI Vision Software and Driver

Updated Dec 15, 2023

Reported In

Software

  • LabWindows/CVI
  • Vision Development Module

Driver

  • Vision Acquisition Software
  • NI-IMAQ
  • NI-IMAQdx

Programming Language

  • C
  • C++
  • Visual Basic .NET
  • C# .NET

Issue Details

  • Where can I find text-based (C, C++, .NET, Visual Basic) examples for NI Vision products such as Vision Development Module (VDM) and Vision Acquisition Software (VAS), as well as drivers IMAQ, IMAQdx, and IMAQ I/O?
  • I am looking for NI Vision image acquisition and processing examples written in C, C++, .NET, or Visual Basic. Where can I find these examples?

Solution

Vision examples can be found in the following locations depending on what type of example you are looking for.
 
Vision C API for LabWindows/CVI™
 Examples LocationDocumentation Location

NI-IMAQ

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\CVI\samples\IMAQ

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ\Help\NIIMAQFunctionReference.chm

NI-IMAQdx

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\CVI\samples\IMAQdx

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQdx\Help\NIIMAQdx_Function_Reference.chm

 
Vision C API for MSVC
 Examples LocationDocumentation Location

NI-IMAQ

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ\Examples\MSVC

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ\Help\NIIMAQFunctionReference.chm

NI-IMAQdx

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQdx\Examples\MSVC

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQdx\Help\NIIMAQdx_Function_Reference.chm

NI-IMAQ I/O

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQIO\Examples\MSVC

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ IO\Help\IMAQ IO C Ref.chm

NI Vision

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\Vision\Examples\MSVC

C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Vision\Help\NIVisionCSupport.chm

 
Vision .NET API
 Examples LocationDocumentation Location

NI-IMAQ

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ\Examples\dotNet

C:\Program Files(x86)\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2008\Help\NINETIMAQ.HxS

NI-IMAQdx

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQdx\Examples\dotNet

C:\Program Files(x86)\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2008\Help\NINETIMAQdx.HxS

NI-IMAQ I/O

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ IO\Examples\ActiveX MSVB.NET

C:\Program Files(x86)\National Instruments\NI-IMAQ IO\Help\IMAQ IO VB Ref.chm

NI Vision

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\Vision\Examples\dotNET

C:\Program Files(x86)\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2008\Help\NINETVision.HxS
and 
C:\Program Files(x86)\National Instruments\MeasurementStudioVS2008\Help\NINETVisionAnalysis.HxS

NI Vision Visual Basic API

C:\Users\Public\Documents\National Instruments\Vision\Examples\Legacy MSVB 6.0

C:\Program File(x86)\National Instruments\Vision\Help\cwimaq.chm


Notes:
  • If you are doing .NET programming, make sure that you are using Visual Studios 2005 or 2008, which actively support NI Vision and will include descriptions of the Vision libraries. 
  • If you are trying to do .NET programming in a version starting after VDM 2018 SP1, it should be noted that the API no longer includes .NET Support. See more regarding this in this article on Newer NI Vision Software Does Not Include .NET Support
  • If you intent to do C/C++ development for NI Linux Real-Time, NI recommends a modern toolchain, which is easy to learn and utilize. Documentation for this toolchain provides information on typical steps, like building, deploying, and debugging a shared library. For more information, visit Getting Started with C/C++ Development for NI Linux Real-Time.
  • If you are still using the deprecated Eclipse toolchain for C/C++ Cross compiling NI-IMAQdx on NI Linux RT, you will find a help file located at the following page: C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Vision\Help\NIVisionEclipseDevTools.chm
  • For the .HxS files, if you are using a version of Visual Studio later than 2008, you will need to install Help Explorer to view the .NET documentation.
  • NI recommends using Vision Assistant to prototype and then generate the code in C or .NET.

Additional Information

When you install either the Vision Acquisition Software or the Vision Development Module, you must first make sure that you include support for the language that you are trying to use (CVI, .NET, C++, Visual Basic). When running the installer, make sure you have your preferred language included when given the opportunity to Select the features to install.
 
  • For Vision Acquisition Software, it will look like this:
  • For Vision Development Module, the features page will appear as follows:

If you do not include text-based support on the installation of either software package, you will not be able to use text-based languages with NI Vision products. 

Once you have installed either the Vision Acquisition Software or the Vision Development Module, you can then access example programs in your text-based language of choice. However, they can be found in different file locations depending on what IDE (integrated development environment) you are using.