Solution
There are a few scenarios which can explain the behavior you are seeing:
First of all, make sure that you are trying to add an existing target under the correct level in the project explorer. Stand-alone RT controllers need to be added under the Project: root and not under My Computer as shown in the picture below and explained in Adding RT Targets to the LabVIEW Project .
If the
Targets and Devices... option is missing when you right-click on the project root in the LabVIEW Project, it might be due to an issue with the LabVIEW Real-Time Module. Make sure that your development system has the Real-Time Module installed or is within the allowed time trial period (if in evaluation mode). To check if you have the Real-Time module installed, open
NI License Manager, then navigate to
LabVIEW 20xx » Modules » Real-Time Module, as highlighted in the figure below:
Verify that the Real-Time Development is fully activated or still within the allowed evaluation time period by checking the color of the license box. If the module is active, but you suspect that the installation is corrupt, run a repair on LabVIEW Real-time. The process for repairing a module is explained in Uninstall or Repair National Instruments Software or Drivers in Windows. Instead of selecting NI LabVIEW, as mentioned in the KB, select NI LabVIEW 20xx Real-Time Module.
After clicking
Targets and Devices, the
Add Targets and Devices window will open. If you do not see a folder for
CompactRIO Chassis in this window, the NI CompactRIO Device Drivers may not be installed correctly. Make sure that your NI-RIO or NI CompactRIO Device Drivers are installed and compatible with your version of LabVIEW by comparing the two versions see
NI-RIO and LabVIEW Version Compatibility for more information.
If you do not see you CompactRIO Device Drivers model number after expanding the
CompactRIO Chassis folder in the
Add Targets and Devices window (even after selecting the
New Target or Device), then the version of the CompactRIO Driver might not support your hardware target. Compatibility between the hardware target and driver version can be found on the
Preventing Software Compatibility Issues for CompactRIO Systems.
To locate the versions of LabVIEW or NI CompactRIO drivers, open the
NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) and look under the
Software tab in the navigation pane on the left:
If NI CompactRIO Device Drivers were installed using installation disks, it is also possible that the NI CompactRIO Device Drivers installation disks were damaged, resulting in a corrupted driver installation. If this is the case, the
NI CompactRIO Device Drivers page for a download of the latest version.
It is possible to install National Instruments Software in an order that could omit necessary files. The correct order of installation is documented in
Installation Order for Multiple NI Software ProductsIf it is possible that software was installed in the wrong order, a
repair or reinstall will be needed.
The Real-Time Module and LabVIEW FPGA Module are 32-bit software products. Therefore, it will only allow targeting RT controllers using LabVIEW 32-bit. When using LabVIEW 64-bit, you will not be able to see the
Targets and Devices... option.
You might also have multiple major versions of LabVIEW installed on your computer (e.g. 2015 SP1, 2017). Be sure to use the version that corresponds with what support you installed on the RT target (cRIO). A mismatch between these versions can result in an inability to connect to the target in the LabVIEW Project.
If you are using a CompactDAQ RT, make sure that NI-DAQmx ADE is installed. To locate NI-DAQmx ADE, open the NI Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) and look under the
Software tab in the navigation pane on the left, and search for DAQmx.
If it is, might be a software conflict and it is necessary to repair the installation.
- First, you will need to download the version of DAQmx;
- Next, you need to do the repair.