Can’t Find or Use NI-DAQmx Functions after LabVIEW or NI-DAQmx Install

Updated Dec 28, 2023

Reported In

Software

  • LabVIEW

Driver

  • NI-DAQmx

Operating System

  • Windows

Issue Details

I recently installed LabVIEW or updated my NI-DAQmx version. I may already be able to see my DAQ device or module in Windows Device Manager or NI Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) under Devices and Interfaces.
I am experiencing one or more of the following problems:
  • I am missing certain LabVIEW DAQmx LabVIEW subVI icons do not show up, aren’t visible or don’t appear in my LabVIEW Measurement I/O functions palette. 
  • DAQmx functions and libraries show up in one version of LabVIEW, but not another. Similarly, they show up 32-bit LabVIEW, but not in 64-bit or vice versa.
  • I am getting a broken run arrow or searching for DAQmx subVI’s when opening a VI or trying to run DAQmx calls.
  • When I open the Measurement I/O Palette on the block diagram, I do not see the DAQmx VIs as expected.
  • I am missing certain NI MAX functionality:
    • No Test Panels options when I right-click on my device in NI-MAX
    • Find Network NI-DAQmx Devices option is missing when right-clicking Network Devices
    • There is no Data Neighborhood folder under My System in NI-MAX
    • I do not have have the option to create Virtual Channels in NI-MAX
Why can’t LabVIEW find my DAQmx palette, functions and subVI’s or run my code? Is my installation corrupted or is there a bug in the installer?

Solution

There can be multiple causes on why you are unable to see or use the NI-DAQmx palette. Please go through the following steps to narrow down and resolve your issue:
  • Ensure compatibility of NI-DAQmx Driver with your Hardware and Operating System (OS) and LabVIEW . If needed, download and install the correct NI-DAQmx version.
  • When installing NI-DAQmx through the NI Package Manager ensure that in the additional information tab, the box for NI-DAQmx Support for LabVIEW xxxx (where xxxx is the year of your LabVIEW version) is checked. If your version of LabVIEW does not show up in the additional information window, it is probably due to a corrupt installation of LabVIEW, please repair LabVIEW and reinstall the NI-DAQmx driver afterward. Also, ensure that LabVIEW is updated to the latest patch. 
  • If you have recently upgraded or downgraded LabVIEW with NI-DAQmx Driver, confirm you have followed the steps in the tutorial for Upgrading or Downgrading LabVIEW with NI-DAQmx .
  • Ensure that all development environments being used (LabVIEW, CVI, etc.) have been installed before the device driver. The order of installation for NI Software Products matters for NI Products. If NI-DAQmx Driver was installed before the development environment (LabVIEW), do one of the following:
    •  Add driver VIs if LabVIEW is installed after the NI-DAQ drivers:
      1. Open the Add or Remove Programs dialog from the Windows Control Panel.
      2. Select the National Instruments Software entry and click Change/Remove.
      3. Choose NI-DAQmx and click Modify to add support for your version of LabVIEW.
    • Reinstall or repair the driver to correct the installation order. Be sure the reboot your development machine after completion.
  • Verify you have the correct software packages installed in Measurement and Automation Explorer (NI MAX) under My System >> Software.
    1. You should have the following packages in your version of NI-DAQmx:
      • NI-DAQmx ADE Support provides Application Development Environment (ADE) Support for LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio. These can be specified during your installation of DAQmx on the 'Features' page of the Setup:
      • NI-DAQmx Device Drivers include drivers for all DAQmx compatible hardware supported under the specific version (details can be found on the download page)
      • NI-DAQmx MAX Configuration provides functionality to work with DAQmx supported hardware in MAX (e.g. Test Panels, Connection Diagrams, Create Channels, etc.)
  1. If you do not have all 3 of those packages, you may have the incorrect driver type. There are 3 driver types. If needed, download and install the correct NI-DAQmx version.
  • NI-DAQmx x.x (called "Full" prior to 9.8). Includes Device drivers, MAX Configuration, and ADE Support
  • NI-DAQmx Runtime x.x with Configuration Support. Includes Device drivers and MAX Configuration.
    • Select this one to work with your hardware in NI MAX on a test machine, but still do not plan to do any development on the machine.
  • NI-DAQmx Runtime x.x (called "Core" prior to 9.8). Includes only Device Drivers.
    • This is primarily used as a minimal package for test machines running deployed applications that will not require any development or NI MAX configuration.
  1. If you do have the correct driver type, try to repair the driver to correct the installation order.
  • Verify that the proper menu files have in fact been installed correctly. These menu files are what links the installed VIs to the functions palette in LabVIEW.
    • If the respective DAQ and DAQmx VIs have been installed correctly, their menu files should be present: C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW X.X\vi.lib.
    • The associated menu files should be installed in the following location: C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LabVIEW X.X\menus\default
  • If all the above steps are confirmed, there could be a corruption in the Driver install. To remedy this, force reinstall the NI-DAQmx Driver. 
  • The lack or insufficient space on the C: disk might also cause corrupt or incomplete installation of LabVIEW itself or any other driver (add-on) that are installed. Thus make sure there is enough space on the disk please refer to the Release Notes for your version of LabVIEW.

Additional Information

For Older Driver and LabVIEW Version: If you have LabVIEW 6.1 and upgrade to NI-DAQ 7.4.1 and LabVIEW 8.0, the DAQ palette from LabVIEW 6.1 will disappear. NI-DAQ 7.4.1 provides support only for LabVIEW 8.0, 7.1, and 7.0. In order to get Traditional NI-DAQ support for LabVIEW 6.1 while LabVIEW 8.0 is still installed, it is necessary to load the NI-DAQ 7.4 driver which will remove the Traditional DAQ support for LabVIEW 8.0. It is still possible to load NI-DAQmx 8.0 in order to have the latest DAQmx support in LabVIEW 8.0.