SystemLink API Installation for LabVIEW and G Web Development Software

LabVIEW and G Web Development Software can install a SystemLink™ API library, allowing for the programmatic reading and writing of SystemLink data (i.e. tags, messages, files, test results etc.) over HTTP(S).

This article demonstrates how to find and install the SystemLink API libraries for your chosen programming environment.

The SystemLink API for LabVIEW installs with an installation of G Web Development Software or the LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit. The installation order is important to ensure that the SystemLink API appear properly in the programming environment. 

The following sections include instructions for installing the SystemLink API whether you are starting from a fresh system, or if G Web Development Software is already installed.

Fresh Install

The recommended installation order if you are starting off on a fresh install is as follows:

1. Install the NI Package Manager.
2. Install LabVIEW and follow any restart prompts.
3. Open NI Package Manager. On the BROWSE PRODUCTS tab, search for G Web Development Software or LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit. 
4. Click on the correct product result and then click Install.
5. Make sure that you select all of the SystemLink API items that you wish to use.
   • Below is an example of the available SystemLink items for G Web Development Software.

• • Below is an example of the available SystemLink items for the LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit.

6. Continue through the installation wizard. After finishing, you should be able to see the installed SystemLink VIs in LabVIEW or G Web Development Software.

G Web Development Software Already Installed

If you already have G Web Development Software installed before you have LabVIEW installed, you can follow the below steps to install SystemLink support for G Web Development:

1. Open NI Package Manager (NIPM).
2. Click on the INSTALLED tab.
3. Search for G Web Development Software.
4. On the further right column, there should be a cog/gear. Click on that icon to install or remove related packages.

5. Make sure all SystemLink items are selected in order to use the SystemLink API with G Web Development Software.

6. Continue through the installation wizard.

Install using the Packages tab

If you have already installed either the G Web Development Software or the LabVIEW packages, you will be subscribed to those package's Feeds so that you can be alerted of package updates. In this case, you can install the SystemLink API from the Packages tab, which is hidden by default:

1. Click on the Settings (gear) icon.
2. Enable the Show available packages and feed management tools checkbox.

3. Go to the PACKAGES tab and select the NI SystemLink Support item(s) that you need.

Additional Information

NI Package Manager needs to be installed in order to search for and install the LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit or G Web Development Software.

A small subset of the SystemLink API is installed with FlexLogger, but for the full API, you will need to install the LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit from NI Package Manager.

It is not necessary to install NI SystemLink Server on the LabVIEW development computer. In most cases, LabVIEW development computers will either be a SystemLink Client (and therefore require the NI SystemLink Client software), or an entirely separate system (and therefore only requires the LabVIEW SystemLink Toolkit).