Upgrade BridgeVIEW Program to Newer LabVIEW Version

This article documents the steps necessary to convert a BridgeVIEW program to LabVIEW so that your legacy application can be edited and viewed from later LabVIEW environments.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, it is necessary to have access to:

• Multiple PCs or Virtual Machines. running different Windows Operating Systems. The exact Operating Systems required will depend on the version of LabVIEW you wish to convert to.
• Multiple versions of LabVIEW and the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC) Module.

Considerations

When converting to LabVIEW, the following points must be taken into account:

• There is no guarantee that the LabVIEW code will run without making necessary edits. These edits could include:
  • Replacing deprecated functions/APIs with a later equivalent.
  • Mass compiling VIs.
• With each LabVIEW upgrade, the equivalent version of LabVIEW DSC must be installed. i.e. for LabVIEW 2023, DSC 2023 Q1 is required.

To convert a BridgeVIEW program to LabVIEW, follow the steps below:
 

1. Since BridgeVIEW was utilised before LabVIEW 6.0, it is first necessary to compile the code for LabVIEW and DSC 6.1. For full instructions, refer to Archived: LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module Notes for BridgeVIEW Users (September 2001). 
   • LabVIEW 6.1 requires a Windows 95/98/2000/XP or Windows NT 4.0 system.
   • If you do not have access to LabVIEW or DSC 6.1, contact NI Support.
2. Once opened in LabVIEW, refer to the Upgrade LabVIEW Files section of Upgrade VI to a Newer LabVIEW Version to open and mass compile the program.
3. To upgrade to later versions of LabVIEW, refer to LabVIEW and Microsoft Windows Compatibility and download the attached spreadsheet to understand which version of LabVIEW and Windows is required.
   • Ensure that the corresponding version of DSC is installed with each LabVIEW version.
   • Repeat step 2 for each subsequent LabVIEW version to ensure that your code runs and is compiled.

An example conversion process from BridgeVIEW to LabVIEW 2023 is shown below:
 

1. Install LabVIEW and DSC 6.1 on Windows XP.
2. Open the BridgeVIEW program in LabVIEW 6.1. Then mass compile and save it.
3. On the same Windows XP machine, install LabVIEW and DSC 2011 SP1.
   • Here, LabVIEW 2011 SP1 is chosen since this is the latest version that supports Windows XP (x86).
4. Open the LabVIEW 6.1 code in LabVIEW 2011 SP1. Then mass compile and save it.
5. On a Windows 7 PC, install LabVIEW and DSC 2011 SP1.
   • Windows 7 is chosen since this is the latest Windows OS version that supports LabVIEW 2011 SP1.
6. Open the code in LabVIEW 2011 SP1. Then mass compile and save it.
7. On the same Windows 7 PC, install LabVIEW 2015 SP1 and DSC 2015.
   • This version is selected because it is the only version that supports both Windows 7 and Windows 10.
8. Open the code in LabVIEW 2015 SP1. Then mass compile and save it.
9. On a Windows 10 PC, install LabVIEW 2015 SP1 and DSC 2015.
10. On the same Windows 10 PC, open the code in LabVIEW 2015 SP1. Then mass compile and save it.
11. On the same Windows 10 PC, install LabVIEW and DSC 2023 Q1.
12. On the same Windows 10 PC, open the code in LabVIEW 2023 Q1. Then mass compile and save it.