LabView Serial GUI Instructions for use with Pyramid devices
last updated 11 Aug 2015

REQUIREMENTS:

1. LabView
2. Pyramid LabView ASCII Terminal Mode VIs (available for download from http://www.ptcusa.com/downloads)
3. The pyramid device is connected via serial to the computer where LabView is installed.

RUN:

1. Ensure the Pyramid device is set to 115K ASCII communication mode.

2. Launch the .vi file. 

TROUBLESHOOTING:

If LabView does not know the location of the files in the Pyramid LabView ASCII Mode VIs distributable, it will ask the user for this information.

If LabView is unable to communicate with the device, first ensure the serial connection between the pyramid device and the computer with LabView by using a serial communication program (e.g. realterm) to send a test command. If the test command does not work, some common reasons include:

- Your computer is missing drivers for any hardware you used to hook up the pyramid device to your machine (e.g. serial to USB converter)
- Pyramid device is not set to 115K ASCII
- The wrong port is being used to communicate

If the recieving lights on the pyramid device are flashing when a command is sent, but no response is recieved, some common reasons include:

- You are communicating in plain ASCII mode and have sent an invalid command.
- You did not include a line feed at the end of your command.
- You are communicating in plain ASCII mode and you attempted several commands without a line feed, and then finally sent a line feed, which caused all of the previous command attempts to be lumped into one giant invalid command. In this case, simply try again -- the buffer is now clear of the previous attempts.

Switching to Terminal Mode, while not available on all devices, can also help you troubleshoot devices that are recieving your command but not responding in the expected manner.

If you are able to communicate successfully use a serial communication program to communicate with your Pyramid device, but LabView is still unable to do so, you can use several tools that are installed alongside LabView to help identify the issue. These include the LabView I/O monitor and the NI Device Monitor.

If there is an issue with the LabView .vi itself, or any issue not covered here, please contact support@ptcusa.com.
