Downloading and Installing CS

CS consists of various packages from different developers and maintainers, similar to a Linux distribution. In the following a few methods are described on how to download and install packages in order to have a distribution of source code and a few basic binaries.

Remark: It is highly recommended to read the HOW-TOs "Requirements","Getting Started - ...".

Comment: Active developers of CS might prefer use the source code control system.

Basic Requirements

The usage of any CS version implies the usage of the adequate LabVIEW version. Almost all LabVIEW versions which are used at GSI can be found at the NIUser Wiki-Web

General Idea

The main idea is, that all packages are installed below a ROOTPATH, like "F:\my_stuff". It not recommended to install packages below "...\National Instruments\LabVIEW ...". The following figure gives an example of a installation, where ROOTPATH is the folder LVSCC.

Please not the following.

• The folder "binaries" contains binary files (executables).
• The folder "C" contains C sources (and some binaries).
• The folder "LV820" contains contains LabVIEW source code (VIs). In this example, the sources are for LabVIEW version 8.20 (or 8.2.1). Installations for version LV2009SP1 should use the folder name "LV2009".
• It is recommended to use this directory structure. Otherwise relative links might be broken and you may experience some drawbacks during the installation.
• Is very important to have only one installation of the source code, preferrably of only one LabVIEW version. Don't store copies on the same computer. This is a typical source of problems. If you like to keep old versions, use a source code control system like SubVersion instead. More information about source code control is available here.
• In LabVIEW->Options->Paths->VI Search Path, please include the folder with the LabVIEW source in the VI search paths. In the example above, the corresponding LabVIEW dialog should look like the following. Please not the "/*" after the path, which tells LabVIEW to include subfolders as well.

The "Unpackager" (recommended)

For installing a package, one can use the "Unpackager" tool. The "Unpackager" (like the "Packager") is contained in the package "CSPackaging". The main "difficulty" at this point is to install the package "CSPackaging" without the "Unpackager tool". For more information about the packaging system "CSPackaging", see here.

For installing the package "CSPackaging", one should do the following.

1. Download and run the installer.
2. Download the most recent version of the package CSMain for your LabVIEW version.
   1. LabVIEW 2009 SP1: CSMain
   2. LabVIEW 8.2.1: CSMain
   3. LabVIEW 7.1: CSMain
3. Install the package CSMain using the "Unpackager". Download and install all other missing packages using the "Unpackager".

Manual Installation Using Prepared Links for Downloads (less recommended)

As you might guess at this point, it is sufficient to download and simply unzip the required packages to your ROOTPATH. Please use the following pages to identify the package names and their links for your LabVIEW version.

• LabVIEW 2009 SP1
• LabVIEW 8.2.1
• LabVIEW 7.1

For internal usage only: complete list of CS download links.

Manual Installation Using Manual Download (not recommended)

The packages for all version are also available for download via our SourceForge site. You might be able to identify packages via their name, version number and dependencies via the description in the release notes. Good luck :-).

-- DietrichBeck - 24 Aug 2009