Getting Started

Installation on Windows

Perform the following procedure to install the Universal Library and InstaCal:

1. Place the Measurement Computing Data Acquisition Software CD in your CD drive.
2. The MCC DAQ dialog box opens.

2. Select InstaCal & Universal Library and click the Install button.
3. Follow the installation instructions as prompted.

Note: The MCC Universal Library Python API for Windows is not installed with Universal Library software – it is included in the mcculw package available for download on GitHub and PyPI.

Board Test and Configuration

InstaCal provides an easy way to verify your hardware and software installation and perform tests to check the functionality of installed MCC devices. Run InstaCal after software installation and after any new MCC hardware is added to your PC.

InstaCal searches your PC for any auto-detectable MCC hardware and allows you to manually add other MCC devices or detect network devices.

InstaCal creates a file (cb.cfg) that saves a list of installed MCC devices and saves any configuration changes you make to these devices using InstaCal. By default, Windows applications written using the Universal Library use this file to determine installed devices and their configuration.

Software Development

The Universal Library for Windows is compatible with most Windows application development software. Before starting your Windows application development, you should run InstaCal to set up and test your hardware.

Selecting the Development Language

Choose the language with which you are most comfortable. Keep in mind that the .Net development languages require the .Net framework to be installed on the target system. The framework is not native to Windows platforms before Windows Vista, so you may need to consider distributing the framework if targeting those platforms.

Example Programs

You can install example programs for supported languages when you install the Universal Library software. If selected, the example programs are installed into the following installation subdirectories:

• C
• C#
• CWIN
• VB.NET
• VBWIN

Example programs for the UL Python API are available for download with the mcculw package on GitHub and PyPI.

Notes:

• Visual Studio 2005 or later is required to run the VB .NET and C# example programs.
• On Windows 10/8/7, and Windows Vista, the example programs are installed by default to \Users\Public\Documents\Measurement Computing\DAQ, and an Examples shortcut to this directory is added to the installation directory and Start menu.
• On Windows XP, the example programs are installed by default to \Program Files\Measurement Computing\DAQ.