Embargoed until Oct. 3, 2005
Improving Virtual Instrumentation
Continually Upgrading the National Instruments LabVIEW Platform for Design, Control, and Test

2002
LabVIEW 6.1 added:
•	Remote panels for instant
	Web-based control of applications
•	Event-driven programming structure
•	Point-by-point measurement analysis library
•	Pulse and transition measurements
•	Ability to create MSI installers with application builder
•	Ability to import and export
	XML data
•	Support for infrared (IrDA) data communication
•	Integration with source code control tools, such as Microsoft Visual SourceSafe and Perforce

2003
LabVIEW 7 Express added:
•	Interactive Express VIs for configuring frequently built measurement and automation applications
•	DAQ task configuration and code generation with NI-DAQ 7 and
	DAQ Assistant
•	Interactive instrument control and code generation with Instrument I/O Assistant
•	Dynamic and user-defined events
•	Alignment grid
•	Ability to e-mail data from VIs
•	Buffered DataSocket
•	Feedback node and flat sequence structure
•	Conditional break points and custom probes
•	Subpanel and tree control
•	Application templates and design patterns for common applications
•	Wire auto routing
•	Integrated Web-based help and enhanced help
•	Automatic error handling
•	Property dialog boxes for
	front-panel objects
•	LabVIEW targeting of Palm OS
	and Pocket PC PDAs1
•	LabVIEW targeting of FPGAs1
•	Support for Mac OS X
•	Reliable, deterministic control with LabVIEW Real-Time1
•	Support for .NET objects
•	Combo box control
•	Dynamic event registration

2004
LabVIEW 7.1 added:
•	Bluetooth VIs for wireless communication
•	Faster BLAS/LAPACK-based math and advanced analysis functions
•	Navigation window for easily viewing large front panels and block diagrams
•	Support for hyperthreading-enabled processors
•	Modular Instrument Express VIs
•	Express VI for appending signals
•	Execution of external Xmath scripts for analysis and visualization from LabVIEW
•	Timed Loop for creating multirate applications
•	NI-DAQmx support for LabVIEW Real-Time1
•	LabVIEW Execution Trace Toolkit to identify sources of jitter in
	real-time applications1
•	Desktop PC support for real-time applications1
•	FPGA support for new hardware and NI Compact Vision System1
•	Ability to reuse VHDL code in LabVIEW FPGA applications1
•	Faster execution for FPGA applications

2005
New LabVIEW 8 adds:
•	Project-based development for large applications
•	Simplified distributed communication with the
	shared variable
•	Instrument Driver Finder for locating and installing drivers
•	Instrument Driver Creation Wizard for developing drivers
•	Parameterized inputs for Instrument I/O Assistant
•	Enhanced third-party source code control support
•	Redesigned Application Builder
•	Project Library for restricted
	code reuse
•	150 new and enhanced analysis VIs
•	MathScript for textual math
	in LabVIEW
•	Structures for disabling code during compilation and execution
•	Significant speed improvements writing to TDM (binary) file format
•	Mixed-signal graph for displaying both analog and digital data
•	Splitter bars for creating professional user interfaces
•	Custom run-time shortcut menus
•	XControls for creating custom UI controls with user-defined behavior
•	Additional front-panel object events including data drag-and-drop
•	XY graph grids (Nyquist, Nichols,
	Z Plot, S Plot)
•	Expanded .NET integration for responding to .NET events and embedding .NET UI components
•	Simplified VI Server, ActiveX, and .NET programming with LabVIEW Class Browser
•	Simultaneous development, execution, and debugging of LabVIEW Real-Time, FPGA, PDA and Windows VIs
•	Expanded timing control using Timed Loop with Frames and Timed Sequence
•	Time-triggered network for deterministic communication between LabVIEW Real-Time and PDA applications
•	Multivariable Creation Wizard for LabVIEW Real-Time and Datalogging and Supervisory Control (DSC)1
•	LabVIEW Event Structure alarm and event registration with DSC1
•	Custom I/O server creation
	with DSC1
•	DMA transfer for FPGA applications1
•	SMS text messaging, telephony, and Internet functionality for
	PDA applications1
•	Improved UI and advanced programming functionality for
	PDA applications1