User manual

USB DrDAQ Programmer's Guide 7

3 Writing your own software

3.1

About the driver

USB DrDAQ is supplied with a kernel driver, and a DLL containing routines that you

can build into your own programs. The driver is supported by the following operating

systems:

Windows XP (SP2 or later)

Windows Vista

Windows 7

Once you have installed the software, the installation directory will contain the drivers

and a selection of examples of how to use the drivers. It also contains a copy of this

help file in PDF format.

The DLL can be used with any programming language or application that can interface

with DLLs: for example, C, Delphi, Visual Basic, Excel and LabVIEW. The SDK contains

an example for Excel, a C console example that demonstrates all of the facilities in the

driver and a LabVIEW interface and examples.

The driver supplied is a 32-bit DLL. However, it will still run on a 64-bit Windows

system if you write a 32-bit application and run it under WoW64.

The driver supports up to 64 units at one time.

3.2

Installing the driver

The driver is supplied with the USB DrDAQ SDK. You can download the latest version

of the SDK from our website at:

http://www.picotech.com/software.html

Select "USB DrDAQ" as the hardware product and then "SDK" as the software product.

The easiest way to install the USB DrDAQ kernel driver is to install PicoScope or

PicoLog. These programs are available free of charge from the Pico Technology

website. If you prefer to install the driver manually, then proceed as follows:

1. Go to the directory where you unzipped the USB DrDAQ Series SDK

2. Go to the subdirectory called system\

3. Run the program called dpinst.exe

4. Plug the device in and follow the instructions in New Hardware Wizard

3.3

Connecting the logger

Before you connect your logger, you must first install the driver .

To connect the data logger, plug the cable provided into any available USB port on

your PC. The first time you connect the unit, Windows will display a New Hardware

Wizard. Follow any instructions in the Wizard and wait for the driver to be installed.

The unit is then ready for use.