Mathematica Link for LabVIEW 

Tap into the Combined Power of Mathematica and LabVIEW



Both Mathematica and LabVIEW are powerful applications for technical computing. However, each of these programs offers a completely different workflow and user experience. While Mathematica provides an interactive problem-solving environment and excels in the areas of symbolic manipulation and sophisticated data analysis, LabVIEW combines robust input-output capabilities with a highly polished collection of GUI components and RAD (rapid application development) tools for data acquisition and control. Most technical computing challenges could benefit from the combined power of the two approaches.

Mathematica Link for LabVIEW provides a bridge between the approaches of the two programs. Specifically, it allows the user either to control a LabVIEW application (Virtual Instrument, or VI) from within a Mathematica notebook or to call the Mathematica kernel from within a LabVIEW VI.


How Does It Work and What's Included?

Mathematica Link for LabVIEW includes generic tools that enable Mathematica to control any VI directly without any additional programming or customization. The communication between LabVIEW and Mathematica relies on MathLink, a general interface used to manage the communication between Mathematica and external programs. The most frequently used MathLink functions have been implemented in LabVIEW and are included in Mathematica Link for LabVIEW.

Upon this basic layer, a whole series of utilities and higher-level functions has been built. All VIs are completely documented, and the higher-level functions can be modified as necessary or used unmodified as building blocks for larger applications. Mathematica Link for LabVIEW clearly demonstrates how to:

  • Open a communication path between Mathematica and LabVIEW
  • Send a numerical computation to the Mathematica kernel and return the results to LabVIEW
  • Open and run LabVIEW VIs from inside Mathematica and optionally return LabVIEW data to a Mathematica notebook
  • Visualize LabVIEW data using ListPlot and native Mathematica data visualization functions
  • Export publication-quality Mathematica graphics files in a wide variety of standard formats
  • Develop simple, yet flexible simulation and control VIs that tap into the computational power of Mathematica, and more...


Hybrid Workflow Opportunities

Perhaps most valuable of all is the synergistic effect that results from integrating Mathematica with LabVIEW. Entirely new, hybrid workflows become possible, thus enabling mathematically sophisticated users to quickly and easily find solutions to complex problems--solutions that would be difficult (if not impossible) to realize using only one of the component packages.

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