MODBUS Library for LabVIEW

The MODBUS library is a free, downloadable set of Virtual Instruments (VIs) that provide Modbus communication from any standard Ethernet or serial port. The LabVIEW library implements the Modbus protocol in software and offers both master and slave functionality. Using the Modbus library, Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) can communicate with gateway devices that provide connectivity to a wide variety of industial networks, such as Profibus, EthernetIP, and DeviceNet.

Version 1.2 (ni_modbus_1_2.zip) of the MODBUS LabVIEW Library is backward compatible with previous versions of the library.  It adds a set of polymorphic VIs that make it easier to use MODBUS commands.  These new VIs are also fully documented with a help file.  Comments have also been added to the examples.  Please follow the steps in the readme file for manual installation of the library.  There is no installer available at this time.

If you are new to MODBUS, here is an introduction to the protocol.   

Please note that this is an example program and not an official NI Product.  For a more complete, fully supported MODBUS solution, NI recommends the LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module.  

Requirements

Filename: ni_modbus_1_2.zip

Software Requirements

Application Software: LabVIEW Base Development System 7.1, LabVIEW Base Development System 8.6, LabVIEW Base Development System 8.5, LabVIEW Base Development System 8.2
Language(s): LabVIEW

Hardware Requirements

Hardware Group: Serial
Driver: NI-VISA

Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

inform us and correct this in Library!
"The 'MB Registers Manager.VI' is used as the repository for the Slave registers. In the case of Write, however, the Start Address is not being taken into account (compare this with the Read cases to know what I mean). The Start Address defaults to 0, always! The fix is to wire-in the Start Address to the Index input of the Array Subset primitive. This alongwith the (already present) Length input should write to the correct set of registers, coils, etc." reported by Khalid - March 18, 2006
- Apr 29, 2009

thx for improving the library The Modbus Slave implementation in this library is buggy since 2006. For Details see http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=174431&query.id=142893#M174431
- Apr 16, 2009

Support for TPC targets LV8.51
1. Can I use this library on a TPC-2106 target (Touch Panel Module project)? When I try, not all of the example VIs are executable - e.g. "MB Serial Wait on Query" displays Target Specific Errors. 2. Copied, as instructed, lvmodbus.chm and lvmodbus.txt from 85\help to the LabVIEW_ROOT\help directory. The help appears with the content seemingly normal, but selecting any topic results in: "This program cannot display the webpage"
- Boyko Bejaniyski, Johnson Security Ltd. boyko@johnson-security.co.uk - Mar 11, 2009

ni_modbus8_2.exe file
want Maodbus toolkit for labview 7.0 . plese give me a link or supply me source
- modbus library for LabVIEW version 7.0, canopus. anon4110029 - Sep 4, 2008

Usually the LabVIEW libraries found on the NI site are very helpful, well documented, and intuitive. I'm not sure if it was just my inexperience with the protocol or not, but this has been the worst library I've downloaded. There is next to no documentation at all. Errors are not defined and the examples not as helpful as could be hoped.
- Aug 21, 2008

I'm having probles to use the library to read/write registers from a GE PLC, Any example?
- Omar Quintanilla. omar_q@yahoo.com - Jun 30, 2008

automation
I want Maodbus toolkit for labview 7.0 ? plese give me a link or supply me source
- Modbus toolkit for labview 7.0, Kevin Tech. talati_dipak@yahoo.co.in - Jun 5, 2008

please tell me can i use this driver with multidrop N/W.
- shahjimmi@gmail.com - Feb 26, 2008

Modbus for LV 7.0
Hello is there a serial port Modbus driver for LV 7.0?
- bryan ehrhart, Infinera. behrhart@infinera.com - Dec 28, 2007

Zipped llb, please?!
Hi- please supply this as a cross-platform archive!
- Tom Lawton, EnFlo, University of Surrey. t.lawton@surrey.ac.uk - Dec 4, 2007

i'm using labview 7.1 is there a version for this? or i use the 6.1 version?
- Leow Cheah Wei, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. cheahwei.leow@gmail.com - Mar 26, 2007

Is there the Modbus Library for labview version 6???
- modbus for labview 6, Polytech. caocaofr@gmail.com - Feb 1, 2007

Modbus for CVI
Is there CVI modebus function panel available?
- Moshe Aizler, MKS TENTA PRODUCTS. moshe_aizler@mksinst.com - Nov 22, 2006

why an MSI file?????
This is just a pain to the non-windows community. Who is out there just being lazy or not-thinking.
- Scott Hannahs, NHMFL - FSU. sth@magnet.fsu.edu - Oct 18, 2006

LV 6.1 version
Here's the 6.1 version of this: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/4564
- Khalid Ansari, Advanced Measurements Inc - AMI (Canada). - Apr 27, 2006

Modbus Slave is buggy
Modbus Slave implementation has a bug. See this for details: http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message? board.id=170&message.id=174314
- Mar 18, 2006

Why an .msi, not .llb?!
No use to us original (Mac) LabVIEW users; what am I supposed to do with a Windows installer?! Isn't LV still a cross platform language, born on the Mac?
- Tom Lawton, EnFlo, UniS. t.lawton@surrey.ac.uk - Feb 24, 2006

Error in code
The "MB Modbus Command to Data Unit.vi" has a mistake in it. The "Write Multiple Coils" Function Code will not work properly past 8 bits of data. In case "15", the index to the "Split Array" VI should just be 8. Either that or you could remove the shift register and use an index array instead. The current implementation however corrupts the output data past 8 bits.
- Jim Gruenbacher, Airgas. james.gruenbacher@airgas.com - Feb 21, 2006

Here's how to install this in LabVIEW 8.0 ...
http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message? board.id=170&message.id=156677&view=by_threa ding&page=2
- Jan 6, 2006

When will it work with Labview 8.0???
When will it work with Labview 8.0??? The german support team has told me that it must work, but it doesn't! After telling them that it doesn't work and asking for a call back I got no answer until now!
- Nov 30, 2005

versjon 8.0
When will these libraries be available for LV8??
- Nov 10, 2005

Compatable with Version 8 LABVIEW?
I was unable to run this Modbus Libuary using the LABVIEW 8. I am currently trying to concude that LABVIEW can talk Modbus and how hard is it to configure to do this. Thanks 513-293 4783
- Mike Wendt, Rolls Royce. michael.wendt@rolls-royce.com - Nov 3, 2005

Several VIs display broken wires when compiled to LV8
- Nov 1, 2005