Submit Your Add-on for LabVIEW to the Compatible with LabVIEW Program
Overview
This document and its accompanied links will help you to develop, submit and promote your Add-On for National Instruments LabVIEW software to the LabVIEW Community.
Definition of a LabVIEW Add-On
An Add-on for NI LabVIEW is any driver, VI Library, utility, menu item or application that enhances the developer's LabVIEW experience. National Instruments makes dozens of Add-ons, and information on those products can be found on the NI LabVIEW Product Family page. NI Alliance Partners also make Add-ons that are promoted on the LabVIEW Tools Network.
Types of LabVIEW Add-Ons
The LabVIEW Tools Network promotes over 400 different kinds of Add-ons from a variety of industries and applications. In general, Add-ons for LabVIEW are classified as either drivers and VI Libraries or utilities. Drivers and VI Libraries are typically palettes of VIs, subVIs and functions that give developers a greater range of programming options. Utilities are any menu item or application that enhances the LabVIEW programming environment but doesn't give the developer access to customize your Add-on.
New Compatibility Guidelines Add-ons for LabVIEW
The LabVIEW Tools Network provides a marketplace to promote your products to the LabVIEW Community. These developers come to the site for add-ons that improve their programming experience. As the LabVIEW Tools Network continues to grow, it is increasingly important to distinguish which of the available Add-ons meet a level of compatibility and quality that ensures developer success.
The Compatible with LabVIEW Program provides a quality standard. Add-ons must meet function, style, documentation and distribution license compliance requirements in order to become eligible for consideration for acceptance in the program. Add-ons deemed "Compatible with LabVIEW" receive greater visibility on the LabVIEW Tools Network and promotional assistance including the use of the "Compatible with LabVIEW" Logo1.
The Driver and VI Library Development Guidelines and the Utility Development Guidelines aid you in making Add-ons that will meet the compatibility requirements. Developers can be assured that the "Compatible with LabVIEW" Add-on will meet the function, style and documentation they expect from native LabVIEW Add-ons.
The following sections describe the process for developing, submitting, and promoting a "Compatible with LabVIEW" Add-on.
Develop an Add-On
Drivers and VI Libraries
Drivers and VI libraries are palettes of VIs and functions that developers can use to improve or ease their programming experience in LabVIEW. An Example of a Driver is the NI DAQmx VIs and an example of a VI Library is the NI Sound and Vibration Toolkit.
Figure 1. Example of a Driver
Figure 2. Example of a VI Library
Use the Driver and VI Library Development Guidelines if your product fits into this Add-on category. This document includes style guidelines, functional best practices, documentation requirements, and installation directions.
Utilities
Utilities consist of any application that enhances the LabVIEW user experience but does not allow the developer access to VIs and subVIs. An example of a utility is a Tools Menu item such as the Compare VIs Utility (Tools>>Compare...>>Compare VIs ).
Figure 3. Example of a Utility
Use the Utility Development Guidelines if your product fits into this Add-on category. This document includes style guidelines, functional best practices, documentation requirements, and installation directions.
Submit Your Add-On to the LabVIEW Tools Network
Listing your add-on to the LabVIEW Tools Network gives your product exposure to the entire LabVIEW community. By becoming a "Compatible with LabVIEW" Add-on, your product receives prominent placement on the LabVIEW Tools Network and you have access to promotional assistance.1 Complete the following steps to submit your Add-on.
1. Review the development guidelines for an explanation of the Compatible with LabVIEW Program Requirements:
2. Download the Application for National Instruments Compatible with LabVIEW Program
3. Confirm that your Add-on meets the requirements and complete, sign and fax the application to:
(512) 682-5500 (Attn: Compatible with LabVIEW Program)
You can also scan and email your application to labviewzone@ni.com. Include "Compatible with LabVIEW Program" in the subject field.
4. If your application is accepted by NI you will be provided with the "Compatible with LabVIEW" Logo License and Program Participation Agreement for you to sign and submit to NI. Upon approval of the agreement executed by you and execution of it by NI, you will be permitted to participate in the program with respect to your Add-on subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
5. Register your Add-on in the LabVIEW Tools Network:
Your Add-on will appear on the LabVIEW Tools Network. If your Compatible with LabVIEW Program application and "Compatible with LabVIEW" Logo License and Program Participation Agreement is approved by NI for the Compatible with LabVIEW Program, it will be marked as Compatible with LabVIEW on the network.1
Promote Your Add-On
In addition to greater recognition on the LabVIEW Tools Network, "Compatible with LabVIEW" Add-ons have access to promotional tools which are not available to other Add-ons. Leverage these resources to increase traffic to your website and potential customers for your Add-on. The following provides a brief description of the major promotional tools NI provides to "Compatible with LabVIEW" Add-ons. Greater detail will be provided to you following your admittance to the program.
"Compatible with LabVIEW" Logo
Figure 4. Compatible with LabVIEW Program Logo
NI approval of your Compatible with LabVIEW Program application and “Compatible with LabVIEW” Logo License and Program Participation Agreement puts your Add-on in a special category of products that may use the "Compatible with LabVIEW" logo.1 Use this logo on your Add-on, Web site, and other related advertising. Upon NI approval, the “Compatible with LabVIEW” logo will be available to you for your use in connection with the Add-on approved for the program in accordance with the agreement.
News Release Template
Announcing that your Add-on meets the “Compatible with LabVIEW” requirements adds credibility to your product and increases traffic to your Web site. Each new version of your Add-on, including each version that is compatible with the newest version of LabVIEW, offer a great chance to focus attention on your product and company.
Request a Statement from National Instruments
Adding a quote about your Add-on and/or company from National Instruments is another way to add credibility to your product. The NI PR organization will work with you to generate a relevant quote for your use on your product, website or other related advertising material.
Important Note
1Allowance of participation in the Compatible with LabVIEW Program, granting permission to use the “Compatible with LabVIEW” logo, and listing an Add-on on the LabVIEW Tools Network, are each at NI’s sole discretion. NI reserves the right to refuse to permit an applicant to participate in the program and/or use the logo, and to terminate such participation and use, even if the submitted Add-on meets all of the requirements for the program. NI also reserves the right to refuse to list, any Add-on on the LabVIEW Tools Network, to refuse to mark any Add-on as “Compatible with LabVIEW”, and to remove such listing and marking, even if the Add-on meets all of the requirements for such listing and marking. Use of the “Compatible with LabVIEW” logo and participation in the Compatible with LabVIEW Program are in any event subject to and conditioned upon the applicant and NI entering into a “Compatible with LabVIEW” Logo License and Program Participation Agreement acceptable to NI. Neither this document, nor provision of a draft or sample of such an agreement, is an agreement or offer by NI or otherwise binding on NI.