[Test-Equipment] Any GPIB and/or LabVIEW users?

[J. Forster]

> John,
> Are you trying to do bus level calls?
>
> All you have to do in LV to chat with an instrument is just tell it which
> visa resource that you're interested in. Pretty straigtforward.
>
> Some instruments requires that a "driver" be built. It's not hard. You do
> need to write the appropriate loops and have an instrument manual (for the
> command set). Most of the older stuff "known as r2d2" because of the style
> of ascii commands.

I have instruments w/ LabVIEW drivers. Writing drivers is what I hope to
avoid.

> Always easier to start with something that kinda works or looks kinda
like what you'd like to do. Easy to replace the commands that you need.
Takes a little fiddling, but not extremely hard.

I don't currently have access to instruments that I have examples for.

> Have written a driver for the m12+t, the 59309a, hp 5335a and a few
> others. Some of my drivers use multiple instruments (such as the moto gps
> and the 5335a).

Something like that is my ultimate interest.

> There are SEVERAL good tutorials on GPIB code out there. Also the HPIB
> manual (from HP) is floating around.

I know how to command/control instruments using terminal mode. The issue
is more complicated communication and control.

> My last formal programming class was in high school
>
> I spent 17 years working on the railroad as an locomotive engineer.
>
> It is needless to say that programming is not my specialty.
>
> OTOH like any other software, there is a large learning curve.
> PM me if you'd like some of the resources.
> BTW www.lavag.org is a great resource in and of itself.
>
> Norm n3ykf

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Best,

-John

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