Absolute beginner question in connecting GPIB device with Labview

[opiq]

Hello everyone,

First, sorry if my question is already posted but i've tried searching with no avail. 

My situation: i have a digital osciloscope from HP, a HP 54602B that use GPIB, and trial version of labview 8.6. Now, i want to communicate with it from labview. The big question is: How? Before this i only used labview with NI DAQ card and serial port for communication to instrument.

 the detailed question

1. Does it  matter (to programming in labview later) what GPIB interface i use in my computer? Does it have to be from NI? I still don't have any interface at present.

2.  I ran a search about the osciloscope on NI website and found some instrument driver in:

http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.download_page?p_id_guid=E3B19B3E93F7659CE034080020E748...

. How do these come in?

3. I know there are some example for GPIB, but since i don't have the interface, i cannot try it. Is there any way to simulate GPIB instrument?

Thank  you for all your help and assistance 

[Dennis_Knutson]

No, you don't have to use a GPIB controller from NI but it makes your life a lot easier to configure and use and the price difference for controllers from other vendors is very small.

At the bottom of the Instrument Driver Network page are links that explain what a driver is and how to use one.

[SimonH · Accepted solution]

Hi opiq,

Welcome to the world of instrument control in LabVIEW!  I'll try and address your questions one-at-a-time:

1. No.  From a LabVIEW perspective you can use any bus interface supported by VISA and your instrument.  This includes (but is not limited to) NI-GPIB boards, 3rd party GPIB, USB, LAN, LXI, VXI, PXI, etc.  Of course if you don't have a GPIB interface I would recommend an NI one -- this is the safest way to get the "it just works" experience.  I tend to use a USB GPIB adapter (DISCLAIMER - I work for NI).
2. You have two options for installing the instrument driver.  The easiest way is in LabVIEW to select Tools»Instrumentation»Find Instrument Drivers... and use our instrument driver finder tool which will step you through locating, downloading and installing the driver.  The other option is to download the zip file and unzip it to <Program Files>\National Instruments\LabVIEW 8.6\instr.lib and restart LabVIEW.  Then if you look in your instrumentation pallette you should see the driver listed under instrument drivers.  The driver will include a couple of examples showing how to use the driver (all certified instrument drivers do).
   
   I would actually recommend this driver rather than the one you linked.  It is a more up-to-date design and will install examples into the Example Finder (Help»Find Examples...).
   
   Here's a video of the above process (for a different instrument but the process is the same)
3. Unfortunately there isn't an easy way to simulate this instrument.  I'd recommend just familiarizing yourself with the examples prior to acquiring a GPIB interface.

I hope this helps,

Simon Hogg

LabVIEW Product Manager

National Instruments 

[JÞB]

---

Simon H wrote:

Hi opiq,

1. .....(DISCLAIMER - I work for NI)

---

Not necessarilly a bad thing Simon.  I've met a few NI employees, like yourself, who give good advice despite working for the #1 company in the industry.

Message Edited by Jeff Bohrer on 07-28-2009 09:30 AM

[SimonH]

---

Jeff Bohrer wrote: 

 

Not necessarilly a bad thing Simon.  I've met a few NI employees, like yourself, who give good advice despite working for the #1 company in the industry.

Message Edited by Jeff Bohrer on 07-28-2009 09:30 AM

---

Thank you for the kind words.  We try to give the best advice we can -- successful customers are happy customers.

 

~Simon 

[opiq]

Thanks guys! Especially to Simon!

 i'll try familiriazing myself with the examples for GPIB for know. and i think i'm going to get an NI card afterall 😄