Agilent 82357A WindowsCVI setup problem. Do I need NI-VISA?

[Andy_458233]

Hi

I hope you experts can help as I'm new to this as I'm sure you can tell.
I have just bought an Agilent 82357A USB/GPIB interface and need to use it to communicate with an Agilent PSU and a Tektronix scope using LabWindows CVI version 8.

I have tried following document 20KG1C7Z but currently my company only has LabWindowsCVI and not NI-Visa.

Do I need NI-Visa as well?

I have installed Agilent-Visa and I can send and recieve data from the Agilent PSU.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Andy

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

No, you won't need NI-VISA.

The documentation on Agilent's website with example programs is quite extensive.

Look for C program examples since that is basically what LabWindows/CVI is.

[Makoto]

Additionally to nyc's comment, not only you don't have to install NI-VISA, but you also should not install NI-VISA over the Agilent IO Libraries environment.  Installing both at a time will cause a VISA32.DLL conflict, resulting none of them to work correctly. 

Basically LabWindows/CVI environment and CVI-generated applications must work fine with Agilent IO Libraries Suite 14.x as long as they use VISA API for GPIB access.

Makoto

[f.grasdepot@laposte.net]

Hi,

the function of VISA is to be manufacturer independant ... and not to
go at GPIB bus level for control which is indeed a limitation ...
Your experience of compatibility from a user point of view will be so
appreciated ...

Regards,

FG

[Andy_458233]

Thanks for all your replys...they were most helpful.

In responce to FG's reply

As a this is my first go at building a ATE system, my current view is that at first it is not obvious that different vendors software won't work with other vendors instruments. I assume that usually when building a ATE system it would be easier to purchase equipment from the same vendor and so have no compatability issues with VISA. Another point is that as all vendors have a version of VISA it could be assumbed that VISA is a common standard and that they are all compatible with each others instruments.

Anyway thanks again for your replys everyone.

Andy

[Örn]

Hello I have A similar problem and i have tried to get it to work but nothing happens

I am using HP-IB pci 82350A card and i cant get MAX 4.0 to find it

first i installed NI-VISA 2.6

then i installed I/O library suite 14.1.801 not as primary but with side by side option

Then I installed LabView 8.0

Then I installed NI DAQ 8.0

My problem is that i do not even get the option of selecting 'Tools | NI-VISA | Passport Editor' to check the NIVisaTulip.

when i click on tool in Measurement and Automation Explorer 4.0 i only get the option of

1.Install legacy driver support.

2. National instrument product update

3. NI Registration wizard.

4. RT disk utilities  (wich of i cannot select anything)

5. NI-DAQmx configuration

                                 a) Reassign device names to default values.

                                  b) Reset NI-DAQmx configuration

6. VI logger   ( with some possibilities of choosing)

Nothing about passport or visa is visible in Tool

Please help me.

Örn Ingi Björgvinsson

student.

Message Edited by Örn on 04-25-2006 10:41 AM

[Dennis_Knutson]

VISA 2.6 is pretty old. Your driver's CD that came with LabVIEW 8.0 should have put on a much newer version. Did you select to install harware drivers? You can also download the most recent from http://www.ni.com/support/. Once you've got a current version installed, you should be able to go to Tools>NI-VISA>VISA Options.

[SachaE]

Hi,

  since the card you're using is an Agilent one, it's highly doubtful that it will show up under MAX.

MAX is used to list National Instruments hardware and our drivers make this listing possible, so agilent visa talking to agilent hardware won't do this unless they reverse engineered our Measurement and Automation explorer.

Sorry

Thanks

Sacha Emery
National Instruments (UK)

[JasonSmith]

Orn,

You actually can use your Agilent GPIB adapter with NI-VISA and MAX, by enabling the passport as you said.  Follow Dennis Knutson's advice to upgrade to the latest version of NI-VISA, and you should be able to enable the needed passport.

Jason S.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments