Data Retrieval from HP 4396A

[Mike415]

Im new to all this, but for my internship my company is asking me to find a way to retrieve data from their HP 4396A and get it onto a PC, through the HP-I most likely.  In the end, they are hoping to use the connection to make a pass/fail check for their product when it goes into production.

From my searching it seems like I need LabVIEW which they already said and then drivers for LabVIEW (Or drivers for the device, or both?). 

I don't know the specifics I need to retrieve yet, but I was hoping for some general help to get me going.

Thanks,

Mike

Message Edited by Mike415 on 07-01-2008 03:41 PM

[Dennis_Knutson]

I don't know what HP-I is. I think you mean either HPIB or GPIB. Everyone except Agilent calls it the GPIB bus now.

Your first step is to get a GPIB controller for the pc.

You don't have to use LabVIEW. You can use any programming language that you are comfortable with. LabVIEW does offer some advantages, though. One, it's easier (not easy) to learn than a text based language. Second, there is a driver for it but it is very old and unsupported. I have no idea of the quality but you may have to rewrite at least part of it. At the main Instrument Driver Network page, you will find links that explain what an instrument driver is and how to use it.

[Mike415]

Thanks, that actually helps a lot to get me started.  I meant HP-IB which is just an old GPIB I'm pretty sure.  I'm sure I'll be back here with more questions soon

Mike

[Mike415]

I realize it doesnt have much to do with the users here, but is anyone familar with SoftPlot and Remote Control by Aphena?  Seems to be what I'm looking for and would be a nice fall back if I can't do the whole LabVIEW thing.

I am going to have to try and set it up so that the PC can tell the 4396a to do things as well as recieve information and maybe put a system in for a pass/fail criteria for the operator.