Difference between NI IVI Specific Drivers and Vendor IVI Specific driver

[Minesh]

Hello all,

I am using the Agilent 34410A DMM. I downloaded the LabWindows/CVI IVI Instrument driver from NI's website and installed it (http://sine.ni.com/apps/utf8/niid_web_display.model_page?p_model_id=978).

I also went to Agilent's website and they too have an IVI-com instrument driver.

What is the difference between the two? Other than the one from NI's version has all its of api's prefixed with hp34401a_* and the one from Agilent is prefixed with Ag34410_*?

Thanks

Minesh

[gagi1]

The IVI Foundation defines two architectures for IVI drivers – IVI-C, which is based on the ANSI C standard, and IVI-COM, which is based on Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM) technology. Ideally, instrument drivers should present an optimal interface for each development environment in which they are used. IVI-COM drivers present an interface style that is optimal in Microsoft Visual Basic, so if you are a C/CVI user, you should use IVI-C drivers as they ship with ANSI C interfaces and LabWindows/CVI function panels.

[hognala]

Agilent's driver is a combination IVI-COM/IVI-C driver. You can use either the IVI-COM or the IVI-C driver depending on what is more convenient in your programming environment.

As to what is the difference between Agilent's IVI-C driver and NI's IVI-C driver? One was built by NI, the other by Agilent. They are 2 different implementations targeting the same device. Since neither has complete command coverage, they will have slightly different functionality. However, both drivers should access most of the DMM's functionality, and all of the IVI-DMM class functionality.