How do you use the SCREEN_DUMP command for the waverunner scopes?

[Lecroy_user]

I am using a Lecroy LT344L through a GPIB interface. When the command SCDP is sent, a character string from the instrument comes back.  In my case the HARDCOPY_SETUP is set for BMP format.  How can I decipher this string and save it as a BMP file to the hard disk?

[Collin M]

I don't have any experience with that scope in particular but may be able to help.

Are you configuring the HARDCOPY device/port first? Looks like you need to explicity set the HARDCOPY device to BMP and the HARDCOPY port to GPIB.

When you get the data back you should be able to save it to a bmp file (capture.bmp). There is even a GPIB command to do this directly, ibrdf.

If that doesn't work you may need to do a screen dump to a local file (on the scope) and then transfer that file across GPIB.

I also found the following document that may be helpful.

http://ed-thelen.org/RAMAC/LeCroy-DigOsc-9300-RCM_RevA.pdf

[alanjb]

Alan from LeCroy Tech Support here...

Collin's definitely on the right track.  The missing step is to send the command SCDP, which executes the screen dump, and then to read back the response from the scope. The attached LV 7.1 VI also issues the hardcopy setup command that configures the BMP file type and routes the output to the TCP/IP port. It also saves the response to file. This VI uses the "lcwave" driver, but all that should matter to you is to send the command and to read the response

Regards,
Alan

[RTSLVU]

Hey Alan from LeCroy Tech Support

Could you provide this example in Labview 5.11 format?

Yes we are still using Labview 5.11 here and do not forsee upgrading anytime in the near future, unfornatly the cost of upgarding all our stations makes the acountants head explode everytime we bring it up...

I have a LV 7 demo disk, but this example is in LV 7.1

I am trying the same thing (saveing a screen dump to a file over GPIB) the problem I have is I send a SCDP nothing is returned and the scope locks up.

[alanjb]

Hello RTSLVU,

I no longer have LabVIEW 5, so instead I have attached a screenshot of the block diagram. Here's what you do: 

1) send the command string "hcsu dev, bmp, port, net; scdp"  This includes two commands, hcsu = hardcopy setup, and scdp=screendump. See the remote control manual for more details.

2) readback the screendump. In this example, I do it in a single read, but if this is problematic for you, you can loop over multiple reads and retrieve smaller blocks of data.

Best Regards,

Alan

[RTSLVU]

Thanks, but I do not have that set of Labview drivers as I am using LV 5.11 and the oldest drivers either from NI or Lecroy I can find are for LV7.

So I am trying to do this manually I have been using NiSpy to see how Lecroy Scope Explorer is doing it.

I can see that Scope Explorer sends the command string:

CHDR OFF;HCSU BCKG,BLACK;HCSU DEV,BMP;HCSU PORT,GPIB;SCDP    

And the scope sends back the screen dump data.

But if I send the same string using Labview VISA or low level 488.2 vi's I get no data sent back and the scope does display the "Printing" message on the screen but otherwise just locks up

What am I missing?

[alanjb]

Hi RTSLVU,

Please email me your VI and I'll give it a look.  Didn't you say at the beginning of this thread that you were getting data? (Or was the initial question from a different person....)

Best Regards,

Alan

[Steve SO]

Hi Alan,

I also start to write the command to screen dump the screen into harddisk. Note that my machine is LT344L model and i use the latest instructment driver called "lcltxxxx_setup" Also note that the communication media is through GPIB port. Base your example, i change the subvi to be "lcltxxxx" subvi. Howvever, it is not successful to dump the screen. I think the problem is in the "Read" side as any number of bytes to read. It also goes to error. Is the Configuration error??

I had tried other command but it only print the screen to the "Int Printer". I only want to screen dump the screen image in to Harddisk.

Thanks&Regards,
Steve

[alanjb]

Hi Steve,

Alan from LeCroy tech support here...

The code you are using routes the screen dump through the remote control port.  Printing to the disk is much easier, and doesn't require any readback.  The command to send would be something like this:

     hcsu dev, bmp, port, hdd; scdp

"hcsu" is the command "hardcopy setup".  There are other characteristics that can be configured with this command.  The easiest way to know the command to send that will setup *all* of the hardcopy setup features is to execute the query "hcsu?"  The scope will reply with the full syntax:

HCSU DEV,BMP,PORT,HDD,PFEED,OFF,PENS,2,PSIZE,A4,CMDIV,1,AUTO,OFF,FORMAT,LANDSCAPE,BCKG,BLACK

(Whether you see the "HCSU" as part of the reply to the query depends on the COMM_HEADER setup, but this is a different topic...   🙂    Some of the items in the full syntax are not used depending on the "DEV" choice.)

Best Regards,
Alan

[Steve SO]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your help.

However, it is unsuccessful to screen dump the image into HardDisk. I have a few questions.

(1). In the "lctxxxx" instrutment driver which have the "lctxxxx Initialize With Opitions.vi", even through i only run this subvi, it stills have the error. Error code = BFFF011.

(2). Apply in screen dump case, so it stills has the error so the "Write" & "Read" function will not undergo.

Here is details for my setup.

Equipment = LT344L

Instrutment driver=lctxxxx

Communication Media = GPIB

I know that it has 2 instrutment drivers which are "lcwave" and "lctxxxx". Has any difference for apply LT344L.

Attached screen slots which are the error code and the blocking diagram for your reference.

Thanks again !!

Best Regards,
Steve