System Setup & TearDown - NI Explorer

[fdunford]

Q1: Where can I get a list of the library calls.  E.g.  ibdev32(), ibwrt32(), ibrd32().  I'd like a description of each argument & return values.

Q2:  I have a GPIB-USB-A on a laptop, and each time I breakdown then setup the system, NI Explorer has lost the gpib configuration.  How can I change the config so that it automatically sees them when their plugged in (without have to manually run NI Explorer)?

Q3: Using ibdev32() (or another call) how can I tell if the GPIB-USB-A is connected, and, if my devices are also connected.  I'm looking to verify all device cables are connected and the units are powered on. ,

[fdunford]

Q3: Resolved.  After the ibdev32() I just do a ibwrt32() with "ID?" and compare the result.

Q2:  Should read as below:

I have a GPIB-USB-A on a laptop, and each time I breakdown then setup the system, Xp has lost the gpib driver and I must run thru the Add Hardware screen.  How can I change the config so that it automatically loads the driver when its plugged in (without have to manually run Xp's Add Hardware)?

Q1:  Still need this info

[DarylE]

Hello,

Do you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed and also which version of the NI-488.2 and NI-VISA drivers do you have.  The latest NI-488.2 driver is 2.4 and the latest version of NI-VISA is 4.0. To see if your GPIB device is connected and powered on you can use the ibfind() command which looks for a GPIB controller.  To find if the devices are connected and powered on a good command to use is ibln().  If you know the primary and secondary address of each device this command will search for a listner at that address and return true or false depending on if something is listenening at that address.  A good article to read on 488.2 commands is Programming with NI-488.2 Software.

Daryl E
National Instruments
Applicationos Engineer