To convert GPIB based vi to VISA based one

[gpib address from visa convert]

I am using agilent USB-GPIB interface which can be accessed only using VISA through labview. The VI for HP 8591A spectrum analyzer is GPIB based and so I am not able to use it but VIs based on VISA like HP 54120A ocsilloscope is working fine. I wanted to know whether there is a simple way to convert the GPIB based VI to VISA based one?

[Dan_Mondrik]

Trivial? Not exactly. Straightforward? Yes.

I suggest you take a look at the NI-VISA User Manual (in the Start menu on Windows, in the VXIpnp//NIvisa/Manuals directory elsewhere). Specifically, look at chapter 9, Interface Specific Information. There is a good section on how the NI-488 and the NI-VISA APIs match up, and it is intended to help you port between them, exactly what you are trying to do.

Dan Mondrik
Senior Software Engineer, NI-VISA
National Instruments

[gpib address from visa convert]

I am quite new to labview and being a research student I generally have to take a lot of measurements. I have access to HP 8591A spectrum analyzer. I downloaded the driver from NI website and it is GPIB based. And generally most of the VIs for old instruments are GPIB based. The easiest solution for me would be to buy an NI GPIB card but its quite expensive and so I will be sticking with the agilent one. Now that agilent card is recognised only by VISA in Labview (NI software) I cannot use the GPIB based VIs and so I have to convert a few of them to VISA based and hence the question, HOW? Thanks anyway for pointing me in the right direction. I will take a look at the manual and see what I can do.

[Dan_Mondrik]

If you don't have NI-VISA installed, you can view this manual online:

http://digital.ni.com/manuals.nsf/websearch/266526277DFF74F786256ADC0065C50C?OpenDocument&node=132090_US

Dan Mondrik