how to add serial communication VISA in the existing program?

[PROing]

hi!!

I am using HBM MGCplus DAQ and i have installed the driver as instructed by the LABVIEW Instrument drivers helpdesk. But unfortunately this driver is programmed only for GPIB but i am using DB25 port(serial communication).. Is that possible to add VISA for serial communication in the existing program??

Please find below the total conversation with Labview and HBM MGCplus DAQ.. 

This is the instrument driver i installed as instructed by the NI

1. Remove the dir.mnu, actndata.mnu, confampl.mnu, confstat.mnu, and initexit.mnu files from C:\Program Files\National Instruments\LV [version]\instr.lib\hbmmgcp.  The instr.lib folder holds a folder for each driver installed for that specific version of LabVIEW. 

2. Replace those files with the attached *.mnu files.   

3.  Restart LabVIEW. 

I was able to get this to work on a test machine here.  If that does not work for you, then remove the *.mnu files from step one (except for dir.mnu) and then rebuild the directory structure guided by the VI tree and the menu structure of other drivers on the Instrument I/O » Instrument Drivers palette.  At the top level, there should be an Initialize, Close, VI Tree, Config, Action, and Utility icon/subpalette.  I went ahead and included the shipping examples in a subpalette in my fix for this driver.  To start rebuilding the directory, navigate to Tools » Advanced » Edit Palette Set...  Then find the HBM_mgcp114 driver palette from the instrument driver palette and right click to create new *.mnu files an associate them with the VIs in the *.llb files located in the hbmmgcp folder.  The readme file will advise you as to what VIs are located in which *.llb file. Once we can validate my changes, we will have a new version of the driver released for download on the internet, but I don't expect that to occur until after the new year. 

 

When I was finished, my hbmmgcp directory looked like this: 

  

This reply i got from HBM

this MGCplus instrument driver for Labview was not developed by HBM unfortunately. Therefore we don't support this driver. I have seen this driver once it is a very old Labview driver for the GPIB and RS232 interface with application examples. This driver was programmed by the following companies:

Maybe these companies can support you and send you an operating manual for this Labview driver. (I asked this company as well, but they said I can update it )

This old MGCplus driver seems to be made for CP12/CP32 communication processors and for the GPIB interface only. The driver VIs and application examples seems to run in Labview 2011 (no error -> the program examples can be started), but the VIs will not work with a CP22 or CP42 (setting is not allowed error below). So I can't do a test, because we don't have GPIB interfaces available. The driver was developed in 1999 and of course because of the use of all old low level commands for the CP12/CP32 it will not work with a MGcplus with CP42. In the screenshot you can see the COM settings, but VI "MGC+ clean up Init" does only work with GPIB, this causes an error when the device is connected via the RS232 interface.   

 i am using http://de.rs-online.com/web/p/schnittstellenadapter/5140844/?searchTerm=USB+auf+Seriell%2FParallel+A... as interface between DAQ and my laptop...

Pls help me out.. 

Thanq

[Dennis_Knutson]

None of your images are attached.

I also don't understand your comment about GPIB only. I looked at the MGC Plus driver and the download page says it supports serial and the MGCplus Init function in the driver configures the serial port if you select a serial port for the VISA Resource Name. Simply saying you get an error is not enough. You must provide details on the actual error number.

p.s. Looking a bit closer, the init function has a 'Old VISA Open' function. This must be replaced with the VISA Open on the palette. Right click and select Replace. Browse to the VISA Open. Delete the Instrument Descriptor string control. Show the VISA Session control. Wire this to the connector pane where the string control was.

[PROing]

Thank you for the reply... Is that wise decision to program myself with the help of mgc plus tree!!! 

i will note down of ur point in replacing the old visa open.. 

i am using http://de.rs-online.com/web/p/schnittstellenadapter/5140844/?searchTerm=USB+auf+Seriell%2FParallel+A... as interface between my DAQ and PC, my question is, will this communication acts as serial?? 

thanq

[Dennis_Knutson]

Unless you hire someone, you will have to write your own program from the functions in the driver. How wise it will be will depend on factors I cannot speculate on.

Your USB-RS232 converter should come with a windows driver that makes it appear as a serial port. If it shows up in MAX, you are good to go.

[Albert.Geven]

Hi Dennis

I do not see why you write must replace the old visa open. I see that it is better to have the new visa open because of the better control on the frontpanel, but the old visa open still works.

[Albert.Geven]

Hi Dennis

I do not see why you write must replace the old visa open. I see that it is better to have the new visa open because of the better control on the frontpanel, but the old visa open still works.

[Dennis_Knutson]

You're right. I should not have have said must replace though in some older versions of VISA, it did create errors when I used it. I just got into the habit and as you say, using the actual VISA control is so much easier than having a string.

[PROing]

the USB side is connected to the laptop and DB25 pin is connected to the DAQ.... In datasheet it stated that, DB25 is parallel port... Now my question is that, should I use serial VISA or is there anything for parallel port communication??

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

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@PROing wrote:

should I use serial VISA or is there anything for parallel port communication??

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You do realize serial port communication is not the same as parallel port communication.