how to control instuments without drivers

[Jpdas06]

I am using Bruker Field controller. Max can communitcate with this controller as VISA socket type interface. In basic I/O tab, i can execute the write command but i am not able to read. While trying to read, the status error BFFF0015 comes up. My ultimate goal is to send specific command. Actually I dont need to read anything from this controller. If the command given to this controller executed properly i would be able to see its effect on next instrument. As Bruker does not provide driver for any of its instruments i dont know how to write a code for such interface.

how to proceed in this situation?

VISA resource expression for this controller is: TCPIP::192.168.1.104::10105::SOCKET

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

a driver is nothing more than a set of functions that communicate with the instrument.

have a look at some drivers for ethernet devices in the NI  Instrument Driver Network

most drivers are in LabVIEW and I did not see you have this, but you can play around with labview for 30 days when downloaded.

[Jpdas06]

I have searched the drivers network. There is no driver for Bruker field controller.

[Albert.Geven]

but several drivers that support ethernet based devices

[smercurio_fc]

If you cannot find pre-written code to communicate with the device then you need to write your own, following the examples provided. To do this you will need to get the programming manual for the instrument so you know what commands to send to the device for what you want to do. The manual will also provide information on how to properly terminate commands and how to perform read operations.

[cymrieg]

I concur with what smercurio_fc said especially about how to properly termiante the commands. I know with any of our instruments that use socket communication you have to end the command with a linefeed (\n). This tells the instrument that the whole command has arrived and it can now be processed.

[Jpdas06]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have visual basic script for the program given by Bruker. Can I use this script in labview to control the instrument?

[Dennis_Knutson]

Maybe and if you have VB/VB.NET and know how to create a dll or .NET assembly from the source code.

Creating a driver is not that hard. At the link Albert gave you is information on how to create one. You also have the Instument I/O Assistant if you don't need a full driver. If you want to try writing something and get stuck, post back and be sure to attach the programming manual.

[Jpdas06]

The field controller bought from Bruker is not having any programming manual. With my repitative efforts following is the reply from Bruker.

"We do not have a LabView driver for the field controller, rather we supply our WinACQ program which has han ActiveX interface and can be programmed using Visual Basic Script."

I could find the VB script for the controller, but dont know how to use them in LV. please have a look at the script. it will give the idea what i want to do in labview.

[smercurio_fc]

If the program has an ActiveX interface then you can use that from LabVIEW. LabVIEW ships with examples on how to use ActiveX. Based on the script there is no actual control, so you'd instantiate the class using the Automation Open function.