GPIB Equipment Query

[Bill_Simmons]

I'm trying to search for and identify GPIB equipment that is connectoed to a test PC using Labview.  MAX has this functionality built in, but I would like to be able to perform this query using a VI.  Any suggestions??

[LV_Pro]

Depending on the age of the equipment,much of the newer (last several years) equipment conforms to a standard refered to as SCPI. In this standard there is a standard command that causes  the instrument to respond with its ID  (I don't remember the command, may be as simple as IDN?) Of course you then need to cycle through the possible addresses for the instruments.

[lmtis]

In LV7.1 IEE488.2 pallette is a function called FindLstn.  It will return a list of all listners on the bus.

[smercurio_fc]

The FindLstn function will simply return an array of GPIB addresses. It won't identify instruments like MAX does. Having a VISA Resource Name control on the front panel of a VI and clicking the little dropdown control to the right of the control will accomplish the same thing, though the list will use VISA resource name syntax. You can also get the list using the "VISA Find Resource" function.

MAX simply sends out the *IDN? command to identify instruments. Thus, you can combine the "VISA Find Resource" with the "VISA Write" and "VISA Read" to identiy the instruments:

Message Edited by smercurio_fc on 10-18-2007 12:34 PM

[lmtis]

That's good smercurio, I mentally assumed - and neglected to type - the second step of sending *IDN?  I haven't used VISA a lot, but that is a neat way to poll a resource. 

Thanks! *****

[Bill_Simmons]

Thanks for all the help.