GPIB guide and samples

[g_Ricky]

Hi All,

I have never had experience with the GPIB interface but now I have to develop the Labview driver for a very old instrument. The supplier is still releasing the driver but they are written in LV 5.0 and they are too old to be read by LV 2010. I have got the manual of the instrument and its commands protocol so, where can I find some examples to follow to build a good GPIB driver in LV?

Awaiting for your prompt reply, thank you in advance!

[JÞB · Accepted solution]

This would be a good place to start.  From the link you will find other links to tutorials an instrument driver development guidelines that will give you many examples about current best practices for driver development

[smercurio_fc]

You can also post a request in the Upconvert Requests Thread to resave the library so you can open it in LV2010.

[g_Ricky]

Thank you very much for your answer but, I would like to know if there are some specific examples about how build a GPIB driver. At the link you have suggested me there isn't the GPIB documentation I'm looking for, so I still do the same question: Is anyone able to tell me where I can find some code examples about how to comunicate with an GPIB instrument (using GPIB functions), about which I have the protocol documentation?

[smercurio_fc]

Did you click on the Developing LabVIEW Plug and Play Drivers link?

There are tons of examples in the Instrument Driver Network. Just make sure you download the ones that say "project-style", as these are newer drivers.

You can also start a driver by using a template from File -> New.

[Dennis_Knutson]

You don't want to be using the GPIB functions. You want to be using NI-VISA. There are thousands of examples in the Instrument Driver Network. Find an instrument of a similar type. You also have the wizard under Tools>Instrumentation>Create Instrument Driver Project.

The GPIB spec is available from the IEEE.

[g_Ricky]

Yes I have clicked on the link you posted and the examples that are displayed there, show only the comunication between an instrument by VISA (may serial) functions and they not display the GPIB function which you can find under the GPIB palet...

The article which I have already read is very interesting and gave me the idea of how to build a profetional driver using labiew code, but it gives some general information and not a specific information using the GPIB interface.

[smercurio_fc]

The guidelines show using VISA for good reason: that's what's recommended for new designs. You should not use the lower-level GPIB functions unless you are dealing with very old instruments or very old GPIB cards. Many instrument these days come with multiple interfaces. VISA provide a level of abstraction that allows you to design an instrument driver so that you can communicate with the instrument using any of the supported interfaces. One driver, multiple interfaces. Learn VISA.

[g_Ricky]

You are right, but If you read carefully my first post you will find out that I have already written that I have to build a driver for a very old instrument which can comunicate with a remote software only by a GPIB interface. So, I can't use the VISA to comunicate with the instrument despite I have the protocol documentation. Then, what I have to do?

[Dennis_Knutson]

VISA is a GPIB interface! Don't make such assertions about GPIB when you don't know anything about it or VISA. We all read your first post and are perfectly aware of your requirements.