LabVIEW driver for Panasonic singal generator VP8122A

[Blues]

I am now trying to use the Panasonic signal generator Model VP8122A in LabVIEW.

But unfortunately, there seems do not have any driver.

Please help. Thanks very much for the attention.

[Blues]

Maybe I give more detail on what I am trying to do.

The situation is like the following:
I want to generate a signal(it seems can be done by using the signal generation function provided by LabVIEW), but actually, what i need is to make the Panasonic signal generator VP8122A generate the same signal.

The signal generator is connected to the PC through GPIB.

Thank you very much for your attention

[Dennis_Knutson]

Do you have the programming manual for the instrument? If the instrument uses SCPI commands, then it would be setup with a command something like SOUR:FUNC:SINE and SOUR:FREQ n. You can issues these commands in MAX to test them and then use the Instrument I/O Assistant or VISA Write to issue them in your LabVIEW program. Unless the instrument is an arbritrary waveform generator, creating a signal in LabVIEW isn't necessary (or even possible). The instrument should have it's own syntax for generating a signal. I googled the instrument model number and couldn't fink a link to a programming manual. If you can provide one or attach an electronic copy of the programming manual, someone here can probably help you figure out the commands you need.

[Blues]

Eventually got a hardcopy of the user manual, but I am not very familiar with the LabVIEW.

How could I send a string "FR1MZ,AP-20DM,FM2.5CRLF" to the device using LabVIEW??

Where could I get some tutorial/code examples about using LabVIEW to control other instrument?

Thanks very much for your help

[Dennis_Knutson]

Start by reading chapter 16 of the LabVIEW Measurements Manual (Help>Search the LabVIEW Bookshelf). The next step is to verify that system detects your instrument. In MAX (Measurement & Automation Explorer), right click on the GPIB board in the list and select Scan for Instruments. Your signal gen should be detected and the address of the instrument displayed. You'll probably see a message that it did not respond to the *IDN? command. Based on the string you posted, the instrument won't be 488.2 compliant and will not have support for the standard *IDN? command to identify itself.

You can use either VISA or GPIB functions to communicate with an IEEE-488 instrument. I prefer using VISA. There is a shipping example called LabVIEW<->GPIB. In the Characters to Write string control, enter your command "FR1MZ,AP-20DM,FM2.5", change the GPIB address to match what your instrument is set to, set the Write switch to true, and run the VI. The command you posted has a CR/LF at the end. This is a little unusual for a GPIB instrument but not unheard of. If the instrument accepts the command without it, then you're all set. If the instrument doesn't respond, you can change the mode of the GPIB Write on the diagram. Modes 3 and 6 will append CR/LF to the command string. Try mode 3 first. You can also append CR/LF by turning on '\' Display Codes (right click on the string control) and adding a \r\n. The VISA Write doesn't have a mode input but you can set a termination character with a VISA property node. But I think you should first get communication going with the regular GPIB Write/Read. Good luck.