For quite a long time I have used a set of LabVIEW VI instrument drivers for an Agilent 34970a that I got off the ni site a few years ago (those drivers can be accessed from this page, http://zone.ni.com/idnet97.nsf/9b2b33e1993d877786256436006ec498/e4c553c139f78062862568ab005fba3c?OpenDocument). I have run these vi's successfully for years under various versions of LabVIEW, beginning with 5.1, and under NI488.2, version 1.6. I also run executables of these vi's on machines that do not have LabVIEW by installing the appropriate LabVIEW run time engine. But here's the problem. Any time I have instead installed NI488.2, version 1.7 or (more recently) version 2.1, when I run either my vi's or executables derived from those vi's all communication with the 34970a's ceases. I remove version 1.7 or 2.1 of the NI488.2 software and reinstall version 1.6 and all works fine again!!! I am curious. What's going on?? Could it be that it has nothing to do with the version of NI488.2 but instead has to do with VISA software?? On the download page for the Agilent 34970a instrument drivers, it does say that "VISA is used in the driver API". When I install the NI488.2 software I am also prompted to install the VISA software; at least I know that's the case when I install version 1.6 of NI 488.2. I can't recall right now whether I am also prompted to install VISA when installing version 1.7 or 2.1 of NI 488.2
Bottom line question is does anyone have an idea of why I am only successful at running the posted LabVIEW instrument drivers for the Agilent 34970a when I install the old verion 1.6 of the NI 488.2 software?? Are versions of VISA software always packaged with the different versions of NI 488.2 and could my problem be a VISA version problem?? Or might it be that VISA software is not bundled with these newer versions of NI 488.2 software and that I am just missing the appropriate (and needed) VISA software when I install these newer version of NI 488.2?? Any help would be much appreciated... thanks... bob paris..
