VISA Status code : bfff0015

[fmethot]

Hi, I am new in this field.  I read the book Labview foe everyone and I am starting to learn how to control my lab equipment.  After viewing this video from NI:

http://www.ni.com/swf/presentation/us/labview/aap/default.htm  I tried to do the same thing.  I downloaded the driver for a TDS754A and then I started LabVIEW 8.2.  I opened Instrument I/O assistant and I was able to see the scope at the address #1.  The scope respond to *IDN? command and I got the manufacturer name and model.   According to the video, I tried to send the command CURVE?...I had a Timeout expired before operation completed...and the detail is:

Timeout expired before operation completed.   VISA Status code : bfff0015.  My scope was set for 2500 points for 10 div.  The timeout was tested from 3000 to 10,000 ms.

What could be the problem?

Thank you for your time

[Dennis_Knutson]

It's not enough to just send the CURVE? query. You have to configure and then send a command to the scope to initiate an acquisition.

The scope manual probably has a section describing the sequence of commands that you have to send to acquire a waveform but since you downloaded the driver, I would recomend that you use that instead of the Instrument I/O Assistant. Use the Assistant when there is no driver available. The driver has a 'Getting Started' example VI. The only problem that you might have with the driver is that the Initialize function has 'Old VISA Open'. This should be replaced with the VISA Open function on the VISA palette. Here's a modified version in LabVIEW 8. With the Getting Started VI, I would also recomend you replace the string control for the VISA reference with an actual VISA Resource Name control.

[fmethot]

Thank you for your help.

...by looking at the NI presentation, it looks very straightforward!

I will look at the manual first.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Then go here and check the links on what an instrument driver is and how to use it.

[m-s]

On a new linux machine (Fedora Core 10 - all modules appear to install correctly, and loaded), I get this error code in NIVISA Interactive control. I have tried a simple *?IDN\n on viWrite and tried to read on viWrite under Basic I/O.

The interface board is a PCI-GPIB/LP  small form factor. Its new and has never before been used. 

[pflores]

Hey m-s,

This is a very generic error code that could be the result of many scenarios. Here is a KB that addresses this issue.

Why do I Receive Timeout Error -1073807339 on VISA Write?

Some tips: verify termination characters, use the 488.2 Interactive Control.

Other things to keep in mind are that the particular distribution of Linux you are using is not "technically" supported by NI-VISA. Here is a document that talks about how someone has installed it and what versions could possibly work. The Linux Users Group may be another place of interest.

Hope this helps!

[m-s]

Well, I am using Fedora 10, which is basically Redhat Enterprise 4. What version of redhat is best supported for Labview 8.6 ? I am using Linux because our interface (GPIB-USB-B) is not supported under Mac OSX (so cannot use my macbook). So, I moved to a PC (which is not mac compatible, and use of windows is illegal in our lab thanks to endless security holes).

Basically, I need headache free operation. I have previously setup Labview 7.1 perfectly under Debian Etch (I think). However that was at a previous workplace.

I also need to know whether NI VISA Interactive explorer not detecting a GPIB interface is a bad sign. It is however listed as INFC in the Visa configuration tool but I do not even know if I am addressing the right interface. If I add a static interface, I end up with two interfaces, and that can lead to IRQ conflicts.

A link to some docs that detail first time setup of interfaces under linux would be greatly welcome. 

[pflores]

This page says which distributions of Linux are officially supported by NI. If Fedora is similar to Redhat, then sounds like it should work fine

It is good news that you have the INTFC resource identified in VISA Configuration tool. What do you mean by not detecting the device in NI VISA Interactive explorer? Can you attach a screenshot?

Here is a nice video that shows how to setup your GPIB device in Linux. This KB - Configuration of GPIB Devices in Linux - may also help. Let me know if this helps!