read and save settings from instruments

[jjlee]

1. cannot figure out why instruments set to some 'default(?)' settings??

'readinstrumentsandbuildcluster vi' seems to be okay...

- no default value set

- SCPI commands are correct

2. I do get this error msg (attached)

3. is it possible to update enable/disable status? once I turn one of the instrument, it just writes zeros to all front panel settings...

[Dennis_Knutson]

There is one error in the example I posted. In the 'load instrument settings' state and inside the true case that is inside the for loop, the enable/disable wire should be connected straight through.

[jjlee]

although it ran, I encountered another error msg (attached)

still having the same issue after connecting the enable/disable wire thru

[Dennis_Knutson]

That looks like a completely different problem to me. Is the instrument on and is the VISA Resource Name correct?

I also just noticed something strange in your 'no event' state. The array of strings that gets indexed into the Insert Queue Element is missing all of the values except for element 0 and that's a wrong value. Your front panel buttons won't work.

[jjlee]

Yes, all the instruments are 'on' and the VISA resource name is correct. (still overwrites the instrument setting)

A couple of questions...

1. Does the order of the array element decide the element number? (I guess '0' should be 'load config' and '1' is 'set config'??)

2. Is it possible to selectively execute certain case structure for testing purpose?

[Dennis_Knutson]

1. Yes. The order of the elements in the string array should match with the order of the Boolean array you create.

2. If your string array is correct and you return to the 'No event' state every time, then yes, you can debug individual states. That means, though, that you can't modify the queue in any of the states. So, for example in the 'load instrument settings' state, you would have to remove the Insert Queue function temporarily or put a case statement around it so that you can disable it when you want.

[jjlee]

So, if I want to just test on 'load instrument settings' and 'save config' states, I need to return to 'No event' state after 'save config' (?)

What do I have to do for those elements in the string array in case if they are not used?

I am not sure what actually causes instrument to reset even after manually changing setting values...

[Dennis_Knutson]

Your No Event state should look like this:

The only thing that would case an instrument to reset is if you are issuing the reset command.

Message Edited by Dennis Knutson on 07-06-2006 01:10 PM

[jjlee]

I see that 'hp8133a initialize.vi' is present in 'readinstrumentandbuildcluster_mod.vi'

although the 'reset' input of the initialize vi is set to 'false' (not to reset), it still resets to default values..

[Dennis_Knutson]

The initialize function issues the command SYST:PRES when reset is set to false. You should look up in the manual what that command does. Also, there is no real reason for you to call the initialize function. All you really need to do is call a VISA Open before querying the instruments and even that is optional with current versions of VISA.