Interface to HP34970A with Signal Express

[Rob97]

Hello,

I am trying to interface an Agilent HP 34970A using a demo version of Signal Express 1.2. I installed the ivi-com driver version 1.0.0.4 from Agilent. When I go through "add step/IVI DMM Acquire" there is no instrument driver available in the pull down menu. Is there something I should do in MAX ? I have the same issue with a scope TDS 7104 using Tektronix ivi driver 2.5.

Thanks for your help.

Rob

[Sarah_R]

Rob,

Thank you for contacting National Instruments.

It sounds like there is a problem with the installation of the instrument drivers. There is a knowledgebase that walks you through the installation of IVI drivers with SignalExpress. Also National Instruments provides instrument drivers for Tektronix TDS 7104 and Agilent Technologies 34970A.

The drivers that you have currently installed should work, but the National Instruments instrument drivers for the two devices could be more likely to install properly. Also please step through the associated knowledgebase.

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you still are having the same issue. Have a great day!

[Rob97]

Hi Sarah,

Thanks for your response.

I can see the Agilent and Tektronix ivi drivers when using MAX. Is it possible they are not compatible with Signal Express ?

The NI drivers you mentionned are Labview drivers and not ivi drivers. My understanding is they cannnot be used with IVI Scope or IVI DMM.

I tried to use them with the user defined steps. I have access to the list of vi but when I select anyone of them, I get the message "the specified vi could not be opened. path does not exist". Is there a problem of Signal Express version vs. Labview version ?

Regards,

Rob

[Sarah_R]

Rob,

I looked into the IVI driver that was downloaded from the Agilent website. It is a IVI-COM driver. SignalExpress does not currently support IVI-COM drivers, it only supports IVI-C drivers. This knowledgebase describes the issue and also is the reason you are currently seeing the "File Not Found" error. You are able to use SignalExpress but you would have to create your own driver.

However, you are able to use the IVI-COM drivers with LabVIEW. Here is an article that discusses this.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions related to this issue. Thank you very much.

Message Edited by Sarah_S on 10-16-2007 05:31 PM

[Matt_F]

Hello Rob,

LabVIEW SIgnalExpress leverages the interchangability of the IVI-C class drivers to provide a single step for multiple instruments.  Unfortunately both of the instruments you are using do not have an IVI-C driver.  To use these instruments in LabVIEW SignalExpress you will need to a create a LabVIEW plug-in.

You can learn more about creating plug-ins at http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3203

You can also download a precreated plug-in for your 34970a at http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6020

Regards,

Matt F

[Rob97]

Thanks a lot for the information.

Rob

[Yann_L]

Hi all,

I know this is an old topic but I'm trying to use an agilent 34970A/34972A with signalexpress but it didn't work out. I'm able to see the device in MAX (ethernet or serial connection), I've installed the IVI driver from Agilent website and is well installed in MAX. In the driver status in MAX, I've changed the IVI-C from ividriver to ividmm in order to be able to get something in signalexpress but in the end I got a error status.

Is there any way to get a 34972A to work with signalexpress ? We only have signalexpress LE and no Labview.

Thank for your help.

Yann

[Esteban.R]

Hi Yann_L

Actually it seems that it should work at least for the 34970A according to this link. You might have to check the difference between the 34970A and the 34972A in functions an code in order to check it the commands are the same and do the same in both devices.

Regards

Esteban R.