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TM
NI-488.2
NI-488.2 User Manual
NI-488.2 User Manual
January 2007
370428F-01
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Support Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information ni.com National Instruments Corporate Headquarters 11500 North Mopac Expressway Austin, Texas 78759-3504 USA Tel: 512 683 0100 Worldwide Offices Australia 1800 300 800, Austria 43 0 662 45 79 90 0, Belgium 32 0 2 757 00 20, Brazil 55 11 3262 3599, Canada 800 433 3488, China 86 21 6555 7838, Czech Republic 420 224 235 774, Denmark 45 45 76 26 00, Finland 385 0 9 725 725 11, France 33 0 1 48 14 24 24, Germany 49 0 89 741 31 30, India 91
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Important Information Warranty The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty per
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Contents About This Manual Using the NI-488.2 Documentation...............................................................................xi Accessing the NI-488.2 Online Help...............................................................xii Conventions ...................................................................................................................xii Related Documentation..................................................................................................xiii Cha
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Contents Chapter 3 GPIB Explorer (Mac OS X and Linux) Starting GPIB Explorer ................................................................................................. 3-2 Mac OS X........................................................................................................ 3-2 Linux ............................................................................................................... 3-3 Add a New GPIB Interface..........................................................
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Contents Direct Entry with C .........................................................................................4-12 gpib-32.dll Exports............................................................................4-12 Directly Accessing the gpib-32.dll Exports ......................................4-13 Language-Specific Programming Instructions for Mac OS X.......................................4-16 Language-Specific Programming Instructions for Linux .......................................
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Contents Status Word ................................................................................................................... 7-11 Error Information........................................................................................................... 7-11 Count Information ......................................................................................................... 7-12 Chapter 8 NI-488.2 Programming Techniques Termination of Data Transfers ...........................
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Contents Appendix D Common Questions Appendix E Technical Support and Professional Services Glossary Index © National Instruments Corporation ix NI-488.2 User Manual
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About This Manual This manual describes the features and functions of the NI-488.2 software. You can use the NI-488.2 software with Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OS X, and Linux. Using the NI-488.2 Documentation The following NI-488.2 documentation is available with your NI-488.2 software distribution CD: � The Getting Started/Installation Guide briefly describes how to install the NI-488.2 software and your GPIB hardware. � This manual describes the features and functionality of the NI-488.2
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About This Manual Accessing the NI-488.2 Online Help The NI-488.2 Help addresses questions you might have about NI-488.2 and includes a function reference and troubleshooting information. Windows Select Start»Programs»National Instruments»Measurement & Automation. Select Help»Help Topics»NI-488.2. Mac OS X Select Applications»National Instruments»NI-488.2» Explore GPIB. Select Help»Help Topics»NI-488.2. Linux Run GPIB Explorer by entering the following command: /natinst/ni4882/bi
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About This Manual monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations, variables, filenames, and extensions. monospace bold Bold text in this font denotes the messages and responses that the computer automatically prints to the screen. Th
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1 Introduction This chapter describes how to set up your GPIB system. Setting Up and Configuring Your System Devices are usually connected with a cable assembly consisting of a shielded 24-conductor cable with both a plug and receptacle connector at each end. With this design, you can link devices in a linear configuration, a star configuration, or a combination of the two configurations. Figure 1-1 shows the linear and star configurations. Device A Device A Device D Device B Device B Device
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Chapter 1 Introduction Controlling More Than One Interface Figure 1-2 shows an example of a multi-interface system configuration. gpib0 is a PCI-GPIB and is the access interface for the voltmeter. gpib1 is a GPIB-ENET/100 and is the access interface for the plotter and printer. One GPIB Digital Voltometer gpib0 Plotter Another GPIB-ENET/100 LINK TX RX TALK LISTEN PWR/RDY 10/100 ENET GPIB GPIB I 0 gpib1 Printer Figure 1-2. Example of Multiboard System Configuration Configuration Requirements
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Chapter 1 Introduction For high-speed (HS488) operation, the following restrictions apply: � All devices in the system must be powered on. � Cable lengths must be as short as possible with up to a maximum of 15 m of cable for each system. � There must be at least one equivalent device load per meter of cable. If you want to exceed these limitations, you can use a bus extender to increase the cable length or a bus expander to increase the number of device loads. You can order bus extenders and
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2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) This chapter describes Measurement & Automation Explorer, an interactive utility you can use with the NI-488.2 software for Windows. Mac OS X and Linux NI-488.2 for Mac OS X and NI-488.2 for Linux have a similar program called GPIB Explorer. For more information, refer to Chapter 3, GPIB Explorer (Mac OS X and Linux). Overview You can perform the following GPIB-related tasks in Measurement & Automation Explorer: � Establish basic communication w
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Chapter 2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) Starting Measurement & Automation Explorer To start Measurement & Automation Explorer, select Start»Programs» National Instruments»Measurement & Automation. Figure 2-1 shows Measurement & Automation Explorer. Note When starting Measurement & Automation Explorer in Windows Vista, you must choose to run as Adminstrator to allow changes to GPIB Interface Settings. To do this, right-click on the Measurement & Automation Explorer icon and selec
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Chapter 2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) Troubleshoot NI-488.2 Problems To troubleshoot NI-488.2 problems, run the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Utility, as follows: 1. Start Measurement & Automation Explorer as described in the Starting Measurement & Automation Explorer section. 2. Select Help»Troubleshooting»NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Utility. The Troubleshooting Utility tests your GPIB interface and displays the results, as shown in Figure 2-2. Figure 2-2. NI-488.2 Troubleshooting U
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Chapter 2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) Add a New GPIB Interface For plug-and-play interfaces (such as PCI or USB), the system automatically detects and installs the hardware. To add a new GPIB-ENET/100 to your system, complete the following steps: 1. Start Measurement & Automation Explorer as described in the Starting Measurement & Automation Explorer section. 2. Right-click on the Devices and Interfaces folder and select Create New. 3. In the Create New dialog window, select
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Chapter 2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) Scan for GPIB Instruments To scan for instruments connected to your GPIB interface or to add a new instrument to your system, complete the following steps: 1. Make sure that your instrument is powered on and connected to your GPIB interface. 2. Start Measurement & Automation Explorer as described in the Starting Measurement & Automation Explorer section. 3. Expand the Devices and Interfaces directory by clicking the + next to the folder.
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Chapter 2 Measurement & Automation Explorer (Windows) Communicate with Your Instrument To establish basic or advanced communication with your instruments, refer to the following sections. For more information about instrument communication and a list of the commands that your instrument understands, refer to the documentation that came with your GPIB instrument. Most instruments respond to the *IDN? command by returning an identification string. Basic Communication (Query/Write/Read) To esta
