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New Wizards and Debugging Tools Ease GPIB Development under Windows
To maximize development productivity, National Instruments continues to innovate with tools that speed GPIB application development. The latest release of National Instruments NI-488.2 software offers numerous enhancements that ease GPIB controller installation and system troubleshooting. NI-488.2 is a comprehensive software package that simplifies programming GPIB instruments from a computer. The software includes a application programmers interface (API) that comes complete with high- and low-level communications and bus management functions as well as online help, getting started and troubleshooting wizards, debugging tools, and an interactive communicator utility for communicating with GPIB instruments via the computer keyboard. Users can browse their entire test system and gain quick access to these time saving development tools through the Measurement & Automation Explorer.
Measurement & Automation Explorer
The Measurement & Automation Explorer is a browser used to organize, configure, manage and interact with the components of a test system. With the explorer, you can seamlessly integrate a variety of plug-in measurement devices, instrument control interfaces, instrument drivers, GPIB instruments and more. The explorer provides an unparalleled level of integration for a wide range of measurement and automation devices. Because hybrid systems (systems that mix measurement devices with differing interfaces) is not uncommon, ensuring that the integration of these devices is easy and fast is extremely valuable in reducing cost and time associated with getting the test system running and working reliably.
Use Measurement & Automation Explorer to organize and manage your entire measurement system from GPIB 'box" instruments to PC plug-in data acquisition.
Tools of the Trade
Scientists and engineers can save time with a wide range of development tools that increase productivity at different stages of test system development. Whether you're just getting started or trying to debug your test code, the NI-488.2 software includes a wide range of specific tools that focus on key development tasks. Of course, the first stage in building a GPIB-based test system is installing and configuring the GPIB controller inside the computer.
Getting Started and Troubleshooting Wizards
Ironically, many developers spend a large portion of their time just trying to verify that there GPIB controller installation was successful and that they can communicate with their GPIB instruments. To simplify and speed this important process, National Instruments has created a Getting Started Wizard that guides users through a step by step installation, configuration, and system diagnostic process to confirm that the NI-488.2 software and GPIB controller hardware is installed and working properly. With the hardware and software installed, the Wizard then directs the user to connect and power on the GPIB instruments they plan to use in their system. By scanning the GPIB, the Wizard can automatically identify all the connected GPIB instruments to verify that they are "alive" on the bus. Users can then use a GPIB interactive control utility to send and receive information to gain greater familiarity with their instruments. Finally, the Wizard provides information on various development tools that can be used to develop automated test applications. By completing the getting started wizard, users can be confidant that their system is up and running without problems.
Powerful Debugging Tools
Another important stage in developing test applications is the debugging process. Detail oriented debugging tools like NI-Spy save you time and frustration in finding software bugs and identifying malfunctioning equipment. NI-Spy is a software monitoring utility which monitors, records, and displays NI-488.2 API calls made from an application. NI-Spy is useful for troubleshooting because it sequentially displays function call names, parameters, and GPIB status information in a scrollable window as calls are executed by their source code. Developers have access to more detailed information including the contents of data buffers, process and thread IDs of the calling application, and time stamps for the start and finish times of the function calls. Developers can use this tool to benchmark applications, find performance bottlenecks, and quickly find and correct GPIB programming errors.
GPIB Communicator
In addition to IBIC, a command line based instrument interactive control utility, we now offer a simple GUI communicator tool for new users who want to quickly communicate to their GPIB devices without having to learn the NI-488.2 API. This tool is very useful in verifying that your instruments are "alive" on the bus. Interactive communication also helps you quickly learn how to automate measurements using the instrument's string-based command interface.
Extensive Online Help
A key product component is the online documentation. This is a common and often one of the first places a developer may go to find answers to the questions they may have. Online documentation provides users with fingertip access to examples, function syntax, error code information, as well as information on basic and advanced programming techniques, debug methodology, instructions on how to make the best use of the various development tools and an index to additional useful resources.
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