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Workbench for Windows: Using the IEEE Icon

The following application note is intended to aid a first time user of the IEEE icon in WorkBench PC for Windows (WBfW). In order for the IEEE icon to operate correctly there are certain software and hardware guidelines that must be followed. Please check the following list to ensure that you are properly set up to use this icon:

  1. An IEEE board must be installed in the computer. This card must be either an OMEGA OMB-PER-488 series or a National Instruments IEEE board.
  2. There must be a DRVR488.DLL file in a /Windows/IEEE directory if you are using an IOTech card; NI4882GP.GRP and GPIB.ini files must be in the Windows directory for National Instruments cards. There will also be a GPIB-PCW directory for a National board.
  3. The following lines must be present in the autoexec.bat file for IOTech:
    C:\IEEE\DRVR488
    Set Path = C:\Windows\Ieee488; %PATH %
  4. The correct driver must have been installed during the installation of WBfW. There are two options: National Instruments or IOTech IEEE driver. WBfW requires that two drivers are installed for the IEEE icon to function: the driver that comes with the IEEE board and the WBfW driver that connects WBfW to the IEEE driver (either iotech.dll or NI.dll).
  5. Each IEEE device needs a seperate IEEE icon. Up to 15 devices can be attached to one IEEE board.
  6. It is suggested that the user build upon the default commands in the Start menu item within the IEEE icon itself. It may also be necessary to use Wait states in the command structure in order for WBfW to wait long enough for an instrument to respond.

For National Instrument Users:

There are two diagnostic tools that come with the NI IEEE board and that are loaded into the Windows environment. These are "Hardware Diagnostic" and "Software Diagnostic." These two tools should be used at installation to test for presence and operability of the hardware and presence and correct installation of the NI IEEE drivers, respectively.

If the above two tools function correctly the next step should be to use a third NI tool called "Interactive Control" which operates much like a COM terminal panel. Chapter 5 of the NI manual contains instructions on how to use this program.

If the above three software tools operate correctly, and communication with the device in question has been possible, then the command structure used in "Interactive Control" should be copied to the WBfW IEEE icon and communication should be attempted form WBfW. There may be some adjustment of syntax necessary.





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