Instrument Control (GPIB, Serial, VISA, IVI)

[R.Gibson]

I am trying to program my Tek MSO4104 to programatically display Automatic Measurements, such as Peak to Peak amplitude, etc. I can do it on the front panel of the scope, and I can read back the values I want via VISA, however, I can't seem to find the command to add these measurements to the screen on the scope programatically.

Let me rephrase that...I think the only way that might work is to simulate front panel button presses and knob turns using the VISA commands: "FPanel: Press" and "FPanel:Turn"...but that is way cumbersome...it seems like there HAS to be a single command to add a Pk2Pk automatic measurement to the display!?

[nyc]

It would probably be quicker to get an answer if you contacted Tektronix.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Just use the Read Waveform Measurement function.

[nyc]

He can read the waveform and calculate the measurements himself, but the instrument can apparently do this automatically and spit out the results.

From reading the programmer's manual, the MATH functions might be what he is after.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Or just use the function I mentioned. I'm not sure if it adds anything to the screen of the scope but I don't think that is all that important.

[crossrulz]

If it is like the TDS scope, I think what you are looking for is the MEASUrement subsystem.  For instance

:MEASU:MEAS%d:STATE ON;

 will turn the measurement on.  I'm sending this string into a format string, so %d should be replaced with the measurement number.  The TDS scopes had 4 measurements available.

[nyc]

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Dennis_Knutson wrote:

Or just use the function I mentioned. I'm not sure if it adds anything to the screen of the scope but I don't think that is all that important.

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It's important to him that he wants more than just the raw waveform data.

[crossrulz]

Took me awhile to find the programmer's manual.  If you get the programmer's manual, look at the section starting on the very bottom of page 2-30 (Measurement Command Group).  The commands you are looking for are in there.

[crossrulz]

I was able to dig up some of my code for the TDS scope.  Looks like the commands are the same.  Here's an example for setting up a Pk-to-Pk measurement on channel 1.

:MEASU:MEAS1:TYP PK2PK;SOURCE1 CH1;:MEASU:MEAS1:STATE ON;

[Dennis_Knutson]

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nyc wrote:

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Dennis_Knutson wrote:

Or just use the function I mentioned. I'm not sure if it adds anything to the screen of the scope but I don't think that is all that important

It's important to him that he wants more than just the raw waveform data.

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That's obvious. What do you think the measurement function actually does? It certainly does not return raw waveform data. It returns exactly what the op asked for - i.e. just the vpp measurement.