want to know details of the GPIB command "ibtrg"

[PeiHou]

Hi there,

Does anyone know about the details of how to use the NI488.2 commands "ibtrg"? From the help menu, "ibtrg" means "trigger the device", but what does it mean? What kind of trigger signal will be sent to the device by using "ibtrg"? I am trying to use GPIB to control a programmable pulse generator (Agilent 81110A). It would be ideal if I could trigger the pulse generation by issing a GPIB command "ibtrg" because I need to control the starting time of the pulses, but I have to know whether the command "ibtrg" will do anyting to the pulse generator.

Thanks a lot for the help, I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Pei

[sth]

In article <222301@exchange.ni.com>, PeiHou <x@no.email> wrote:

> Hi there,<br><br>Does anyone know about the details of how to use the NI488.2
> commands "ibtrg"? From the help menu, "ibtrg" means "trigger the device",
> but what does it mean? What kind of trigger signal will be sent to the
> device by using "ibtrg"? I am trying to use GPIB to control a programmable
> pulse generator (Agilent 81110A). It would be ideal if I could trigger the
> pulse generation by issing a GPIB command "ibtrg" because I need to control
> the starting time of the pulses, but I have to know whether the command
> "ibtrg" will do anyting to the pulse generator.<br><br>Thanks a lot for the
> help, I am looking forward to hearing from you.<br><br>Pei

It simply issues the GPIB command GET (Group Execute Trigger). This is
an addressable command over the GPIB bus. You can address a bunch of
devices and then trigger them.

Look at the on line documentation for the syntax of the command. You
may want to use the more advanced multi device 488.2 command TriggerList
if you are trying to synchronize more than one device.

HOWEVER, you must set up your device (Agilent 81110) to recognize this
trigger. This is different for every manufacturer and device. These
devices can use multiple trigger sources and you need to set it up to
use the GPIB GET as opposed to other inputs. You must read the Agilent
manual to do taht.

-Scott

[PeiHou]

Hi Scout,

thanks a lot for the quick reply. I checked the reference guide of Agilent 81110A, but could not find anything about how to set up the device to accept the command "ibtrg". Perehaps this device does not recognize the "ibtrg" at all. It does have a port for external trigger signal input on the front pannel. I am just thinking if it possible to input the GPIB bus signal directly to the port for external trigger signal to trigger the pulse generation. Do you know which bin of the GPIB interface will be related to the "ibtrg" command?

Thanks a lot!

Pei

[PeiHou]

Sorry for mistyping your name, Scott, I meant to ask which pin number of the GPIB bus is related to the GET comannd.

Pei

[Dennis_Knutson]

The ibtrg command is an NI-GPIB command that issues the GPIB GET command. The GET command is issued over the GPIB data lines - there is not a separate trigger line on the GPIB bus. What you should look for in the manual is how to set the instrument up for a software trigger (as opposed to the hardware or external trigger). I had a look at the LabVIEW driver for the instrument and could only find a manual or external trigger source setting. The instrument may not support a software trigger. Since I've never used the instrument, I would recomend you check with Agilent.