Need hardcopy capability for my GPIB equipment

[Mike Anderson]

We have an HP logic analyzer and a Tek 'scope that both have a GPIB
interface and a 'print' button. Does anybody know of anything I can hang on
the GPIB bus to capture the 'print' requests? I need the hardcopy printouts
so I can document the hardware and show the software guys how things work.

Any leads are appreciated,
Mike

[Kevin_work]

Mike Anderson wrote:

> We have an HP logic analyzer and a Tek 'scope that both have a GPIB
> interface and a 'print' button. Does anybody know of anything I can hang on
> the GPIB bus to capture the 'print' requests? I need the hardcopy printouts
> so I can document the hardware and show the software guys how things work.
>
> Any leads are appreciated,
> Mike

Mike,
There are a couple of things you can do, but it all depends on the
actual analyzer and scope you have:

1) Get a GPIB printer , set hardcopy port to GPIB and hit "Print"
(this is generally the best option for older HP analyzers)

2) If they have a centronics port , set the hoardcopy port to "Centronics"
hook up any Postscript centronics printer and hit print (most Tek scopes have
this)

3) Tek has som
e Windows SW for the TDS series that capture the screen
on the scope and deliver it to the PC over the GPIB but. You can save / print
from there.

4) If you want a programmatic solution you can use Labview, LabWindows, etc
and get or create drivers that will get the waveform / screen over the
GPIB bus.

Hope this helps somewhat
Kevin Kent

[Mike Anderson]

Kevin,

Thanks for the info. I should have been a little more clear in my request
for information. Using a printer for GPIB hardcopy prints doesn't do me
much good because I can't easily use the printout in documentation.

That aside I found a slick system for easily getting GPIB hardcopy images
into a Windows program where I can print it, insert it into a word
processor, etc. I found it at http://www.wavecpature.com. According to the
website, you install this package, connect a GPIB cable to the PnP card, and
hit the "print" button on the test equipment. The test equipment "prints"
to the Windows program which saves the image as BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PNG,
TIF, or TGA files. Just exactly what I need!

I ordered my package today. I should have it in a
few days. I'll post my
findings here when I have used it for a day or two.

Mike

[Tims]

Hi Mike

I'm really interested in this package as well, but the http address is not correct.

Tim

Mike Anderson wrote:

> Kevin,
>
> Thanks for the info. I should have been a little more clear in my request
> for information. Using a printer for GPIB hardcopy prints doesn't do me
> much good because I can't easily use the printout in documentation.
>
> That aside I found a slick system for easily getting GPIB hardcopy images
> into a Windows program where I can print it, insert it into a word
> processor, etc. I found it at http://www.wavecpature.com. According to the
> website, you install this package, connect a GPIB cable to the PnP card, and
> hit the "print" button on the test equipment. The test equipment "prints"
> to the Windo
ws program which saves the image as BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PNG,
> TIF, or TGA files. Just exactly what I need!
>
> I ordered my package today. I should have it in a few days. I'll post my
> findings here when I have used it for a day or two.
>
> Mike

[Kevin_work]

Timothy John Streeter wrote:

> Hi Mike
>
> I'm really interested in this package as well, but the http address is not correct.
>
> Tim
>
> Mike Anderson wrote:
>
>
> > processor, etc. I found it at http://www.wavecpature.com. According to the
>

The above address should be www.wavecapture.com

This is a hardware / software solution that looks pretty interesting.
My only complaint would be that you have to install a card.
This could be improved (in my opinion) by using my existing gpib card
Kevin Kent

[Mike T]

See also similar threads above.
Tek has some example code at www.tek.com

Mike Anderson wrote:

> We have an HP logic analyzer and a Tek 'scope that both have a GPIB
> interface and a 'print' button. Does anybody know of anything I can hang on
> the GPIB bus to capture the 'print' requests? I need the hardcopy printouts
> so I can document the hardware and show the software guys how things work.
>
> Any leads are appreciated,
> Mike

--
Best Regards,
Mike T

Mike Tranchemontagne
Consulting Applications Engineer
TeraComm, Inc.
148 Main Street
Building A, 3rd Floor
North Andover, MA 01845
877-900-TERA (8372)
978-557-9490 (FAX)
603-598-4773 (Direct Line and Cell)