USB/GPIB interface with visual basic

[fadhlina]

Hi i'm new in this USB/GPIB communication. Can anybody tell me how to create a communication between this interface with visual basic especially on the source code.. I went to Project>references> and tick for VISA COM 1.type library then I drag the a commond button to the form.

Instrument Name and address used here is GPIB::17::INSTR

If using Visual C++ it can be done but now i want to communicate it with visual basic.  Could anyone help me Please

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

I am new to VB myself having programmed more with LabVIEW in recent years. I asked the same question as you in this thread.  http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=140&message.id=15749   Hope it helps.

[fadhlina]

Thanks nyc, I will try to used those code.

Are those code only for the communication of Pc and instrument device? Do have any sample code on visual basic in which we have to sent data in the form of voltage and received back in current form In which those data need to be plot using MsChart

 Thanks You

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

For plotting data my company uses ProEssentials from Gigasoft.com.

[SachaE]

Hi,

  since you're using GPIB, then I'm assuming you have an instrument connected. You'll need to know the commands particular to that instrument then to make this work. If you're just dealing with voltages and current, perhaps a Data Acquisition interface might be more appropriate to you?

http://www.ni.com/dataacquisition/

As far as plotting information, you could have a look at Measurement Studio (.Net as appropriate) to get  National Instruments chart, graph or 3D graph.

http://www.ni.com/mstudio/

For help on the MSChart, you'll need to have a look at Microsoft related web sites.A good starting point might be here :

http://www.vb123.com/toolshed/99_vbchart/vbchart1.htm

Thanks

Sacha Emery
National Instruments (UK)

[fadhlina]

Thanks SachaE,

Giving me a good website. Yeaa.. my program has to be connected to an instrument device Semiconductor parameter Analyzer via a USB/GPIB 82357A interface which send a command in term of voltage to the probe station and received current from it. In plotting the graph i'm using MSChart and i dont have microsoft measurement studio to do it. the problem here is i still didnt knw how to send the data to the instrument. Should i used an array or how? I'm really new in programming. i didnt really understand how to create this array.

Please anyone appreciate on your help.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

You need to download the manual for that instrument. Every instrument's command set is different.

Read the manual to see which GPIB commands you need to do what you want.

Are you doing this for a job?  Or are you a student?

[fadhlina]

Yes, I did install the IO Library (VISA) to my laptop and put in the Visa.bas to my project in visual basic. I'm a student and doing this project.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

That link that I posted is very useful, and should be all you need to establish communication with the instrument. After that it is simply a matter of sending a command to tell the instrument what you want it to do, and sending a query to ask it to return a value.

You will only know which commands you need from reading the manual.

NI has some useful application notes about GPIB.
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/devzone.nsf/webcategories/A95C253DFB5FDB0986256786000BE3C3

You should be able to get started from here.

Message Edited by nyc on 03-04-2006 07:20 AM