03-13-2018 09:42 AM
Hi Community,
we have here in our lab nearly 20 years old Agilent N 8973 Noise Figure Equipment.
I want to transfer the Screenshoots (.WMF or PNG) via GPIB to the Labview 14 PC instead of using the 3.5 Floppy Disk.
I have installed the Labview Driver for the N 8973 but i found no function in the examples.
Has somebody a hint for me how I can mange this ?
Thanks
Michael
03-13-2018 11:45 AM
I don't think there is an easy way to do it, but it can be done. The way I did it in the past (on other HP/Agilent/Keysight equipment), is to save it to the equipment's internal hard drive first. Then transfer the file across GPIB. Here is an rough outline how I did it:
Step 1 (Optional): Set Display to full screen (I don't like to see the softkeys displayed in the screenshot)
Step 2: Save the .gif or .wmf to the internal hard drive. Pretty sure .png is not supported. I believe you need to provide the full path with the correct suffix for the <file name>. Probably can save it to the root directory. Ex. "C:\my_screenshot.gif"
Step 3: Transfer the file from the internal hard drive to you computer. It comes across as "arbitrary block data". The N8973 driver you installed probably has this function.
Step 4: Delete the screenshot file on the c: drive that you created. I remember getting errors (in step 2) creating a screenshot if the filename already exists. So you can either delete the file and reuse the same name, OR you need to create unique filenames each time.
Step 5: Save the binary data to your local hard drive. Use the "Write to Binary File" function, make sure you wire a "False" to the "prepend array or string size?" terminal.
03-13-2018 12:57 PM
Hi Jamiva,
thx for your feedback.
I am not sure if I understand it cVorrecht, what is the difference between step 3 and 5, i thought the file is already transfered in Step 3 to the labview pc or ?
If you have a simple VI Example for labview 14 compatible that you can share with me, that are very helpful to solve this problem in my brain.
Have a great day
Michael
03-13-2018 01:42 PM
Step 3 is a query, which is actually 2 steps. A VISA write (which tells the instrument to send the data file), followed by a VISA read.
All the VISA read does is transfer the data to an indicator in your LabVIEW program running on your PC. You close/quit your program, you lose your data. So I would think you would like to store that data somewhere permanently. Step 5 saves it to your PC's hard drive.
03-13-2018 06:07 PM
Here's an example of step #3 and #5 using the method jamiva suggested. This is taken from an example posted on the forum for a different model scope a few months back (sorry I can't find the original source to credit!).
I did try it with an old scope I had and it worked, but your mileage may vary.
03-14-2018 06:37 AM
Hi cstorey,
thank you for your example VI.
I try to modify it but I get only on the Labview PC an WMF file without picture and the filelength is only "0 kb" big,
Attached is the modify VI and the Picture , can you crosscheck where the failure is ?
Thank you for your help
Michael
03-14-2018 08:11 AM - edited 03-14-2018 08:25 AM
You have lots of problems in your VI. No wonder it didn't work. I started from scratch and attached a VI showing the way I would do it. It's probably not perfect but it's a start. It may just work as-is, or may need a few tweaks.
EDIT: I'm not sure that the path is correct. It may need the "\". If what is shown doesn't work, try using "C:\TST00216.WMF."
03-14-2018 09:45 AM
Hi Jamiva,
cool thank you for your helpful tips.
The .wmf file is now transfered to the Windows PC, so far so good.
But if the file c:TST00216 is not exist in the N 8973 Internal Memory before I start your VI there is no data Transfer to the PC started.
If the file C:TST00216 exist in the Memory of the N 8973 there is no update of the Screenshoot.wmf information to the PC, if I want start a new measurement.
@jamiva wrote:
You have lots of problems in your VI. No wonder it didn't work. I started from scratch and attached a VI showing the way I would do it. It's probably not perfect but it's a start. It may just work as-is, or may need a few tweaks.
EDIT: I'm not sure that the path is correct. It may need the "\". If what is shown doesn't work, try using "C:\TST00216.WMF."
You mention I should delete it after the measurement, but than it doesn't work for the next measurement session.
Please can you give me an additional hint, to solve this ?
Thank your for your efforts
Michael