Need a Example VI to get screenshoots transfered from a Agilent N8973 via GPIB ?

[rf_antenna_guy]

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

[jamiva]

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.

[rf_antenna_guy]

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 

[jamiva]

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.

[cstorey]

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.

[rf_antenna_guy]

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

[jamiva]

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."

[rf_antenna_guy]

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