Software helps instruments communicate
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 9/1/2004
Agilent Technologies has updated two software products that help your computers and instruments talk to each other: I/O Libraries Suite 14.0 and Programmer's Toolkit 2.0.
I/O Libraries version 14.0 (formerly version M) lets you connect instruments over IEEE 488, RS-232, VXI, Ethernet, and USB. It scans all buses, producing a Windows Explorer-like tree of instruments. It lets you send commands to any instrument through Agilent VISA, NI VISA, Agilent SICL, or VISA COM libraries to verify communication. Then, you can download programming examples from Agilent's developer network (www.agilent.com/find/adn).
The T&M Toolkit 2.0 with Test Automation falls between a programming language and a test executive. It works on top of Microsoft Visual Studio or Agilent Vee, where it lets you configure instruments, produce tests by sequencing code routines, and create custom user interfaces. You can create loops and branches in the test sequence and create charts and histograms from test results.
Prices: I/O libraries Suite 14.0—$395 (free with all Agilent equipment and programming tools); Programmer's Toolkit— from $1495. Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA. www.tm.agilent.com.
