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Chapter 1, Using GPIB
Overview of the Test Set
Writing programs for the Test Set
One of the design goals for automatic control of the Test Set was that it operate the
same way programmatically as it does manually. This is a key point to remember
when developing programs for the Test Set. The benefit of this approach is that to
automate a particular task, one need only figure out how to do the task manually
and then duplicate the same process in software. This has several implications
when designing and writing programs for the Test Set:
1. In Manual Control mode a measurement must be “active” in order to obtain a
measurement result or input data from the DUT. From a programming perspective this
means that before attempting to read a measurement result or to input data from the
DUT, the desired screen for the measurement result or data field must be selected using
the DISPlay command and the field must be in the ON state.
2. In Manual Control mode instrument configuration information is not routed through the
To Screen control hardware block. From a programming perspective this means that
configuration information can be sent to any desired instrument without having to first
select the instrument’s front panel with the DISPlay command.
Keeping these points in mind during program development will minimize
program development time and reduce problems encountered when running the
program.