Hello,
we are working on a .NET application which integrates the IVI drivers for the P9372A Vector network analizer.
I am not familiar with all the functionalities from the Agilent ivi interop dll, so i would like to know if there is any resource which describes the usage of functions to be able to capture the screen of the measurement, for example on a bitmap file.
Thank you
Assuming you are using the IVI-COM driver (I didn't see one for IVI.NET), I don't see a specific API call to get the screenshot directly. However, you probably can use the ScpiPassThrough command to get the screenshot back via SCPI. What programming language are you using?
Hello,
the application is built in C# , I am using scpi passthrough ( IAgNASystemScpiPassThrough ).
Is there a scpi command to get the screenshot? I have searched trough the keysight documentation, but did not find anything relevant....
By far the worst named SCPI command ever . I think it stands for Hardcopy Screendump Data. Harkens back to the day of printing the screen directly to a directly attached printer. Seriously old stuff... But, still works today!
http://na.support.keysight.com/pxi/help/latest/help.htm
Give it a whirl and let us know if you get it working or get stuck (a code snippet here would probably help someone in the future)
Hello,
here is the code snipet, derived from the C# console application sample from the ivi driver folder.
In the code bellow, i try to use marker, to get the S11 measurement amplitude ( Y axis) for each of each step in the given span frequency, save them to a 2D array, then try to plot them.
But i will try the Hardcopy screen dump command as well.
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using Agilent.AgNA.Interop;
namespace VnaConsole
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
char[] charsToTrim = { '*', ' ', '\'', '\n', '"', '+' };
Console.WriteLine(" Read and Write IEEE Data CS_Example");
Console.WriteLine();
Agilent.AgNA.Interop.AgNA driver = null; // Version independenttry
{
// Create driver instance
driver = new Agilent.AgNA.Interop.AgNA();// Edit resource and options as needed. Resource is ignored if option Simulate=true
string resourceDesc = "PXI10::CHASSIS1::SLOT1::INDEX0::INSTR";
string initOptions = "QueryInstrStatus=true, Simulate=false, DriverSetup= Model=, Trace=false";bool idquery = true;
bool reset = true;// Initialize the driver. See driver help topic "Initializing the IVI-COM Driver" for additional information
driver.Initialize(resourceDesc, idquery, reset, initOptions);
Console.WriteLine("Driver Initialized");// Print a few IIviDriverIdentity properties
Console.WriteLine("Identifier: {0}", driver.Identity.Identifier);
Console.WriteLine("Revision: {0}", driver.Identity.Revision);
Console.WriteLine("Vendor: {0}", driver.Identity.Vendor);
Console.WriteLine("Description: {0}", driver.Identity.Description);
Console.WriteLine("Model: {0}", driver.Identity.InstrumentModel);
Console.WriteLine("FirmwareRev: {0}", driver.Identity.InstrumentFirmwareRevision);
Console.WriteLine("Serial #: {0}", driver.System.SerialNumber);
Console.WriteLine("\nSimulate: {0}\n", driver.DriverOperation.Simulate);
if (driver.DriverOperation.Simulate == false)
{
driver.System.Preset();
IAgNASystemScpiPassThrough ptrScpi = driver.System.ScpiPassThrough;
ptrScpi.WriteString("*IDN?");
string myIDN = ptrScpi.ReadString();// Reset the analyzer to instrument preset
ptrScpi.WriteString("SYSTem:FPRESET");
ptrScpi.WriteString("DISPlay:WINDow1:STATE ON"); // enable window1
ptrScpi.WriteString("DISPlay:WINDow2:STATE ON"); // enable window2
ptrScpi.WriteString("CALCulate:PARameter:DEFine:EXT 'PORT1',S11");
ptrScpi.WriteString("CALCulate:PARameter:DEFine:EXT 'PORT2',S22");ptrScpi.WriteString("DISPlay:WINDow1:TRACe1:FEED 'PORT1'");
ptrScpi.WriteString("DISPlay:WINDow2:TRACe1:FEED 'PORT2'");ptrScpi.WriteString("CALC:PAR:SEL 'PORT1'"); // select measurement Port1
ptrScpi.WriteString("CALC:MARK1:STAT ON"); // enable marker1
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:SWEep:POINts 7"); // set 7 sweep points
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:FREQuency:STARt 3500000000"); // set start freq to 3.5 Ghz
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:FREQuency:STOP 5000000000"); // set stop freq to 5 GHZptrScpi.WriteString("CALCulate1:DATA? FDATA");
string oooo = ptrScpi.ReadString();double fstart = 0;
double fstop = 0;
double fspan = 0;
double center = 0;
int ipoints = 0;
double fstep = 0;
bool status = false;ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:FREQuency:STARt?"); // query start frequency - "+3.50000000000E+009" format
string sdata = ptrScpi.ReadString();status = Double.TryParse(sdata, out fstart);
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:FREQuency:STOP?"); // query stop frequency - format "+5.00000000000E+009"
sdata = ptrScpi.ReadString();status = Double.TryParse(sdata, out fstop);
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENS1:FREQ:SPAN?"); // query span frequency - "+1.50000000000E+009" format
sdata = ptrScpi.ReadString();status = Double.TryParse(sdata, out fspan);
ptrScpi.WriteString("SENSe1:SWEep:POINts?"); // query points "+4" format
sdata = ptrScpi.ReadString();
status = int.TryParse(sdata, out ipoints);
fstep = fspan / (ipoints - 1);
Console.WriteLine("Start Frequency: " + fstart.ToString() + "hz");
Console.WriteLine("Stop Frequency: " + fstop.ToString() + "hz");
Console.WriteLine("SPAN Frequency: " + fspan.ToString() + "hz");
Console.WriteLine("Number of Points: " + ipoints.ToString() );
Console.WriteLine("Freq/Step : " + fstep.ToString() + "hz");int maxPoints = 400;
int x = 0;
int y = 1;
double[,] values = new double[maxPoints,2];
double markFreq = fstart;
for(int i=0; i < ipoints; i++)
{ptrScpi.WriteString("CALC:MARK1:X " + markFreq.ToString()); // set marker to the desired frequency ( X axis)
ptrScpi.WriteString("CALC:MARK1:Y?"); // Read back the amplitude value ( Y axis)
string pp = ptrScpi.ReadString();
pp = pp.Substring(0, pp.IndexOf(','));
values[i, x] = markFreq;
bool sss = double.TryParse(pp, out values[i, y]);
Console.WriteLine("Step["+i.ToString()+"] :" +"Xfreq: "+markFreq.ToString()+ " -> measured Y: "+pp);
markFreq = markFreq + fstep; // increment to next step frequency}
}
// Check instrument for errors
int errorNum = -1;
string errorMsg = null;
Console.WriteLine("");
while (errorNum != 0)
{
driver.Utility.ErrorQuery(ref errorNum, ref errorMsg);
Console.WriteLine("ErrorQuery: {0}, {1}", errorNum, errorMsg);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
}
finally
{
if (driver != null && driver.Initialized)
{
// Close the driver
driver.Close();
Console.WriteLine("Driver Closed");
}
}
Console.WriteLine("\nDone - Press Enter to Exit");
Console.ReadLine();}
}
}
Hello,
I believe you are using the agNA IVI-C / COM driver. Correct?
Note that a SCPI command for an image save is MMEMory:STORe .....
Below is an image of results via the SCPI command parser on an M937xA PXIe VNA and the syntax of the MMEM:STOR.. command. The full command invoked is "MEMM:STORE 'C:/Temp/image1.png'" which saves the current display to a PNG in the local C:\Temp folder.
You should be able to use an equivalent SCPI command via the agNA IVI - C / COM SCPI pass thru call.
Alternatively, you could attempt to use the associated IVI-C / COM driver call IAgNASystem.SaveState method. The help file related to this call indicates support for *.sta, *.cal, *.csa but not specifically for a PNG image file. It may or may not work as a PNG file save.
From the agNA help the following excerpt:
Parameters
Identifier
Identifier:
The type of file to save Choose from: STATe - Instrument states (.sta)CORRection - Calibration Data (.cal)CSARchive - Instrument state and calibration data (.csa)CSTate - Instrument state and link to Calibration data (.cst)
Instrument Command
MMEM:STOR {Identifier}
If you are able to get this to work then I believe you can go with either a PNG or a BMP as bitmap. The PNG is more recent and more efficient.
This same process worked successfully on a P937xA Streamline USB VNA as well (i.e. the MMEM:STOR ... SCPI command).
Sincerely,
tsilchia.
Hello,
i have tried to execute the following SCPI command MEMM:STORE 'D:/test/img.png , but it creates a picture with my PC desktop.
The same aproach i tried with the hardcopy command using the c# code from bellow
Why do i get image from my computer, and not from the instrument?
I am running Windows10-64 bit if it has any relavance
ptrScpi.WriteString("HCOPy:SDUMp:DATA:FORM PNG"); // setup PNG format
ptrScpi.WriteString("HCOPy:SDUMp:DATA?");
byte[] pngBinary = ptrScpi.ReadIEEEBlockUI1();
Image bmp = (Bitmap)((new ImageConverter()).ConvertFrom(pngBinary));
bmp.Save("D:\\test\\picpic.png", ImageFormat.Png);
So it is posible to capture the instrument screen when i am in remote mode?
I dont want to use Soft Front Panel.
The above commands only performa screen shot of my PC' desktop. Which is not helpfull.
Maybe I'm missing something, but the P9372A has no display to capture an image from. The display is on the PC running the software. You should be able to do screen capture of the displayed image on the PC. If the whole PC display isn't useful, then Snip & Sketch can be used to capture just the app's displayed data. I'm not sure if that has an API.
Hello,
(Response for new inquiry dated, Wednesday, 15 April 2020).
My first recommendation is to avoid the IVI-COM / C - driver as this adds a difficult layer of indirection to the entire automation process. I would recommend direct SCPI programming and use the excellent associated help file and the programming section for guidance and a long list of pre-canned programming examples.
Here is the link to the overall User Guide on-line at http://na.support.keysight.com/pxi/help/latest/help.htm. This is the programming section on-line at http://na.support.keysight.com/pxi/help/latest/CommandFinderExample.png. In the programming area is the selection, 'From a simulated User Interface...'. If you know the keystrokes then this guides you to the commands quickly. For example Command Finder - Save / Recall - Save Other - Save Screen … maps to MMEM:STOR - http://na.support.keysight.com/pxi/help/latest/Programming/GP-IB_Command_Finder/Memory.htm#save.
Alternatively Command Finder - System - File - Print to File maps to HCOPY:FILE - http://na.support.keysight.com/pxi/help/latest/Programming/GP-IB_Command_Finder/Hardcopy.htm#file.
I just ran both SCPI methods (MMEM:STOR and HCOPY:FILE) on our P9375A running with an embedded controller and the SCPI commands delivered via our Keysight I/O Libraries Connection Expert. Both worked w/o issue to save a PNG screen dump to the C: drive on the embedded controller.
In some situations we find the use of the various IVI-COM / C drivers is a requirement for our customers. When facing this additional layer of calls and indirection I will refer to the IVI-COM / C help file installed with the driver download and installation. From within the driver AgNA.chml help file via the Index tab scroll down to the Instrument Command Reference. From this section you can typically map the instrument SCPI commands to IVI - COM / C function calls. For example - SYST:CAL:ALL:IFBW {value} maps to IAgNAAdvancedCalibration.IFBandWidth. MMEM:STOR {Identifier} maps to IVI IAgNASystem.SaveState. Note there is no HCOPY to IVI call thus you would use an IVI System SPCI string pass thru command to invoke.
My avoidance of IVI-COM / C drivers, and all drivers, when possible, is an entirely personal choice based on my prior experiences only. In contrast there is a complete camp of automation developers whom will not work on automating instrumentation without a driver.
Sincerely,
tsilchia
Hello, and thank you all for the usefull information.
It's been a while since I started this discussion.
Right now I am using everything trough scpi commands only, using IAgNASystemScpiPassTrough interface
Agilent.AgNA.Interop
public interface IAgNASystemScpiPassThrough
void WriteString(string Command);
string ReadString();
But I have other problems regarding the connectivity of the instrument to the PC. I don't know if anyone experienced similar issues.
On our test station we have installed the latest IO Library suite installed .
Also the VNA usb driver package was installed, but when I plug in the usb cable to the PC, and try to open the "Network Analyzer" there is no PXI address found.
I am using Windows 10 64bit.
What is causing such behavior?
Hello,
i did a bit of searching google regarding scpi commands, its not posible to import directly the screen image?
I am able to import only the measured values and plot them trough my own software?
Please let me know if my assumption is correct.