AnsweredAssumed Answered

Building a VISA application with Borland C Builder

Question asked by adriano.caye on Nov 30, 2007
Latest reply on Dec 23, 2009 by odanzy

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 6

Hi,

I'm trying to develop an application in C language using the 82341C ISA-GPIB interface card. My operating system is Windows 98 SE. The IDE that I have is Borland C++ Builder version 4.0 and I'm using the Agilent I/O library version M.01.01.04.

What I want initially is to compile the IDN sample code that comes with the Agilent I/O library, but I don't succeed. I'm using the VISA library. Unfortunately the VISA user's guide doesn't explain how to build an application in Borland C Builder, only in Visual C and Visual Basic. So, what I want to know is:

- Is it possible to develop an application using VISA library with Borland C++ Builder 4.0?
- If yes, what are the steps necessary to build it?

Best regards,
Adriano Caye.

No one else has this question

Outcomes

6 Replies

dnt Nov 30, 2007 12:25 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I don't know if there is a forum for this type of question. My suggestion
is to download ver sion 14 or 15 of the Agilent IO libraries and try
to use the VISA COM object in your Borland environment. If you
can instantiate the object you should be set.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
odanzy Nov 30, 2007 6:46 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
As long as you can link the library in and find the header file everything should work. What type of errors are you seeing? If you can compile and not link, then the library is not properly referenced. If you cannot compile it might be that the include directory is not set properly.

Also according to the IO Library Hardware Support Matrix, the latest version of the libs that you can use is 14.0 ( as this is the last version that supports 98SE ), but this will require the .NET runtime for Win98SE be installed. Everything should work with the M version, including VISA-COM if it was installed.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
adriano.caye Dec 3, 2007 8:40 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thanks a lot for the replies, Dnt and Odanzy. First of all, I have downloaded the M version of the I/O library because I didn't find the version 14. If it is available, please tell me where it is.

I don't know about VISA COM, actually I'm quite new to VISA/SICL, it's my first use. Would it be easier to develop an application with VISA COM than the VISA library? Are there good documentation about it in versions M and 14 of the I/O library?

Actually I cannot compile the project. I have the following declaration in my project file (.cpp):

--------------------------------------------------------------------
USEUNIT("idn.c");
USELIB("C:\Program Files\VISA\win95\lib\bc\visa32.lib");

#define main
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I have set the paths for both the include and library files. I'm trying to build a simple console application, without windows. I have one warning and one error message for each of the "USE" declarations above:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
[C++ Warning] Idn_HPIB.cpp(3): W8054 Style of function definition is now obsolete.
[C++ Error] Idn_HPIB.cpp(3): E2293 ) expected.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

These messages seem to be related with the way parameters are declared in a function declaration, because the help messages I get are the following:

--------------------------------------------------------------------
In C++, this old C style of function definition is illegal:

int func(p1, p2) int p1, p2; { /* ... */ }

This practice might not be allowed by other C++ compilers.

A right parenthesis was expected at the end of a parameter list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Any ideas? Thanks in advance,
Adriano Caye.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
adriano.caye Dec 3, 2007 12:00 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Hi,

fortunately I have managed to compile the IDN console application with Borland C++ Builder. The only thing missing was a "#include <condefs.h>" declaration in the beginning of the project file. This line was actually included when I opened a new console application, but I had inadvertently erased it.

I will continue my development using VISA library with Borland Builder 4.0 and Windows 98 SE, unless you do not recommend that. I could change to Windows 2000 and Visual Basic, but as it's working now, I prefer to keep it this way. Besides, I'm not used to Visual Basic, C language is far more familiar to me.

Regards,
Adriano.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
saurabh162 Dec 23, 2009 1:24 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Dear All

I am using IOLibSuite_15.1.12008.0 for including visa library in my program .

I have written following C program using turbo C to run sci command *IDN? on our signal analyzer using LAN interface.

#include "visa.h"
#include <stdio.h>

void main ()
{

ViSession vi,defaultRM,buf;
/*Open session to LAN device at IP address 192.168.0.2
*/
ViOpenDefaultRM (&defaultRM);
ViOpen (defaultRM, "TCPIP0::192.168.102.187::inst0::INSTR",VI_NULL,VI_NULL, &vi);
/*Initialize device */
viPrintf (vi, "*RST\n");
/*Send an *IDN? string to the device */
printf (vi, "*IDN?\n");
/*Read results */
viScanf (vi, "%t", &buf);
/*Print results */
printf ("Instrument identification string: %s\n", buf);
/* Close sessions */
viClose (vi);
viClose (defaultRM);
}

After I compile above program I get following error .Type mismatch in parameter '--format' in call to printf'.for the line marked .

Kindly let me know about , what mistake I have done ........I would be grateful to you.

Thanks and Regards

SAURABH JAIN
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
odanzy Dec 23, 2009 8:45 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
If you are trying to write to the instrument the line should read:

viPrintf (vi, "*IDN?\n");

Also the buf parameter should be a definite size character array. The ViSession type maps to a unsigned int and the viRead will through a type mismatch error when it is hit once the correct command is sent.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions

Building a VISA application with Borland C Builder

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content