VB Interfacing

I am currently TRYING to do a project with Visual Basic 6.

The project consists of writing a VB program that will interface (GPIB) with a digital oscilloscope.

I wish to download the data from the test to a graphical form on a user interface for VB (or import into an Excel Sheet).

The problem is that i am not familiar with VB and have purchased the full VB6 edition and a complete idiots guide for VB6.

I cannot find any relevant information that detail how you connect to a different application (i.e. a oscilloscope to down load data)

SO "how do you write a program which will collect this data" and produce a kind of handshake with the user interface and oscilloscope?

My main idea is to set up a user interface with a control (ON/OFF) of the oscilloscope, and set up of two channels of the oscilloscope which will include (variables for the readings, i.e. current, voltage, time etc.)

I would be very greatful if anyone could supply any information which could help me with this MAJOR PROBLEM !!

Thank you !!
Ken doherty.

[Maartin]

Ken the only way I can see something like that working is, that you have to get a connection (Hardware) between the PC and peripheral thru something like an rs232 port or COM port.

With VB you can open this port and read the information being spent thru the connection. But what format the data will be in I have no Idea. I can speak to my boss; he has done things like that before. Hardware wise. Maybe he has some suggestions.


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Have Fun.
Maartin.
[email protected]
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[This message has been edited by Maartin (edited 02-03-2000).]

[ComputerGuy]

Hi Ken,

There a way to communicate with the GPIB port
(I done it in to different project). There a guide with the oscilloscope and there some function related to that particular instrument. The GPIB port was introduce by HP (Hewlett-Packard) and I guest that your computer has a GPIB card. Make sure it's install properly and you got a address relate to that card. Address should be between 1 and 32 if my memory is right.

To communicate with that card there's already some module you can introduce in your visual basic project you can go at the HP web site and they are there according to the proper programming language.

All you have to do it's to call the proper function with the address of the card and the address of your oscilloscope with the related function call.

This is the best I can do at this time.
If you need any help I will need the type of oscilloscope and the brand, same thing for your GPIB card...

Good luck,

ComputerGuy