HP 81200 User Manual page 29

Operating Principles
HP 81200 Data Generator/Analyzer Platform User Guide, Revision 2.1
• Visual Basic Application Programming Interface (API)
This provides another mechanism for communicating with the HP 81200
system. An application uses the API to send command strings (based on
the SCPI command language) to the instrument.
All interfaces use an ASCII-driven serial interface protocol to communicate
with the firmware. The interface protocol is based on the SCPI command
language.
The HP 81200 system software includes HP 81200 plug and play (pnp)
drivers. These drivers provide the APIs for programs created with HP VEE,
C/C++, or Visual Basic and perform the protocol conversion.
GUI
Figure 6 Client-Server Architecture
In remote-controlled operation each virtual instrument needs an individual
handle so that the system knows which virtual instrument should receive
the command for executing it. All commands and queries have to start with
the virtual instrument's specific handle.
Per default, the HP-IB interface is configured as a listener. If the HP 81200
system shall be used as a bus controller, the configuration has to be
changed. For details see "Using the HP 81200 as an HP-IB System
Controller" in the Programming Reference.
C/C++
HP VEE
Program
HP 81200 pnp HP 81200 pnp
SCPI Command Language
Firmware
Hardware
Introduction to the System
Visual
HP-IB
Basic
Interface
HP 81200 pnp
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