Chapter 1
Introduction
©
National Instruments Corporation
1-5
GPIB Software Overview
The GPIB software includes a native, 32-bit multitasking driver that is
fully Plug and Play aware.
The GPIB software supports the concurrent use of multiple types of
GPIB hardware. For example, you can communicate with GPIB devices
through an AT-GPIB/TNT, a PCMCIA-GPIB, and a GPIB-ENET in the
same system at the same time. The GPIB software is fully integrated
into the Windows operating system. It is configurable through the
System applet and uninstallable through the Add/Remove Programs
applet of the Control Panel.
The GPIB software, along with the GPIB-ENET hardware, transforms
a general-purpose PC into a GPIB Talker/Listener/Controller with
complete communications and bus management capability. The GPIB
software includes the following components:
• Device driver
• Diagnostic utility
• Configuration utility
• Interactive control program
• Utilities for software development
• Language interface libraries for Microsoft Visual C/C++ 2.0 or
later, Borland C/C++ 4.0 or later, and Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0
or later
• Example programs that use NI-488 functions and NI-488.2 routines
Refer to Appendix E,
for information about the GPIB
software transfer rate for the GPIB-ENET.
Time-Saving Development Tools
Your kit includes the GPIB software. In addition, you can order the
LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW software from National Instruments
to speed your application development time and make it easier to
communicate with your instruments.
LabVIEW is an easy-to-use, graphical programming environment
you can use to acquire data from thousands of different instruments,
including IEEE 488.2 devices, VXI devices, serial devices, PLCs, and
