Remote Control
R&S
®
ZNC
331
User Manual 1173.9557.02 ─ 13
5.1.1 Starting a Remote Control Session
A remote control program must open a connection to the analyzer (using VISA function-
ality), before it can send commands to the analyzer and receive device responses (e.g.
measurement data). The programming details depend on the library version used and on
the programming language. For this reason, the examples in chapters "Command Ref-
erence" and "Programming Examples" are reduced to the mere SCPI syntax.
Example controller programs may be obtained from the Rohde & Schwarz support cen-
ters. In many cases, it can be preferable to integrate the controller program into post-
processing tools (e.g. Microsoft Excel) in order to list, draw, or manipulate the measured
values retrieved from the analyzer.
The following tools can make remote control more comfortable and faster:
●
Various software tools provide an easy-to-use graphical user interface for remote
control. An example is the "GPIB Explorer" (also termed "IECWIN32") which is pre-
installed on the analyzer. See
chapter 5.1.2, "GPIB Explorer"
●
Instrument drivers provide an improved interface between the test software and the
test instruments. They perform the actual control of the instrument using higher-level
functions for operations such as configuring, reading from, writing to, and triggering
the instrument. This reduces development time, eliminating the need to learn the
specific command set for each instrument. In general, program development is further
simplified by a graphical program environment.
Rohde & Schwarz offers various R&S ZNC driver types (LabView, LabWindows/CVI,
IVI, VXIplug&play...) for different programming languages. The drivers are available
free of charge on the product pages in the R&S internet, along with installation infor-
mation.
5.1.2 GPIB Explorer
The GPIB Explorer is a software tool that allows you to connect to the analyzer, obtain
an overview of all implemented remote control programs, test programs, compile and run
test scripts. The program can be opened from the Windows
®
start menu: "Programs –
R&S Network Analyzer – GPIB Explorer" or via "APPLIC > External Tools > GPIB
Explorer". You can also start the executable file
iecwin32.exe
in the program directory
of the network analyzer (e.g.
C:\Program Files\Rohde&Schwarz\Network Analyzer\Bin
).
After the GPIB Explorer is started, the interface and protocol for the connection to the
instrument can be selected in a dialog:
Introduction to Remote Control