Open source EEZ Studio for accessing your (SCPI) instruments

[prasimix]

Currently only one version is released, that is M1. In the project master branch you can see that newer builds are available but its not released until we decide what will be delivered within the next release (M2). Therefore if you downloaded the same version as morris6 and you got that issue possibly the problem is someplace else. I don't know if morris6 also run it on the Win10 or not.

EDIT: Hm, from morris6 screenshot it seems that he is using EEZ Studio on Windows too. I have to ask my colleague who is in charge for development (that means next week since he went on vacation yesterday .

[dpenev]

OK, if you want me to test something please let me know.

[apblog]

This is very cool.

It makes me want to support SCPI on the debug serial port of a board I am designing.  This would be great for easily collecting data from the board.

Is the software able to load columnar data from the serial port, and save it as a CSV file?

[prasimix]

In fact you don't need necessarily to support SCPI since you have to implement some kind of SCPI parsing/processing that could consume extra MCU time and memory. EEZ Studio is a sort of serial console when that interface is selected. Collected data, after they are stored into the database, can be presented in a various way and also exported in different formats. Exporting and collecting .csv (single column) are already accomplished. We have to add multiple column collection that is task #18 (fell free to add your comments and suggestion here and directly in GitHub).

[prasimix]

Hello,

The script is:
HCOP:SDUM:DATA:FORM BMP
HCOP:SDUM:DATA?

The instrument is Keysight 24461A
 
I guess something related with the png conversion?

You was right here there is an issue with bmp to png conversion. Please feel free to contact me by PM and I'll send you an intermediate build that address this issue. I assume that you'll need a 64-bit Windows version, right?

[dpenev]

correct

[prasimix]

Ok, I can also leave a link here (it will expire within few days from now). This is a 64-bit Win installation that should correct that problem. If you already have some important data captured with EEZ studio, just as precaution backup its database (storage.db) file first.

EDIT: This version does not rectify your problem. It's created that you collect bitmap from your instrument once again and send it to me for further inspection. Sorry for initial disinformation. 

[dpenev]

Hi prasimix,

I have uninstalled the previous release EEZ Studio and installed the one you have provided in the link above.
After staring the new EEZ Studio I had my old settings there (I have set up two instruments SSA3032X
and Keysight 34461A and I have removed the few power supplies instruments you manufacture which come pre-installed)
   
I have tested screen capture from Keysight 34461A and it is working now! See the picture.
I may have updated Java on my computer meanwhile (not really sure) so I have decided to test with the old version again
(especially as install/uninstall keeps my settings)
I have uninstaled the test version and have installed the official release, but on start I didn't got my configured instruments there. ;(

So I unistalled the release and installed the test version for the second time and all is working fine again.

Please let me know if you need some dumps to analyze.
I hope you will get some useful information from my test report.

Thanks
Dimitar

[prasimix]

Excellent! Don't worry about issue with configuration. When you started new version it was automatically updated database tables hence when you tried to use old one it cannot work correctly. You can leave a new one and despite the fact that images are now correctly displayed please send us for inspection one screenshot (use save icon bellow captured screenshot).

[dpenev]

here it is

[prasimix]

Thanks, that helped us to find out where is the problem. Used graphical library has issue with certain internal organization of BMP file. It's now replaced with another one that should rectify that problem.

[prasimix]

The M2 version is released yesterday and ready for download (Linux, Mac, Win). Since imgur.com currently experienced a upload images major outage after the latest maintenance, I'll post more info (with pictures) shortly after they become operational again.

[prasimix]

Ok, it seems that situation with imgur.com has been stabilized. Here and in few posts that follows I'll try to give a brief description of major changes in M2 version.

Navigation and general settings

Now, by default when instrument is selected and opened from the Home page, a new instrument tab will be created. Here is an example of home page and four instrument tabs:



You can open as much as you wish tabs, but if you'd still need to move instrument in a separate window you can do that by right click on instrument tab and select “Open in window” option:



Under “Settings” tab of the Home page you can now set “Locale” that is currently offer few date format and single time format for the selected country:



Search and content filtering

Search and content filtering allows you to faster navigate thru the content. Content filtering represents a list of various items (content types) and it can grow in the future as new items will be introduced. A new option for show or hide the right part of the window has been also added.



Content search open a new “panel” (Search results) where you can see the results. When item is selected it will be also displayed in the instrument “activity log” (left side). When search using entered phrase is time consuming then progress info will be displayed and result counter will be update accordingly.



Panels on the right side of the instrument window can be rearranged to share displayed space, and it can be even arranged as multiple tabs (it’s currently missing for Home page but it’s already assigned for M3 in #36). If you want to change location of a panel simply click, drag and move it to some other part of that screen area.



Deleting items

Items from the instrument activity log can be now also deleted. Simply click on the item or more of them using Shift and Ctrl keys and select Trash bin icon:



Note that deleted item will be in this step only marked as deleted and disappear from activity log. If selected instrument has deleted items you can access its “trash bin” using the following option:



Here you have possibility to see what items are marked as deleted, you can select one of more items to be undeleted or purged (permanently removed):



If you want to purge all trash bin content click somewhere in activity log outside of any item and the following option will appear:



Please note that this operation cannot be withdrawn. Use "Back" option to close trash bin section.

[Zucca]

Impressive....

What about GPIB SCPI? for example using an agilent usb GPIB 82357b?

Sorry in advance if it was a stupid question.

[prasimix]

Nothing is stupid in your question, indeed. Everything started with GPIB and it's still around. Our current problem is that we don't have access to any instrument equipped with GPIB interface. I tried few times to find something as second-, third-, any-hand on the eBay but without success. Other possibility is to locate somewhere in our close proximity (actually Zagreb, Croatia, that unfortunately isn't a hi-tech zone) and try to do some development work. I'm also not aware about any T&M rental service that covers Croatia (that is for some time now part of EU). In one or another way it should be based on sort of GPIB to USB or GPIB to Ethernet bridge similar to one that you mentioned or something else (preferably open source if you ask me).

[prasimix]

Sessions and history

Working with sessions is now different. The major change made is that session is not related to an instrument anymore. Session, that could represent a test case, an experiment, etc. could include work with various instruments and when new session is opened, all items exchanged with instrument will belong to that session. It you don't care about session you can simply ignore it: select and establish connection with instrument and start use it.
We are planning in future releases to add importing, exporting, printing (with some per-formatting) of sessions that could simplify reporting, exchanging results with your peers or sending it to us to simplify debugging of found issue, etc.

To open a new session use the “Start session” when you give session a name. You don't need to open any instrument to start a new session hence it is opened from the Home page.



When opened, the session name will be displayed in the top right corner and info about newly opened session will be inserted into instrument “activity log”. The session will remain opened until “Close” option is not selected and confirmed.



The list of all sessions is available from “History” tab on the Home page (second from the top). If session list is not visible select icon on the top right, or Show/hide arrow on the window splitter:



Obviously the instrument session history from now on do not necessary include what is displayed in general history, and for accessing instrument history you have to open instrument tab:



USBTMC connection

A new USBTMC type of connection is added. Unfortunately this one is not so straightforward as serial or Telnet session. For Windows you have to create USB driver for your instrument, if you don't have it already. Fortunately that is not a big task thanks to Zadig. Just install and run it, select you instrument from the list and connected USB devices and choose “Install WCID Driver”.
On the Linux it seems that due to some kernel “bug” or whatever, it is not possible to establish connection with PC that has newer USB host controller (3.0?). For older one you probably have to follow the procedure that is nicely described here under USB connection section. We didn't check what's going on on Mac so far, so if someone of you have a chance to check it please let us know.
If USB driver is properly installed and recognized, USBTMC option will appear in the instrument’s list of interfaces and to open an USBTMC connection you have to specify instrument USB VID and PID:



When connection is established you'll get info about that in the instrument activity log and you can continue to work with instrument as in case of other connections (i.e. serial or Telent/Ethernet):



PDF preview

If PDF is uploaded into activity log it’s “thumbnail” will be now displayed:



Click on it and the PDF viewer will be opened with possibility to browse thru its content, zoom in/out and rotate page orientation:

[prasimix]

Extensions repository

So-called Instrument extensions that contains information about instrument’s SCPI command sets and parameters that EEZ Studio can use for better working with instruments are now migrated to the GitHub repository. That should simplify procedure of adding support for new instruments created by community members that has access to instruments not currently supported. We are planing to draft a first specification how to do that in M3 version.
The “View” combo-box offer various selection to the extensions:



Now, when EEZ Studio is started, it will try to make a connection to GitHub and check if new extensions or newer version of existing extensions exists. You can also initiate that procedure in any time by selecting “Update catalog” option:



… and you’ll be informed about the status of the operation:



From now on, not only instrument extensions can be added, but also extensions that accomplishes other tasks as "Advanced measurements" extensions shown above. But, since that one is still work in progress scheduled to be completed in M3 (#16) I'm not going into more details about it.

That's all about new features of the M2, I do believe that some of you will invest some time and attention to check it and come back with some feedback. Thanks!

[ghpicard]

This seems to be a great tool. 
I'm already working on some macros for my HP 54516B and HP 54542A. Not precisely state of the art but yet very capable.
I will use the serial port for the communications.

[dpenev]

Hi prasimix,

Great progress!
M3 will be  a major mailstone for me.

Keep up the good work.

[s8548a]

Hi prasimix,

I have messed up with my EEZ Studio installation(Win7x64) when I tried to change the Rigol DS1054z interface from Ethernet to USBTMC, Studio just gone blank with an empty white window.
Uninstalled and reinstalled with Appdata folder contains only the storage.db, The scope were showing with a question mark only and when clicked again blank screen appears.

Put back the backup Appdata folder and created a new scope instrument with interface USBTMC and it gives an error - "LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED" -how to resolve this?
Is my old measurement data gone? how to recover it?

Thanks.

[prasimix]

Hi, don't worry about your data, they are in your storage.db, but your instrument is not installed/found. But, before (re)installing instrument, please provide a screenshot when blank screen appears by selecting a Toggle Developer tools from View menu:

[Rerouter]

Out of curiousity, where do the instrument definitions end up being stored on windows? I wouldn't mind filling out a definition for the siglent 1204x-e to help this project.

[s8548a]

Please find attached the Developer tools view screenshot:

[s8548a]

Please find attached the Developer tools view screenshot:

[prasimix]

Thanks, it seems that you have a problem with selected interface (i.e. USBTMC). For Win version you need to generate an USB driver for your instrument. But, before that first try to fix instrument icon in Studio. For that you have to install that instrument (from Extension manager tab), and after restart proper instrument icon should appear. After that you change interface from USBTMC to serial or Ethernet and check if you can see instrument's data.

Please open a new issue on the GitHub and attach there screenshot from your previous post.