WinGPIB - Windows GPIB App (multi-purpose)

[Labrat101]

Hi Ian ,
 I have to say Thanks for this wonderful article .. you save me from going Mad with getting
my HP3457A to connect to my HP82357B GPIB to USB .

Thanks for the kind words!

Let me know how you get on in terms of reliability with the 82357B, it's been a long while since I used my own one and there's been one report of issues with them.
Also, is yours an Ebay copy, or a legit HP unit?........the price paid if it was by Ebay is the dead give away.
NB. Mine is the cheap copy.

Ian.

My Hp82357B is an Ebay the Guy quoted it as an original the paper work was fake.
I opened it up as I was getting errors from it there was a bad connection on the chip 2 of the legs were shorting so I made good . The board looks like an original but has failed quality control or its a
really good clone as it has the Agilent marking and codes on the PCB.
 for $80 it now works first class .
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/192183274642
With your Program it works really good . I had to play with one or two settings
having the NRDGS set @ 100 made my screen plank out on the HP3457A so setting to10 .. OK
also it complained about end of line .. thing check box . 
I had it running on test for a few hours and it crashed but that was my mistake . it seems very
stable and the graph is    .
Being an old time electronic hobbyist .

Just finished refurbishing an old 47 yr (1974) Dolby tape deck RS-676US for a friend .

The one thing that would be good to further is the CalRam backup .
I tried it and it seems to work OK it went though all the processes and saved 448 bytes which as far as I know is correct .  This was one thing I also wanted . as I have done a battery mode on the CalRam to ensure my cal is safe .. know is correct as per other posts .

Thanks Ian

[Labrat101]

Hi Ian
Just been play with your Program .
After fixing an old Fluke 515A calibrater which I picked up from Ebay  4 parts or not working.
It had a very ruff life .  after a week of sorting it out and recalibrating . I tried running  your program in Linux in VM Virtualbox works a charm 
Left my fluke on the Graph for 2 hours to watch the 1.000001 volt, drifts  8uv max if I turn the AC off its less .  Its better than the original specs.
BTW graph as it sometimes off the screen as the screen is not resizeable in VM . Not a complaint  . Maybe in your  next update make the interface resizeable .

I noticed a few others have had trouble with there 82357B's if they were like mine they need to be opened and visually  checked some of the chip legs were not straight . and some of the SMD components were off set. after a 5 minuet clean up Good to GO.
Also on some versions there is a bad or damaged connection .

  

[Labrat101]

Hi Ian,
Sorry I have a question about the Cal Location.
My HP3457A is date coded 92 and so are most of the chips.
on the back it it has purchest date of 95 by the company .
I have load a picture of VMram does this give any clues .
The Cal Ram (old Map)::  gave me 448 bytes with the last byte 22. which 34 the number of cals
this true also from the cal? = 34 . or have I just thinking wild .
Cal Ram New map  gives about a 1k of data and looks like the program section as it has a lot of the display commands visible .
I have a feeling the old Ram Map is good but Murphy nudge me ... Go 4 it !!

Thanks . Sorry for being a dummy at the software stuff .
PS the program works great and the graft very nice 

Great Work .

[IanJ]

Hi Ian,
Sorry I have a question about the Cal Location.
My HP3457A is date coded 92 and so are most of the chips.
on the back it it has purchest date of 95 by the company .
I have load a picture of VMram does this give any clues .
The Cal Ram (old Map)::  gave me 448 bytes with the last byte 22. which 34 the number of cals
this true also from the cal? = 34 . or have I just thinking wild .
Cal Ram New map  gives about a 1k of data and looks like the program section as it has a lot of the display commands visible .
I have a feeling the old Ram Map is good but Murphy nudge me ... Go 4 it !!

Thanks . Sorry for being a dummy at the software stuff .
PS the program works great and the graft very nice 

Great Work .

I haven't investigated the ins/outs of the various cal ram maps for the 3457A too much........I did verify that my export matched one of the DOS cal ram extracts out there and thats about it. It's all theory until either I or somebody else confirms.
If I get a hold of another 3457A then perhaps I will be able to test more.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.26 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

This version is just some general minor bug fixes, and some changes to the PDVS2mini auto-calibration utility.

Ian.

[enut11]

Hi Ian
Tried to install latest version [3.26] but ran into a problem.
Cannot find the 'exe' run file.
There is a 'manifest' file that sort-of works but cannot create a desktop shortcut like I had in V2 of the logger.
enut11

[enut11]

All good. Now working. I had to delete the old version 2 first.

Version 3.26 is a very nice upgrade from V2. Using tabbed windows does free up a lot of space.

A few suggestions for your next upgrade:
1) After I start logging with the RUN button, I tend to mostly view the Data Log/CSV/Event window.
To stop logging, I have to jump back to the Device 1/2 window and then go back again to the Data Log/CSV/Event window to process the data.
Would it be possible to duplicate the STOP button on the Data Log/CSV/Event window?
2) In the Data Log/CSV/Event window, I found that I could not Export CSV until I un-checked the Enable CSV button.
3) Ditto for Reset CSV. Might be worth including this info in your help notes.

Thanks again for a great logging program
enut11

[IanJ]

A few suggestions for your next upgrade:
1) After I start logging with the RUN button, I tend to mostly view the Data Log/CSV/Event window.
To stop logging, I have to jump back to the Device 1/2 window and then go back again to the Data Log/CSV/Event window to process the data.
Would it be possible to duplicate the STOP button on the Data Log/CSV/Event window?
2) In the Data Log/CSV/Event window, I found that I could not Export CSV until I un-checked the Enable CSV button.
3) Ditto for Reset CSV. Might be worth including this info in your help notes.

Thanks, I'll have a look at these later this week.

Ian.

[zed65]

Hi, do you have any suggestion on a temp/humidity sensor? The DogRatlan version seems to be out of stock/discontinued.

[enut11]

Hi Ian
Happily logging 2 DMM simultaneously now with V3.26. Thanks

Another suggestion:
On tab 'Data Log/CSV/Event window', once the log gets over 1000 entries I can no longer see the LSD count to the left of 'CSV Entries' and 'CSV File No Lines'
enut11

[IanJ]

Hi, do you have any suggestion on a temp/humidity sensor? The DogRatlan version seems to be out of stock/discontinued.

Try contact them (Ian), its happened before and they made a new batch pretty quick after.

Ian.

[IanJ]

All good. Now working. I had to delete the old version 2 first.

Version 3.26 is a very nice upgrade from V2. Using tabbed windows does free up a lot of space.

A few suggestions for your next upgrade:
1) After I start logging with the RUN button, I tend to mostly view the Data Log/CSV/Event window.
To stop logging, I have to jump back to the Device 1/2 window and then go back again to the Data Log/CSV/Event window to process the data.
Would it be possible to duplicate the STOP button on the Data Log/CSV/Event window?
2) In the Data Log/CSV/Event window, I found that I could not Export CSV until I un-checked the Enable CSV button.
3) Ditto for Reset CSV. Might be worth including this info in your help notes.

Thanks again for a great logging program
enut11

I'm hesitant to duplicate buttons across the various tabs because it just adds a little bit more complexity in managing visibility of the buttons etc.
For the other suggestions these are more difficult mods I will have to look at later. I have to be very careful of manipulating (writing) to the CSV file when it may be open by the app.....hence the current requirement to un-check the enable CSV button.....it's safer.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi Ian
Happily logging 2 DMM simultaneously now with V3.26. Thanks

Another suggestion:
On tab 'Data Log/CSV/Event window', once the log gets over 1000 entries I can no longer see the LSD count to the left of 'CSV Entries' and 'CSV File No Lines'
enut11

I'm not seeing that. If you can screenshot it perhaps then that'd be helpful.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.27 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

This version is just some general minor bug fixes, and some changes to the PDVS2mini auto-calibration utility.
I have also moved the CREATE DEV. 1 & 2 buttons around, i.e. putting them in a more logical place.

Ian.

[Labrat101]

Thanks Ian just another great update .   
I have just treated myself to an HP6612C .  From a locale surplus store .. X Motorola Lab stuff.
 So I can add this to my controlled list . 
 

[Labrat101]

For anyone WHO has the HP6612C Power Supply
Example
COM PORT ::  - Serial :: COM1:9600,N,8,1,CRLF
.........Pre Run Box...........
VOLT  5     set voltage to 5.0000
CURR 0.5   Set current to 0.5
OUTP ON     output on / off

...............At Run Box ........
CURR?      displays amps  or  VOLT?  for volts

.............. At Stop Box .......
OUTP OFF       power output off

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.28 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

On the Temperature / Humidity tab I have added the ability to offset the temperature reading by a value specified by the user.
My own tests and by others it seems that some temperature probes aren't entirely accurate and would benefit from a small offset.
Default is zero and you can input any positive or negative value, i.e. -0.5
Use the Save All Profiles/Settings button on the main Device 1/2 page to save.

I have also done some tweaks to the PDVS2mini tab (won't interest many!).

On another matter, it sems the application when first installed it's to a wierd location, i.e. not \PROGRAM FILES, unfortunately it's a pain to change under VS 2019 so will look to do something about it in an up & coming version.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.29 in Post #1 available for download.......now branded as "WinGPIB".
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

I have now switched over to a Windows .MSI install file for installation of the program.

The app now installs to C:\Program Files (x86)\WinGPIB
A desktop icon is automatically put on your desktop during installation.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Here's why I have been working on the WinGPIB app lately.........just a few to calibrate!

Ian.

3458A connected via GPIB to my Win10 PC (via E5810A Lan/GPIB Gateway) and the WinGPIB app.
3458A connected to the PDVS2mini analogue output (PTFE, silver coated wire, gold plated bananas).
My Win10 PC connected via USB to the serial port of the PDVS2mini and using an isolated USB-TTL converter (to avoid ground loops and PC earth/GND noise etc).
A temperature sensor (blue cable up onto the workshop trunking) connected via USB to my Win10 PC
Thus a full control loop allowing automated calibration of the PDVS2mini's. I only have to manually tweak the final cal by 1bit or so, and then a Cal cert. is automatically generated.


A batch of 90 mid way through calibration.


Example of a completed cal on the app.


Example of an auto-generated Cal Cert from the app.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.31 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

This is a bug fix on the new .MSI installer.

The app installs to C:\Program Files (x86)\WinGPIB
All data is stored in C:\Users\[userrname]\Documents\WinGPIBdata

The data folder is created when installing the app and includes the default GPIBchannels.txt & Log.csv file.
This folder is used for logging (CSV's), storage of the GPIBchannels.txt file and any 3458A/3457A ram extracts.

I think it's all working, please report any issues. Finally!!! I have the app as it should have been all along, i.e. separate program and user data folder, not to mention a decent installer.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.32 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

- Bug fix on the new .MSI installer
- Bug fix where Win7 wouldn't play ball
- Minor changes/updates

All data is stored in C:\Users\[username]\Documents\WinGPIBdata
The data folder is created when installing the app but it seems there may be an issue with Win7 (that I can't test). So, if anyone is using Win7 can you report if it's okay or not. Do you get the \WinGPIBdata folder in the correct location.

Ian.

[TheDefpom]

Hi all,

New version V3.32 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

- Bug fix on the new .MSI installer
- Bug fix where Win7 wouldn't play ball
- Minor changes/updates

All data is stored in C:\Users\[userrname]\Documents\WinGPIBdata
The data folder is created when installing the app but it seems there may be an issue with Win7 (that I can't test). So, if anyone is using Win7 can you report if it's okay or not. Do you get the \WinGPIBdata folder in the correct location.

Ian.

I will check the win7 installer tomorrow morning, I wanted to get the new version running anyway.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

Looks like Microsoft OneDrive is causing an issue with at least one Win7 user I have been working with to get up and running.
At this point it looks like OneDrive has shifted the Documents folder location which modifies an Windows environment label......aarrgghhh!
It'll be interesting to hear if thats an isolated case or a Win7 one across the board.

UPDATE:
The fix for OneDrive users for now, is to install WinGPIB and then before running it, copy the WinGPIBdata folder from the 'Documents' folder and manually place it at C:\Users\[username]\Documents\
Then you can run WinGPIB.
I'll have a new version of the app tomorrow that does the copying automatically at first startup.

I've come across OneDrive issues before......oh how I hate OneDrive!

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.33 in Post #1 available for download.
[Virus acanned using Kaspersky Antivirus & Malwarebytes Premium]

- Fixed issue whereby Microsoft OneDrive users may experience an error related to a missing WinGPIBdata folder after installation
- Minor changes/updates

Ian.

[IanJ]

Hi all,

New version V3.34 attached to this post.

This is a preliminary beta version which offers the following:

On Device 2 there is a new checkbox "3457A Enable 7th Digit". This allows users of the HP 3457A DMM to get access to a 7th digit. This is normally only available via GPIB and not through the front panel of the instrument.
This is a beta version so to get it to work you also need to un-check the "Abort Errors" checkbox.
You must also have NPLC set to 10 or over.

Example:
Without 7th digit enabled = 01.234568 Vdc
With 7th digit enabled = 01.2345678 Vdc

You can see that with it disabled the 6th digit after the DP is rounded up to 8, but with it enabled you the extra digit and resolution.

PS. This is not a hack, it is actually mentioned briefly in the 3457A manual.

Ian.