WinGPIB - Windows GPIB App (multi-purpose)

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_139_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_139_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Bug fix on the Temp/Hum Serial Port selection. Sometimes crashed when START USB-User and not working properly after REFRESH COM Port pull down.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_140_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_140_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Small mod to the Temp/Hum tab. Have added checkboxes to enable or disable Parse, Regex & Arithmetic Ops on the USB-User User Defined Protocol.
As well as being more convenient to enable or disable them it also means all three can be cascaded if required.
The status of the checkboxes are saved with Save Settings button.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_141_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_141_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Bug in Temp/Hum USB-User User Defined Protocol - Baud rate not being set properly.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_142_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_142_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Bug fix on Dogratian type Temp/Hum sensors.
Also made a very small tweak to the Temp/Hum tab GUI.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_143_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_143_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
WinGPIB_V3_144_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_144_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update.
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

I have added a new temperature/humidity sensor solution for WinGPIB.
Note that if you are doing an UPDATE rather than a FULL install then you'll need the .DLL in Post #1.

Adafruit MCP2221A/SHT40 USB-C which consists of:

Adafruit MCP2221A Breakout - General Purpose USB to GPIO ADC I2C - Stemma QT / Qwiic
http://adafru.it/4471

Adafruit Sensirion SHT40 Temperature & Humidity Sensor - STEMMA QT / Qwiic
http://adafru.it/4885

STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-pin Cable - 100mm Long
http://adafru.it/4210

INFO: This took 2 solid days to implement, the DLL supplied by Microchip for interfacing to the MCP2221A I found to be limited in terms of example code to glean from.......so had to work through it.
One issue I had was that I didn't realize/forgotten the I2C address of the device connected is 7-bit (8th bit is R/W) and so in Visual Studio &H44 didn't work for the address setting, I had to change to &H88 to compensate. I only realized after I hooked up my scope in I2C serial decode mode and saw 22h rather than 44h. A penny drop moment!
Also, in this first release the time taken for one temp/hum read is ~50mS, compare that to <10mS for the Dogratian sensors. I think this is down to the DLL unfortunately. Not sure what impact, if any, it will have with GPIB.

NOTE: I believe the SHT41 & SHT45 sensors are compatible, difference here:
SHT40 - ±1.8% typical relative humidity accuracy from 25 to 75% and ±0.2 °C typical accuracy from 0 to 75 °C. Max accuracy of ±6%.
SHT41 - ±1.8% typical relative humidity accuracy from 25 to 75% and ±0.2 °C typical accuracy from 0 to 75 °C. Typical accuracy of ±2% over the 0-100% RH.
SHT45 - ±1.0% typical relative humidity accuracy from 25 to 75% and ±0.1°C typical accuracy from 0 to 75 °C.

NOTE: The SHT40 is thermally decoupled from the MCP2221A Pcb. This helps with accuracy as it stops thermal conductivity between the two. I like it!

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_145_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_145_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update.
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Added SHT41 & SHT45 option to the Temp/Hum  Interface pulldown - Adafruit (MCP2221A/SHT40,41,45)
A bit of code optimization also.

Ian.

[IanJ]

For info, Sensiron SHT30 versus SHT45 temp sensors.

SHT30 = +/- 1.5%
https://sensirion.com/products/catalog/SHT35-DIS-B

SHT45 = +/- 1.0%
https://sensirion.com/products/catalog/SHT45/

In terms of apparent resolution I think you can see SHT45 is performing better as there is less flat lines within the trend.

PS. Yellow trend is my 3458A, and the red trace is my workshop temperature being regulated (independently).

SHT30


SHT45


Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_146_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_146_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Modified the REFRESH button on the TEMP/HUM tab to refresh the available COM ports without restarting the app a LOT more reliably.

Not sure but this version may require a full install as it does need a new system .dll file but it may reference/install it itself (System.Management.dll).

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_147_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_147_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Made some changes to the LIVE CHART tab to make the saving of the settings more complete and reliable when saving parameters with DP's etc.
Specifically: Y-axis Scale Min & Max and Temp. Y-axis Scale Min & Max.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Whilst testing the LIVE CHART code mods I thought I'd try out 3 different cables and visualize the difference between them.
3245A set to 1Vdc into 3458A.

Looking at the yellow trace:

Green arrow - Banana to banana, 2 short 8" jumper cables, gold banana plugs, cables twisted together for test (you would never use these for metrology!).
Yellow arrow - Banana to banana, 2ft 2-core screened PTFE/Silver cable, gold banana plugs. Guard banana at 3458A end (my goto cable these days).
Purple arrow - BNC to banana, 1ft 2-core screened, Silver plated/Gold BNC, gold banana plug (testing silver plated/gold BNC conns)

Red Arrow - Thermal EMF on 3rd cable as the connectors get to temp and the dissimilar metals, i.e. Seebeck voltage.

Notes:
1. ~1uV difference between first two, and less noisy also on the yellow arrow.
2. All cables were at workshop temperature for hours before plugging in.

PS. My 3245A is modified with two gold plated banana sockets fitted in parallel with the BNC output.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_148_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_148_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Have added a checkbox on Dev1 and Dev2 to give the ability to isolate numerical data from the incoming data from the test instrument connected.
Some instruments don't just send numerical data, some send prefixed/suffixed characters which needs stripped.
There are already some options for stripping, but I have added a more general method using Regular Expressions.

Regex applied = (\d+(\.\d+)?)

\d = This represents a digit (0-9).
+ = This quantifier means "one or more occurrences of the preceding element." So, \d+ matches one or more digits.
(\d+...) = The parentheses () are used for grouping, creating a capturing group. This allows us to treat the enclosed pattern as a single unit.
\. = This matches a literal dot (.). The backslash (\) is used to escape the dot because in regular expressions, a dot is a special character that matches any single character. To match a literal dot, you need to escape it with a backslash.
\d+ = This again matches one or more digits after the dot.
? = This quantifier means "zero or one occurrence of the preceding element." So, (\.\d+)? matches zero or one occurrence of a dot followed by one or more digits.

Putting it all together:
\d+ = Match one or more digits.
(\.\d+)? = Optionally match a dot followed by one or more digits.

As a whole, this regex is designed to match decimal numbers, including integers and floating-point numbers. Examples of matching strings include "123" "3.14" or "0.5" etc.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_149_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_149_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Updated the Regex expression = [-+]?\d*\.?\d+([eE][-+]?\d+)?

This now includes capacity to handle scientific notation, i.e. incoming data such as "someprefixtext9.999873111E-01somesuffixtext"
In this example it would render the value 0.9999873111 properly.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_150_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_150_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]


Fixed a small bug related to switching profiles and the STB Mask and also /1000 settings.
Took the opportunity to upgrade the number of profiles from 6 per Device to 8.
Also added a completion pop-up after Exporting Profiles.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_151_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_151_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Have added the ability to set the max number of DP's on the incoming data (display only, not logging etc.). This also affects the Device Meters tab.
Also tidied up the EXPORT PROFILES function to make the text formatting a little better.
Also added some missing tooltips (mouseover text).

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_152_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_152_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Fixed bug in Live Chart which meant with Device 1 & 2 active on the chart they updated alternatively thus causing the same value to update when the other Device updated.
This resulted in small flat lines on the chart when the other Device updated with a new value......you can see it's no longer a problem on the yellow 3458A trace.
Also added a Chart Window size in hrs/mins/secs......it's the length of the chart shown on-screen in the window.
When it becomes a rolling window the hrs/mins/secs will freeze.

PS. Note the orange arrows.......3457A trace with 7th-digit enabled then disabled via WinGPIB.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_153_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_153_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

The currently selected Profile checkboxes for Device 1 & 2 are now saved off with all other settings and will load when app is restarted. If you are like me you always forget to select the correct profile after starting the app and connecting to a device!
Fix data formatting issue on the Y-Axis Range text bottom left of the Live Chart.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_154_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_154_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
WinGPIB_V3_155_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_155_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Bug in Device 2 No. of DP's selection fixed.

Update: Added 3 checkboxes on the Live Chart so that the traces can be hidden. Handy if Device 1 & 2 are overlapping and you just want to hide one temporarily.

Ian.

[IanJ]

Here's an interesting trace. I left the workshop to cool a bit and left the 3458A & 3457A connected to WinGPIB.
The wierd spikes in the 3457A trace looks to be something to do with enabling the 7th digit of the 3457A in WinGPIB.
The question is, is it WinGPIB that has an intermitted issue with grabbing the 7th digit from the 3457A, or is it the 3457A which has a bug delivering.
Or maybe it's noise being induced intermittently within the 3457A. It's true, I am pushing the 3457A!

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_157_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_157_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Improved the Y-Axis scaling on the Live Chart, including the auto-scale function.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_158_full.zip - Fresh install.
WinGPIB_V3_158_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing.
MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4.zip - New DLL to add if you are just doing an update from before Version 3.143
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

The PDVS2mini tab now has the ability to adjust the 3458A serial number & company/user name for the Calibration Certificate.
Previously this was hardcoded into the VB.NET code.

Ian.

[IanJ]

New version in Post #1 available for download.
WinGPIB_V3_159_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_159_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
WinGPIB_V3_160_full.zip - Fresh install
WinGPIB_V3_160_updated_exe.zip - Updated exe to replace existing
[Virus scanned using BitDefender AntiVirus]

Added a SAVE SETTINGS button to the PDVS2mini tab for the PDVS2mini related settings.

If the settings are empty/blank (first ever run of the app) then here are my defaults:
Init Step Size (bits) = 5
Init. Accuracy = 0.00010
Step Size Final (Bits) = 1
Final Accuracy = 0.00001
Comms Delay (mS) = 125
Low/Shut = 13.0/12.5Vdc
C.Enable = YES
O/L mA = 400mA
Full mA = 70mA
DegC =
3458A Serial Number =
User/Company =
Serial No. =
Serial = OK
Soak = 168hrs
DC Inp. = OK
Chg/Dis. = OK

[Tony_G]

Hey Ian,

I just set up a new computer and I grabbed the latest WinGPIB from here (V3_160) but it is throwing a System.IO.FileNotFoundException:

Code: [Select]

Log Name:      Application
Source:        .NET Runtime
Date:          4/15/2024 7:46:48 AM
Event ID:      1026
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      TG-BEELINK
Description:
Application: WinGPIB.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.IO.FileNotFoundException
   at PDVS2_GPIB.Formtest..ctor()

Exception Info: System.InvalidOperationException
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyProject+MyForms.Create__Instance__[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]](System.__Canon)
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.OnCreateMainForm()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.OnRun()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.DoApplicationModel()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.Run(System.String[])
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.Main(System.String[])


Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name=".NET Runtime" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1026</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2024-04-15T14:46:48.6656400Z" />
    <EventRecordID>5946</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="14572" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>TG-BEELINK</Computer>
    <Security />
  </System>
  <EventData>
    <Data>Application: WinGPIB.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.IO.FileNotFoundException
   at PDVS2_GPIB.Formtest..ctor()

Exception Info: System.InvalidOperationException
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyProject+MyForms.Create__Instance__[[System.__Canon, mscorlib, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089]](System.__Canon)
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.OnCreateMainForm()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.OnRun()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.DoApplicationModel()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.Run(System.String[])
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.Main(System.String[])

</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>
Running the release exe under the VS debugger shows:

Code: [Select]

System.InvalidOperationException
  HResult=0x80131509
  Message=An error occurred creating the form. See Exception.InnerException for details.  The error is: Could not load file or assembly 'MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4, Version=1.0.5646.24010, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.
  Source=WinGPIB
  StackTrace:
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyProject.MyForms.Create__Instance__[T](T Instance) in PDVS2_GPIB.My\MyProject.cs:line 218
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.OnCreateMainForm() in PDVS2_GPIB.My\MyApplication.cs:line 39
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.OnRun()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.DoApplicationModel()
   at Microsoft.VisualBasic.ApplicationServices.WindowsFormsApplicationBase.Run(String[] commandLine)
   at PDVS2_GPIB.My.MyApplication.Main(String[] Args) in PDVS2_GPIB.My\MyApplication.cs:line 22

  This exception was originally thrown at this call stack:

Inner Exception 1:
FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'MCP2221DLL-M-dotNet4, Version=1.0.5646.24010, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

That seems to be a Microchip DLL wrapper (Just a guess) - Did this get linked in accidentally or is there a pre-req that I forgot to install?

Thanks,

TonyG

[Tony_G]

Hey Ian,

Please ignore - Now that I have enough coffee in my I see that you included the DLL in the download list.

Sorry all for the noise,

TonyG

[IanJ]

Hey Ian,

Please ignore - Now that I have enough coffee in my I see that you included the DLL in the download list.

Sorry all for the noise,

TonyG

I may have forgotten to add the .DLL to the installer so that it's automatically copied in. I'll check that for future versions.

UPDATE:
Full installer updated with DLL in Post #1.

Ian.

[Tony_G]

Hey Ian,

I grabbed your updated version and installed it on the Beelink S12 Mini that I just bought specifically to run WinGPIB etc next to my kit and I'm still getting the issue with it not finding the DLL. The interesting thing is that I just dropped the DLL into the WinGPIB directory on my desktop machine and it works fine.

So I have, what appear to be, 2 identical installs on different machines and yet WinGPIB can find the DLL on one device and not the other.

Any ideas?

TonyG