Free HP3478A multimeter control program.

[Miti]

Kirill added Prologix support to his adapter and it works with Lmester's program.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/project-extending-hp3478a-functionality/new/#new

A big thanks to both, Kirill and Lmester!

[lmester]

Here is another update to the software.

https://mesterhome.com/gpibsw/hp3478a/index.html

I fixed more bugs in the gain edit feature. I've also updated the range checks to permit gain values from 0.911112 to 1.077777.

Thanks to fenugrec and steve1515!

[Miti]

Luke,

I did extensive testing on multiple ranges using Kirill's adapter. It works flawlessly. Thanks a lot!
I also want to say thank you to Kirill, Fenugrec and Steve1515.

[PixieDust]

Does your software work with the Prologix ethernet variant?

Also does anyone know a good reason why the Prologix clone has the GPIB connector and USB connector on the same face of the unit?

Also, did I read correctly on your web page that therDalton clone doesn't work?

[Noy]

Do somebody know If there is a software that kind of here (maybe this software here) but useable with prologix / Fluke 8840A?

[Neomys Sapiens]

Just great. Nobody is doing 3478 integration for that HKJ software
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/program-that-can-log-from-many-multimeters/?topicseen
now I find this, and find out that I have the wrong type of adaptor (NI USB<>GPIB). Somewhere is a PCMCIA card adaptor - would this work?
Else I have to hunt for a Prologix one.

[lmester]

Does your software work with the Prologix ethernet variant?

Also does anyone know a good reason why the Prologix clone has the GPIB connector and USB connector on the same face of the unit?

Also, did I read correctly on your web page that therDalton clone doesn't work?

My software only works with serial Prologix adapters. My Dalton adapter is not working. Current versions of my software have not been tested with the Dalton adapter. The software may still work. It's just not been tested with the Dalton.

[PixieDust]

Gocha.

[sairfan1]

I did not noticed that is software was written for HP3478A i was trying it with my HP3457A and it worked but when i tried it again it never worked again, is there a way that i can use it with 3457A as believe both models are very close

[lmester]

I did not noticed that is software was written for HP3478A i was trying it with my HP3457A and it worked but when i tried it again it never worked again, is there a way that i can use it with 3457A as believe both models are very close

I looked at the command syntax for the HP3457A. It's quite different than the HP3478A. No chance that this program will work correctly with the HP3457A. Sorry.

[porter]

I downloaded the cal constants from my 3478a through a AR488 adapter successfully using your program. It worked out of the box with no configuration changes.

Thank You.

[Miti]

Hi Luke,

I remember this program was running very well but look what i see after replacing my PC in the lab. Is this something that you can fix?

Thanks,
Miti

[coromonadalix]

It runs fine on win10 and 11 in y case, i dont now why  but at first   it was like the picture shown

@ MITI   do you have the latest version ??

https://mesterhome.com/gpibsw/hp3478a/Software/

those who are ending with 2020 ??

or the HP3478A.zip  ??  october 21   2022 ??

[Miti]

I have the one that was released on 04/18/2020, I think it is the latest.
My OS is Win7.

[Miti]

I figured it out, it is my text size. It is set to 125%. If I set it to 100% it looks ok but my eyes aren't what they used to be so I need 125%. Is it possible to make it independent of the text size?

[lmester]

As Miti said it is caused by screen scaling not set to 100%. Unfortunately the compiler that I'm using does not support screen scaling.

[coromonadalix]

you would need ressource editor (reshack or equivalents)   and resize the window(s)  texts placements etc ....   tried it  and it worked, but i did not kept the moddified file

[J-R]

Try the disable display scaling check box.  Sample photo attached.

[lmester]

The last time I tested my program with display scaling was with Windows 7 or possibly 8. I just tried it with windows 10. My program does not have any problems on my Windows 10 machine.

What version of Windows are you using?

[Miti]

It is Win 7.

[lmester]

Miti,

My program was written using a fixed size window. This was done because I'm not an expert Windows GUI programmer. I don't want to write and debug all of the extra code that's needed for a resizable window.

It's sized to fit on an 800x600 desktop. It may be time to bump that up to a bigger size. Possibly 1024x768. That will be about 28% larger.

I have two 1280x1024 monitors on my PC. These monitors are over 10 years old. Current monitors are wide screen format with much higher resolution.

The important question is: How many people are still using 800x600 as their desktop resolution?

[coromonadalix]

unless you are using an old lappy or pc ??     I think  1024x768  would be nicer ?

Better on my 32"  monitors  loll

[Miti]

The important question is: How many people are still using 800x600 as their desktop resolution?

Not many I would assume. If you do some pcb design you definitely need full hd and eventually two monitors. I recently changed my lab pc from a NUC with a 1680x1050 monitor to an old Lenovo laptop with full 1080 display plus the old monitor as secondary. You don’t need to put any extra effort into this program for me, I just didn’t know where the issue was.

[Miti]

Try the disable display scaling check box.  Sample photo attached.

That doesn’t work for me.

[lmester]

I have added a new version of the program with a larger main window size. It's now sized for a 1024x768 or larger desktop. To do this I had to add an adjustable scale for the GUI object locations and for adjustable font sizes.

Miti

This won't directly fix the windows 7 scaling problem but will allow you to correct it.

Look in the source code at line 156. This is where screen scaling and font size is set. Try decreasing the three font sizes until the text displays properly. You'll need to re-compile the code after adjusting these settings.

Code: [Select]

'   Screen Scaling:
'   1.0 is 750x550,  1.25 will set screen to 960x687


    xs=1.25              'X axis scale multiplier
    ys=1.25              'Y axis scale multiplier   
    FontMeter$="64"      'meter display font size 48-64
    FontMain$="14"       'Main window text font size 10-14
    FontTerminal$="12"   'Instrument status font size 10-12


    nomainwin
   
 
    WindowWidth = 750*xs ' 960 '750
    WindowHeight = 550*ys '687  '550
    UpperLeftX=int((DisplayWidth-WindowWidth)/2)
    UpperLeftY=int((DisplayHeight-WindowHeight)/2)
 
 
 
 
 
 


    '-----Begin menu code


    menu #main, "&File  ",_
                "Log file"     , LogFile,_
                "Load settings", [LoadSet],_
                "Save settings", [SaveSet],|,_
                "Exit"         , [quit.main]
    menu #main, "Settings"     ,_
                "Default settings", [LoadDef],_
                "Read/Write calibration", [CalWin],_
                "Edit calibration", [CalEdWin]
    '-----End menu code

    '-----Begin GUI objects code
    TexteditorColor$ = "white"
    TextboxColor$ = "white"
    texteditor #main.Terminal,                                                               480*xs, 275*ys, 255*xs, 215*ys
    groupbox #main.GBTrigger, "Trigger",                                                     485*xs,  92*ys,  95*xs, 145*ys
    groupbox #main.GBAutoZ, "Auto zero",                                                     340*xs, 247*ys, 125*xs,  75*ys
    groupbox #main.GBRange, "Range",                                                         10*xs, 147*ys, 300*xs, 175*ys
    groupbox #main.GBFunction, "Function",                                                   10*xs,  92*ys, 455*xs,  50*ys
    groupbox #main.GBLog, "Log file",                                                        10*xs, 327*ys, 170*xs,  90*ys


The source code is included in the zip file. Also, the compiler is freeware.  you can download it from here:http://www.bbcbasic.co.uk/lbb/