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Is there unified software to control scope, signal gen, and power supply?

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alm:
A problem with making such generic software is that probably don't want to sample and control all instruments the same way. You might want to perform parametric measurements with the scope, while having the function generator produce a constant output but while sweeping the power supply voltage. Or maybe you want the power supply to output a constant voltage but want to test at different amplitudes from the signal generator and save the waveform recorded by the scope. So any such program needs some level of programmability. lxi-tools uses lua scripting for this.

National Instruments SignalExpress was an attempt at a GUI, but clearly it wasn't very successful as it was discontinued. Most people that have these kinds of need will end up writing their own programs using whatever tools (Python, LabVIEW, etc) eventually because they need more flexibility that the standard tools offer. If visualization is important, then using a Jupyter notebook like this can be useful.

jan28:
I like EEZ studio (https://www.envox.eu/studio/studio-introduction/) for controlling multiple instruments via SCPI. The visual environment allows you to create dashboards controlling multiple instruments at the same time/make calculations/etc. It has a learning curve.

If a low-code UI is your cup of tea is up to you. I like it.

PS. For siglent instruments make sure the SCDP is recognised as a query, this allows you todownload screenshots in the SCPI termial.


colorado.rob:

--- Quote from: dobsonr741 on January 29, 2024, 03:36:04 pm ---I prefer Jupyter notebooks and PyVisa.

--- End quote ---
Completely agree here. So much can be done with these two tools. Being both control the instruments and quickly graph measurement data retrieved from those instruments is what makes this combo so powerful.

jjoonathan:
Yeah, Jupyterlab is the way! Add a vxi11-compatible ethernet-GPIB bridge and you suddenly have zero dependence on Windows and multi-GB driver install packages that sometimes kill Windows.

The graphs and interactive widgets are great and the notebook-based workflow is really good for providing a continuous trajectory between "screwing around," "documented procedure for the technically adept," "distributable library," and "webapp." Python isn't great at desktop GUIs, but I've done them with PyInstaller and PySide in a pinch.


Video Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dygVTmiumYU&t=356s

Web Example: https://jjoonathan.github.io/FX.html

nctnico:

--- Quote from: colorado.rob on February 05, 2024, 07:53:19 pm ---
--- Quote from: dobsonr741 on January 29, 2024, 03:36:04 pm ---I prefer Jupyter notebooks and PyVisa.

--- End quote ---
Completely agree here. So much can be done with these two tools. Being both control the instruments and quickly graph measurement data retrieved from those instruments is what makes this combo so powerful.

--- End quote ---
How much programming is needed? Mathplotlib gives you a GUI based plot with just a few lines of Python code without needing to do anything GUI related programming.

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