Using the GPIB Configuration Utility
Hardware: GPIB
Problem: How do I use the GPIB configuration utility?
Solution: This document describes the GPIB Configuration utility, an interactive utility you can use to configure the GPIB software.
Overview
The Windows 95 GPIB Configuration utility is integrated into the Windows 95 Device Manager. You can use the GPIB Configuration utility to view or modify the configuration of your GPIB interface boards. You can also use it to view or modify the GPIB device templates, which provide compatibility with older applications. The online help includes all the information you need to properly configure the GPIB software.
In most cases, you should use the GPIB Configuration utility only to change the hardware configuration of your GPIB interface boards. To change the GPIB characteristics of your boards and the configuration of the device templates, use the ibconfig function in your application. If your application uses ibconfig whenever it needs to modify a configuration option, it is able to run on any computer with the appropriate GPIB software, regardless of the configuration of that computer.
Configuring the GPIB Software
You do not need to configure the GPIB software unless you are using more than one GPIB interface in your system. If you are using more than one interface, you should configure the GPIB software to associate a logical name (GPIB0, GPIB1, and so on) with each physical GPIB interface.
To configure the GPIB software, complete the following steps:
- Select Start » Settings » Control Panel and double-click on the System icon.
- Select the Device Manager tab in the System Properties dialog box that appears.
- Click on the "View devices by type" button at the top of the Device Manager tab, and double-click on the "National Instruments GPIB Interfaces" heading.
- Double-click on the particular interface type you want to configure in the list of installed interfaces immediately below National Instruments GPIB Interfaces. If an exclamation point or an X appears next to the interface, there is a problem, and you should refer to the Troubleshooting Device Manager Problems section in Appendix C of the Getting Started with Your AT-GPIB/TNT or EISA-GPIB and the GPIB Software for Windows 95 manual, to resolve your problem before you continue. The Resources tab provides information about the hardware resources assigned to the GPIB interface, and the GPIB Settings tab provides information about the software configuration for the GPIB interface.
- Use the Interface Name drop-down box to select a logical name (GPIB0, GPIB1, and so on) for the GPIB interface. Repeat this process for each interface you need to configure. The figure below shows the GPIB Settings tab for an AT-GPIB/TNT.
If you want to examine or modify the logical device templates for the GPIB software, select the National Instruments GPIB Interfaces icon from the Device Manager tab, and click on the Properties button. Select the Device Templates tab to view the logical device templates, as shown below.
Related Links: KnowledgeBase 4DH4ITHY: Where Can I Find the GPIB.INI File Created by the GPIB Configuration Utility?KnowledgeBase 0I593DEO: Why Can't I Communicate with my GPIB Instrument?
KnowledgeBase 1DREQIQA: GPIB Error Codes and Common SolutionsKnowledgeBase 20H8G27Z: Why Can I Communicate with My GPIB Instrument in MAX, but Not in LabVIEW
Attachments: 
- settings.JPG
- devtemp.JPG
Report Date: 09/14/2006
Last Updated: 04/16/2009
Document ID: 41D8HDDW
- settings.JPG
- devtemp.JPG
