User manual

Programmer’s Guide Page 7 of 66
2. Programming Environments & Getting Started
Agilent Technologies supplies sample programs as a starting point for the development of user-specific Acqiris
applications. For Windows systems there are samples for the Visual C/C++, Visual Basic, LabWindows/CVI,
LabVIEW, and MATLAB. For VxWorks real-time systems there are sample programs for Tornado. An Application
Program Interface (API) hlp file, with a shortcut named Acqiris Instrument Driver Help, is available and contains
condensed descriptions of all of the interface functions.
The API has been split into three families:
 Acqrs Generic functions - AqBx - these can be used for all Acqiris Instruments
 AcqrsD1 Digitizer functions - AqDx - to be used for Digitizers and Analyzers
 AcqrsT3 Time-to-Digital Converter functions - AqTx - to be used for the family of Time-to-Digital
Converters
All of these functions are still contained in one library called AqDrv4. The LabView interface is split into the three
corresponding AqXX parts. The AcqrsD1 section includes redundant copies of the generic functions so that
backward calling compatibility can be maintained for existing code.
Preliminary remark: it is assumed in the following that the hardware and Acqiris software installations (see User
Manual chapter 2) have already been completed.
NOTE: Visual C/C++, VxWorks, and LabWindows/CVI all rely on the standard VISA types defined by
VXIplug&play Systems Alliance (VISA). The visatype.h include file can be found in the include directory created at
installation.
NOTE: Windows 2000 will not be supported in future releases.
2.1. Visual C++
For digitizer users:
Examine the code of the examples, *.cpp, to identify one which is most relevant
Open the project file, .vcproj for Visual Studio .NET or Visual Studio 2008, or .dsp for VisualC++, of the
example and build the project.
Note that when writing your own application you should insert the lines
#include "AcqirisImport.h"
#include "AcqirisD1Import.h"
at the beginning of every file that will access Acqiris D1 Driver functions.
The project should link to the AqDrv4.lib file.
For Time-to-Digital Converter users:
Open either the appropriate project file, .vcproj for Visual Studio .NET or .dsp for VisualC++, for either
GetStartedTC84x or GetStartedTC890 and build the project.
Note that when writing your own application you should insert the lines
#include "AcqirisImport.h"
#include "AcqirisT3Import.h"
at the beginning of every file that will access Acqiris Time-to-Digital Converter Driver functions.
The project should link to the AqDrv4.lib file.
2.2. LabWindows/CVI
Open the project file GetStarted.prj in LabWindows/CVI and build the project.
Note that you should insert the lines
#include "AcqirisImport.h"
and either