User`s guide

Introduction 1
Agilent VISA User’s Guide 9
VISA Overview
VISA is an application programming interface (API) for instrument
control. It allows you to programmatically send commands and receive
data from instruments and other test and measurement devices (such as
sources and switches).
VISA is a part of the Agilent IO Libraries Suite product. The Agilent IO
Libraries Suite includes three libraries: Agilent Virtual Instrument
Software Architecture (VISA), VISA for the Common Object Model
(VISA COM), and Agilent Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL).
This guide describes Agilent VISA for supported Windows
environments.
For information on VISA COM, see the online Help on VISA COM,
available by clicking the blue IO Control icon on your screen (if you
have installed Agilent IO Libraries Suite). For information on using
SICL in Windows, see the Agilent SICL Users Guide for Windows. For
information on Agilent IO Libraries Suite, see the Agilent IO Libraries
Suite Connectivity Guide with Getting Started and the Agilent IO
Libraries Suite Online Help.
Using VISA, VISA COM, and SICL
Agilent Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) is an I/O
library designed according to the VXIplug&play System Alliance that
allows software developed from different vendors to run on the same
system.
If you are using new instruments or are developing new I/O applications
or instrument drivers, and you have chosen to use direct I/O rather than
instrument drivers, we recommend you use Agilent VISA or VISA
COM. See the Agilent IO Libraries Suite Online Help for an in-depth
discussion of your programming options.
Agilent Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL) is an I/O library
developed by Agilent that is portable across many I/O interfaces and
systems. You can use Agilent SICL if you have been using SICL and
want to remain compatible with software currently implemented in
SICL.