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 User’s Guide for Windows. For information on Agilent
IO Libraries Suite, see the Agilent IO Libraries Suite
Getting Started Guide 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.