User Manual

Programming with the PicoScope 4000 Series98
Copyright © 2008-2011 Pico Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.ps4000pg.en
4.13.3
LabView
The SDK contains a library of VIs that can be used to control the PicoScope 4000 and
some simple examples of using these VIs in streaming mode, block mode and rapid
block mode.
The LabVIEW library (PicoScope4000.llb) can be placed in the user.lib sub-
directory to make the VIs available on the ‘User Libraries’ palette. You must also copy
ps4000.dll and ps4000wrap.dll to the folder containing your LabView project.
The library contains the following VIs:
PicoErrorHandler.vi - takes an error cluster and, if an error has occurred,
displays a message box indicating the source of the error and the status code
returned by the driver
PicoScope4000AdvancedTriggerSettings.vi - an interface for the advanced
trigger features of the oscilloscope
This VI is not required for setting up simple triggers, which are configured using
PicoScope4000Settings.vi.
For further information on these trigger settings, see descriptions of the trigger
functions:
ps4000SetTriggerChannelConditions
ps4000SetTriggerChannelDirections
ps4000SetTriggerChannelProperties
ps4000SetPulseWidthQualifier
ps4000SetTriggerDelay
PicoScope4000AWG.vi - controls the arbitrary waveform generator
Standard waveforms or an arbitrary waveform can be selected under ‘Wave Type’.
There are three settings clusters: general settings that apply to both arbitrary and
standard waveforms, settings that apply only to standard waveforms and settings
that apply only to arbitrary waveforms. It is not necessary to connect all of these
clusters if only using arbitrary waveforms or only using standard waveforms.
When selecting an arbitrary waveform, it is necessary to specify a text file
containing the waveform. This text file should have a single value on each line in
the range -1 to 1. For further information on the settings, see descriptions of
ps4000SetSigGenBuiltIn and ps4000SetSigGenArbitrary.
PicoScope4000Close.vi - closes the oscilloscope
Should be called before exiting an application.
PicoScope4000GetBlock.vi - collects a block of data from the oscilloscope
This can be called in a loop in order to continually collect blocks of data. The
oscilloscope should first be set up by using PicoScope4000Settings.vi. The VI
outputs data arrays in two clusters (max and min). If not using aggregation, ‘Min
Buffers’ is not used.