User manual

Table Of Contents
Part 1: Making the Remote Connection
VISA
VISA refers to the Virtual Instrument Software Architecture, an API widely used in Test & Measurement for
communicating with instruments from a PC. With the installation of a VISA driver, the programmer needs
only provide a VISA resource string to create a connection to a remote instrument, and VISA passes
subsequent write or read data requests and the corresponding VISA passport to the instrument.
A VISA driver that behaves exactly like NI-VISA is required for remote connection to Teledyne LeCroy
oscilloscopes over the ENET, USBTMC, and GPIB interfaces if you cannot utilize ActiveX technology (such
as ActiveDSO and WaveStudio) on your network. Programmers should download and read the IVI VISA
specification document for their programming language to fully understand the VISA API. It is always a
good idea to install the IVI VISA API in order to decouple your Automation program from the driver used.
We have tested our instruments with National Instrument's implementation of VISA, NI-VISA, and
recommend an installation of this if you are making the remote connection from a Windows machine. NI-
VISA can be downloaded from: https://www.ni.com/visa/
Note: For NI-VISA licensing requirements and fees, see https://www.ni.com/visa/license.htm.
Unless you install NI-VISA, you will have to program your own remote control interface. We supply the VICP
Client Library for those who wish to use the VICP protocol but cannot use NI-VISA because they are not
working in the Windows environment.
VICP Passport for NI-VISA
Those using NI-VISA for VICP connections in the Windows environment should install the VICP Passport.
The passport is a plug-in DLL for NI-VISA that provides a translation layer between the standard NI-VISA
API and Teledyne LeCroy's VICP protocol. See the Application Brief LAB_WM827: Understanding VICP and
the VICP Passport for more information.
Note: NI-VISA provides the necessary VISA passports for LXI, GPIB, and USBTMC connections;
VICP Passport is only necessary if you're using VICP protocol.
Download VICP Passport from teledynelecroy.com. See Resources.
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