Instrument Control Toolbox™
Release Notes
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Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
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Summary by Version ............................... 1
Version 2.10 (R2010a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.9 (R2009b) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.8 (R2009a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.7 (R2008b) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.6 (R2008a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
........................................ 4
........................................ 5
........................................ 6
........................................ 8
........................................ 12
Contents
Version 2.5 (R2007b) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.4.2 (R2007a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.4.1 (R2006b) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.4 (R2006a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
Version 2.3 (R14SP3) Instrument Co ntrol Toolbox
Software
Version 2.2 (R14SP2) Instrument Co ntrol Toolbox
Software
........................................ 14
........................................ 17
........................................ 18
........................................ 19
........................................ 21
........................................ 22
iii
Compatibility Summary for Instrument Control
Toolbox Software
................................ 23
iv Contents
SummarybyVersion
This table provides quick access to what is new in each version. For
clarification, see “Using Release Notes” on page 1 .
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version
(Release)
Latest Versi
V2.10 (R2010
V2.9 (R2009b)
V2.8 (R2009a)
V2.7 (R2
V2.6 (R2008a)
V2.5 (R2007b)
2 (R2007a)
V2.4.
V2.4.1 (R2006b)
on
a)
008b)
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details
Yes
Details
Yes
Details
Yes
Details
Yes
Details
Yes
ls
Detai
Yes
Details
No No Bug Reports No
Version
Compatibilit
Consideratio
No Bug Reports
No Bug Reports
No Bug Repor
Yes
Summary
No Bug Reports
Yes
Summa
Yes
Summary
ry
Fixed Bugs
y
and Known
ns
Problems
Includes fix
Includes fixes
Includes
Bug Reports
Includes fixes
Includes fixes
Bug Rep
Inclu
Bug Reports No
orts
des fixes
ts
fixes
es
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
Printable R elease
Notes: PDF
Current product
documentation
No
No
No
No
No
V2.4 (R2006a)
V2.3 (R14SP3)
V2.2 (R14SP2)
Yes
Details
No No Bug
s
Ye
tails
De
No Bug Reports No
No Bu
Reports
g Reports
No
No
Using Release Notes
Use release notes when upgrading to a newer version to learn about:
1
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
• New features
• Changes
• Potential impact on your existing files and practices
Review the release notes for other MathWorks™ products required for this
product (for example, MATLAB
®
or Simulink®). Determine if enhancements,
bugs, or compatibility considerations in other products impact you.
If you are upgrading from a software version other than the m ost recent one,
review the current release notes and all interim versions. For example, when
you upg rade from V1.0 to V1.2, review the release notes for V1.1 and V1.2.
What Is in the Release Notes
New Features and Changes
• New functionality
• Changes to existing functionality
Version Compatibility Con si derations
When a new feature or change introduces a reported incompatibility between
versions, the Compatibility Considerations subsection explains the
impact.
Compatibility issues reported after the product release appear under Bug
Reports at The MathWorks™ Web site. Bug fixes can sometimes result
in incompatibilities, so review the fixed bugs in Bug Reports for any
compatibility impact.
Fixed Bugs and Known Problems
The MathWorks offers a user-searchable Bug Reports database so you can
view Bug Reports. The development team updates this database at release
time and as more information becomes available. Bug Reports include
provisions for any known workarounds or file replacem ents. Information is
available for bugs existing in or fixed in Release 14SP2 or later. Information
is not avail able for all bugs in earlier releases.
2
Access Bug Reports using y our MathWorks Account.
SummarybyVersion
3
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.10 (R2010a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
This table summ
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Expanded spoll Function” on page 4
• “Enhanced Test and Measurement Tool” on page 4
• “Support for Agilent 64-Bit GPIB on Windows 64” on page 4
arizes what is new in Version 2.10 (R2010a):
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
Printable
Release Note
PDF
Current pro
documenta
s:
duct
tion
Expanded spoll Function
You can now use the spoll function to execute a serial poll on VISA objects.
Enhanced Test and Measurement Tool
The Test and M easurement Tool interface is enhanced as follows:
• Enhanced desktop environment
• Two new menu items, Desktop and Window, which give you more control
of the tool’s size, location and layout
Support for Agilent 64-Bit GPIB on Windows 64
You can now use Instrument Control Toolbox™ with an Agilent®64-bit GPIB
interface on a Windows 64-bit platform.
4
Version 2.9 (R2009b) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Version 2.9 (R2009b) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.9 (R2009b):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “New Class-Compliant Interface for IVI-COM Drivers” on page 5
• “Support for Agilent 64-Bit VISA on Windows 64” on page 5
• “Warning Added for Future Deprecation of UDP Binblock Support” on
page 5
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
No
New Class-Compliant Interface for IVI-COM Drivers
Instrument Control Toolbox includes a class-compliant interface for IVI-COM
drivers that lets you switch among instruments with different interfaces that
use a class-compliant IVI-COM driver.
Support for Agilent 64-Bit VISA on Windows 64
You can now use Instrument Control Toolbox with an Agilent 64-bit VISA
interface on a Windows 64-bit platform.
Warning Added for Future Deprecation of UDP
Binblock Support
A warning has been added for the deprecation of binblock read and write
operations over an UDP netw ork in a future release of the toolbox. You will
receive a warning message if you read or write to an instrument over an
UDP network.
5
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.8 (R2009a) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.8 (R2009a):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Expanded Platform Support Added for Instrument Control Toolbox” on
page 6
• “Using the Status Function with an IVI Driver Can Cause Namespace
Conflicts” on page 6
• “Expanded Platform Support Added for NI-VISA and GPIB Interfaces”
on page 7
• “IVI-COM Driver Support” on page 7
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
No
Expanded Platform Support Added for Instrument
Control Toolbox
You can now install the Instrument Control Toolbox s oftware on all platforms.
Using the Status Function with an IVI Driver Can
Cause Namespace Conflicts
If you are creating an IVI driver, use the InstrumentStatus function to set
the status group for the vendor-specific driver status. Using
a namespace conflict. If you are using a MATLAB provided driver, you can
continue to use the
Status function.
Status can cause
6
Version 2.8 (R2009a) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Expanded Platform Support Added for NI-VISA and
GPIB Inter faces
You can now use Instrument Control Toolbox with a National
Instruments
®
–VISA or a GPIB interface on a Windows Vista™ 64 platform.
IVI-COM Driver Support
This version of the Instrument Control Toolbox software offers expanded
IVI-COM driver coverage.
7
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.7 (R2008b) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.7 (R2008b):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Enhanced IVI-COM Driver Support” on page 8
• “Enhanced Functionality of the Test and Measurement Tool” on page 10
• “Enhanced IVI-C Driver Support” on page 10
• “Expanded Instrument Control Toolbox Demos” on page 10
• “Expanded spoll Documentation” on page 11
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
Yes—Details
labeled as
Compatibility
Considerations,
below. S e e als o
Summary.
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Bug Reports
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
No
Enhanced IVI-COM Driver Support
The Instrument Control Toolbox devices can now correctly initialize
collections and items.
Compatibility Considerations
IVI-COM drivers generated using MAKEMID in the Instrument Control
Toolbox, V ersion 2.7 (R 2008b) will not work with versions prior to Version 2.7
(R2008b), and will throw an error. If you need to use the drivers created with
Instrument Control Toolbox Version 2.7, make sure you update your license
to the latest release of the MATLAB software.
After you install Instrument Control Toolbox Version 2.7, if you regenerate
the MDD file, you will need to update your code. To update your code, change
8
Version 2.7 (R2008b) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
the way you call your collections and items. Collections are now spelled as
a plural noun and items are spelled as a singular noun. For example, if
you had an item called
youneedtochangethecodesothattheitemnamereads
the collection name reads
Measurements and a collection called Measurement,
Measurement and
Measurements. The following table show s you an
example of the interface and the corresponding methods as it should look once
you have updated your code. The example uses the item
the collection,
Measurements. The example also compares the model with the
Measurement and
Agilent RFPowerMeter driver model.
Interface
Instrument Control
Toolbox Version 2 .7
Agilent RFPowerMeter
driver methods
driver model methods
Measurement
Measurements
ClearLimitFails
ConfigureRelative
Fetch Configure
ConfigureTimeGated
Measure
ConfigureAnalogOutput
ConfigureTTLOutput
Read ConfigureLimits
EnableAnalogOutput
ConfigureOffset
EnableTTLOutput
Abort
IsOperationComplete
Initiate
ClearLimitFails
ConfigureRelative
Fetch Configure
ConfigureTimeGated Measure
ConfigureAnalogOutput
ConfigureTTLOutput
Read ConfigureLimits
EnableAnalogOutput
ConfigureOffset
EnableTTLOutput
Abort IsOperationComplete
Initiate
Here is another example showing the corresponding properties of the two
sample interfaces, Measurement and Measurements. This example also
compares the model with the Agilent RFPowerMeter driver model.
9
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Interface
Instrument Control
Toolbox Version
AgilentRFPowerMeter
driver model properties
2.7 driver model
properties
Measurement
Measurements
Feed1Channel
Feed1Gate Feed1Type
Feed2Channel
Feed2Gate Feed2Type
LimitAutoClear
LimitEnabled
LimitFails
LimitLower
LimitUpper Offset
OffsetEnabled
Operation RatioUnits
RelativeEnabled
Resolution Units
Count Name Item Count Name Item
Feed1Channel Feed1Gate
Feed1Type Feed2Channel
Feed2Gate Feed2Type
LimitAutoClear
LimitEnabled LimitFails
LimitLower LimitUpper
Offset OffsetEnabled
Operation RatioUnits
RelativeEnabled Resolution
Units
Enhanced Functionality of the Test and Measurement
Tool
Test and Measurement Tool now has advanced interaction between the
hardware interfaces and the instrument driver.
10
Enhanced IVI-C Driver Support
Instruments that require a reset will now work with IVI-C drivers in the
Instrument Control Toolbox product.
Expanded Instrument Control Toolbox Demos
The Instrument Control Toolbox product now has a new demo that uses an
IVI-COM driver with a mixed signal oscilloscope.
Version 2.7 (R2008b) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Expanded spoll D
IB
The low-level GP
work with serial
spoll function now has more documentation to help you
poll.
ocumentation
11
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.6 (R2008a) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.6 (R2008a):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Instrument Control Toolbox Block Library” on page 12
• “Improved Throughput” on pag e 12
• “Instrument Drivers” on page 13
• “Enhanced Capability of the TM Tool” on page 13
• “Support for Agilent IO Libraries Suite 15.0” on page 13
• “fprintf Timeout Errors” on page 13
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
No
Instrument Control Toolbox Block Library
There are three new Simulink blocks that can send and receive data via a
serial port in Simulink.
• Serial Configuration — Configure the parameters for a serial port that
you can use to send and receive data.
12
• Serial Receive — Receive binary data over a serial port.
• Serial Send — Send binary data over a serial port.
Improved Throughput
Throughput is improved in the Instrument Control Toolbox Serial interface
and TCP/IP Receive blocks.
Version 2.6 (R2008a) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Instrument Drivers
Several new instrument drivers have been added to MATLAB Central.
Enhanced Capability of the TM Tool
The capability for discovery of VISA-USB and VISA TCP/IP (VXI-11)
instruments in the TM TOOL is now enhanced.
Support for Agilent IO Libraries Suite 15.0
The Instrument Control Toolbox software now supports the Agilent IO
Libraries Suite 15.0.
fprintf Timeout Errors
You will no longer see spo radic timeouts when you write to the serial port
using
fprintf.
13
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.5 (R2007b) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.5 (R2007b):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Instrument Control Toolbox Block Library” on page 14
• “Instrument Drivers” on page 15
• “spoll GPIB Status Information” on page 15
• “Obsolete Functions” on page 15
• “New Error Message” on page 15
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
Yes—Details
labeled as
Compatibility
Considerations,
below. S e e als o
Summary.
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Bug Reports
Includes fixes
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
No
Instrument Control Toolbox Block Library
There are four new Simulink blocks that can send and receive data over
TCP/IP and UDP in Simulink.
14
• TCP/IP Receive — Receive data over a TCP/IP network from a specified
remote machine.
• TCP/IP Send — Send data over a TCP/IP network to a specified remote
machine.
• UDP Receive — R eceive data over an UDP network from a specified
remote machine.
• UDP Send — Send data ove r an UDP network to a specified remote
machine.
Instrument Drivers
Version 2.5 (R2007b) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
• Additiona l instrument drivers are now available for Agilent, LeCroy®,
Tabor, and Tektronix
• Support for Keithley
®
instruments.
®
version 8.3 GPIB drivers is updated.
spoll GPIB Status Information
Additional GPIB status information is now prov ided with the spoll function.
Obsolete Functions
The following functions are obsolete as of this release. Any attempt to use
these functions now results in an error message.
Obsolete Fu
freeseria
instrcom
instrcr
Compat
nction Name
l
m
eate
New Functio
fclose
tmtool
tmtool
ibility Considerations
In the previous release, freeserial was n onoperatio nal and generated a
warning. Now any call to this function generates an error.
nName
In previous releases,
instrcomm an d instrcreate opened their own graphical
user interfaces. The functionality of these interfaces is available in the
tmtool GUI.
New Error Message
The fwrite f and the fprintf functions will return an error message if the
flowcontrol property is set to hardware and a hardware connection is not
detected. Previously, MATLAB software would fail to respond while it wa ited
for the connection.
15
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Compatibility Considerations
In the previous release, MATLAB software would become unresponsive if
the
flowcontrol property was set to hardware and a hardware connection
was not detected. The
an error message.
fwrite and the fprintf functions will now return
16
Version 2.4.2 (R2007a) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Version 2.4.2 (R2007a) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
This table summ
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
arizes what is new in Version 2.4.2 (R2007a):
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
Yes—Details
labeled as
Compatibil
Considerat
below. S ee
Summary.
ity
ions,
also
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Bug Reports No
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
Confirmation Dialog Preference Settings Moved
The preferences for setting whether a dialog box confirms that you want the
MATLAB Instrument Driver Editor and the MATLAB Instrument Driver
Testing Tool to create new files are in a new location. You now access them
in the
dialog box.
For details on these Instrument Control preference settings, see “General
Preferences for Instrument Control” in the Instrument Control User’s Guide
documentation.
General > Dialog Confirmations node of the MATLAB Preferences
Compa
In previous versions of MATLAB and Instrument Control Toolbox software,
these dialog box preferences were found under the
of the Preferences dialog box.
tibility Considerations
Instrument Control node
17
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.4.1 (R2006b) Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
This table summ
New Features
and Changes
No No Bug Reports No
arizes what is new in Version 2.4.1 (R2006b):
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
18
Version 2.4 (R2006a) Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Version 2.4 (R2006a) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes w hat is new in Version 2.4 (R2006a):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
New features and changes introduced in this version are:
• “Generic Instrument Drive rs Supported” on page 19
• “LeCroy Driver” on page 19
• “Agilent Instrument Simulations” on page 20
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports No
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
Generic Instrument Drivers Supported
This release includes support for generic instrument drivers that allow
Instrument Control Toolbo x software to communicate with devices or software
that do not use industry-standard drivers or protocols.
For more information, see “Using Generic Instrument Drivers” in the
Instrument Control Toolbox documentation.
LeCroy Driver
This release includes support for LeCroy instrument drivers.
Several drivers ship with the toolbox. You can find these drivers by looking
in the directory
matlabroot\toolbox\instrument\instrument\drivers
where matlabro ot is the MATLAB installation directory, as seen when you
type
matlabroot
19
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
in the MATLAB Command Window.
Many other drivers are available on the MathWorks Web site at
http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange
including drivers specifically for Instrument Control Toolbox software under
the Test and Measurement category.
Agilent Instrument Simulations
Instrument Control Toolbox software includes simulations of the Agilent
33120a function generator and Agilent e3648 DC power supply. These
simulations are available as instrument drivers.
You can see the drivers shipped with the release by looking in the directory
matlabroot\toolbox\instrument\instrument\drivers
20
where matlabro ot is the MATLAB installation directory, as seen when you
type
matlabroot
in the MATLAB Command Window.
The Agilent sim u lations are provided by the driv ers
generic_agilent_33120a.mdd
generic_agilent_e3648a.mdd
Version 2.3 (R14SP3) Instrumen t Control Toolbox™ Software
Version 2.3 (R14SP3) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes what is new in Version 2.3 (R14SP3):
New Features
and Changes
No No Bug Reports No
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
21
Instrument Control Toolbox™ Release Notes
Version 2.2 (R14SP2) Instrument Control Toolbox Software
This table summarizes what is new in Version 2.2 (R14SP2):
New Features
and Changes
Yes
Details below
Version
Compatibility
Considerations
No Bug Reports No
Fixed Bugs
and Known
Problems
Advantech GPIB Supported
Supported GPIB interfaces now include Advantech®GPIB.
For further information, type
instrhelp gpib
Related
Documentation
at Web Site
22
Compatibility Summary for Instrument Control Toolbox™ Software
Compatibility Summary for Instrument Control Toolbox
Software
This table summarizes new features and changes that might cause
incompatibilities when you upgrade from an earlier version, or wh en you
use files on multiple versions. Details are provided in the description of the
new feature or change.
Version (Relea s e) New Features and Changes with Version
Compatibility Impact
Latest Version
V2.10 (R2010a)
V2.9 (R2009b)
V2.8 (R2009a)
V2.7 (R2008b) See the Compatibility Considerations
V2.6 (R2008a)
V2.5 (R2007b) See the Compatibility Considerations
V2.4.2 (R2007a) See the Compatibility Considerations
V2.4.1 (R2006b)
None
None
None
subheadings for this change:
• “Enhanced IVI-COM Driver Support” on
page 8
None
subheadings for these changes:
• “Obsolete Functions” on page 15
• “New Error Message” on page 15
subheading for this change:
• “Confirmation Dialog Preference Settings
Moved” on page 17
None
V2.4 (R2006a)
V2.3 (R14SP3)
V2.2 (R14SP2)
None
None
None
23
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