8902A readback

[skidaddle skaduski]

I am trying to automate my daily routine but I can't seem to wrangle the data output from the 8902A's buffer.  I admit my shortcomings with program, but I've not seen a piece of equipment that constantly fed it's display continuously along the bus.

The read statement gives me the correct value in decimal format, but no matter what program I use, it seems to time out.  My guess is that there's some obscure setting involving carriage returns and line feeds.

I plan to take advantage of the Visa Com libraries/drivers and automate my processes through VBA in excel, however I can't even get the darn 8902A to terminate it's output string through National instruments NIspy or Agilents I/O interactive parallel communication program.

So, to sum it up, I need to read back the 8902A's display.  Is there anyone here that can help me with my issue? Let me know.  Thank you very much.

[metrol12]

The 8902A is not IEEE-488. 2 compliant.   It does not dump data as other ATE does.  You need to acquire an old programming book that will provide you with the correct command string for the serial poll of data.    You can go to www. manualsplus. com and they will have used manuals for sale at a reasonable price.

[mdbuike]

I just PM's the 8902A user manual to you in .psf format..hope you can use it

mike

[skidaddle skaduski]

Metrol,
    That is what I expected, and I do not wish to use metcal for private reasons.  Strangely, agilent's list of manuals involving programming and syntax guides do not have anything about polling the data, nor is there any example codes worth digesting.  I don't think I'm going to purchase a manual because that goes against all of my principles :-D

     Mike,
         Thank you for taking the time to send that manual but unfortunately that is only the user guide in which there is no programming topics at all.  Once again, thank you two for the help.