IMPORTANT: To work properly with ExceLINX, your 6485 must have version B02 firmware or later. Visit Keithley.com for upgrade instructions if your firmware is an earlier version (for example, B01). Keithley Instruments ExceLINX for 6485 Picoammeter Release Note for Version C01 11/06/2002 This document provides additional information for the installation and use of ExceLINX for the 6485 Picoammeter. Please review the contents of this file before installing or using the software. Table of Contents ---------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction 1.1 Included in this release 1.1.1 ExceLINX Software 1.1.2 KE6485 IVI Driver for the 6485 Picoammeter 1.1.3 Keithley Configuration Panel and Wizard 2 System Requirements 3 Installation 3.1 GPIB Controller Installation 3.1.1 Keithley and INES PCMCIA Controller Installation 3.2 Connecting your Computer to your Instrument 3.3 Upgrading ExceLINX for 6485 3.4 ExceLINX for 6485 Installation 3.4.1 Installing the software from CD 3.4.2 Installing ExceLINX for 6485 from the Web 3.4.3 Installing only the KE6485 IVI Instrument Driver 3.4.4 Installing only the Keithley I/O Layer 3.5 Uninstalling ExceLINX 4 Configuring Instrument Communications 4.1 Virtual Instruments 4.2 Specifying a Virtual Instrument 5 Examples 5.1 Simple Scan Example 5.2 Fast Scan Example 6 Known problems and issues 6.1 Sample Trigger Source = TLINKx Fails 6.2 Scaling Unit not sent to Instrument 6.3 Relative Acquire not Supported 6.4 Alarm Limits Checked even when Disabled 6.5 Power Line Frequency Auto-Detect not Supported 6.6 Logging to File from Meter Read Task Fails 6.7 Front Panel Lockout from Read Task Erratic 6.8 Shared Components Incorrectly Removed 6.9 Multiple Bus Triggers may Fail 6.10Sample Delay Error 7 Copyright Notice ---------------------------------------------- 1 Introduction 1.1 Included in this release The components described below are provided as part of ExceLINX for the 6485 Picoammeter. 1.1.1 ExceLINX Software ExceLINX is a Microsoft Excel add-in for the 6485 Picoammeter. Within minutes of installing ExceLINX on a PC, users can acquire data dynamically within Excel, and then employ the familiar Excel graphics, charting, and analysis capabilities. No Programming is required to use ExceLINX - a few mouse clicks are all it takes to configure the instrument and collect data. 1.1.2 KE6485 IVI Driver for the 6485 Picoammeter ExceLINX uses the KE6485 IVI driver and the Keithley I/O layer (VISA) to communicate with your instrument. IVI (Interchangeable Virtual Instruments) and VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture) provide a common foundation for application development across multiple communication buses and multiple instrument vendors. This software driver supports many Application Development Environments under Windows, such as Visual Basic, C/C++, LabView, LabWindows CVI, and TestPoint. 1.1.3 Keithley Configuration Panel and Wizard The Keithley Configuration Panel is provided to allow you to setup or modify the communications between the driver and your instrument. For an IVI driver to be truly interchangeable you need to create a virtual instrument configuration which points to the VISA resource to use, the name of the DLL to use and the prefix for the function calls in the DLL. The Configuration Panel and Wizard allow you to do this. The installation pre-configures instruments for Serial ports COM1 and COM2, and for a GPIB instrument at GPIB address 14. If you are using one of these, you may skip the configuration panel. Otherwise, you must create a new instrument configuration using the Keithley Configuration Panel and Wizard. See instructions below. 2 System Requirements Pentium-class PC running Windows 98 (SE) or later, 6485 firmware release B02 or later. Supported GPIB controller (see section 3.1), or RS-232 Serial port for communications with the instrument. Chinese Windows 98 (SE), 2000, and XP Pro, and Chinese Excel 97 and 2000 are supported. Japanese Windows 98 (SE), 2000, and XP Pro, and Japanese Excel 97 and 2000 are supported. NOTE: It is strongly recommended that your computer and instrument be powered by an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) when running a critical application. If a computer running Excel loses power, all your data may be lost. 3 Installation 3.1 GPIB Controller Installation If you will be using GPIB to communicate with your instrument, you must have a compatible GPIB controller card and associated software driver installed in your computer before installing ExceLINX. The software is compatible with the following GPIB controller cards: Keithley Instruments GPIB cards (ISA, PCI, PCMCIA) CEC GPIB cards (ISA, PCI) National Instruments GPIB cards (ISA, PCI, PCMCIA) INES GPIB cards (PCMCIA) When using Keithley Instruments or CEC ISA or PCI GPIB cards, you must have driver software version 5.14 or later. The latest driver for these cards is available from the CEC WEB site: www.cec488.com. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing the controller card and software, and for verifying correct operation of the card and software driver. 3.1.1 Keithley and INES PCMCIA Controller Installation When installing the INES driver software, do NOT install the HP I/O libraries or select HP SICL emulation. When installing the INES driver software, DO select NI compatibility mode. When installing the INES driver software, if the hardware test fails, change the Interrupt selection to none. 3.2 Connecting your Computer to your Instrument Connect your Keithley 6485 to your computer using a standard GPIB interface cable or a "straight through" (not null-modem) serial RS-232 cable. 3.3 Upgrading ExceLINX for 6485 If you have an earlier version of the software installed on your computer, uninstall it by following the steps below before installing this version. Important Note: If you have ExceLINX for another instrument also installed on your computer (e.g. ExceLINX- 1A for 2700), you should answer “no” when prompted to remove shared components during the uninstallation. Using the Add/Remove Programs Wizard in Control Panel, uninstall the following components: ExceLINX for 6485 Keithley 6485 IVI Driver. Keithley I/O Layer. NI-VISA Runtime (If present). Reboot your computer. 3.4 ExceLINX for 6485 Installation 3.4.1 Installing the software from CD The ExceLINX for 6485 is included on the Software CD provided with the Instrument, or it can be downloaded from www.keithley.com. If you have a previous version of the software installed on your computer, uninstall it as described above before installing the new version. Before installing from the CD, it is recommended you visit www.keithley.com to see if a newer version of the software is available. Insert the Software CD in your computer. The installation utility should start automatically. If it does not start automatically, run the setup.exe file in the root directory of the CD. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the software. When the installation is complete, reboot your computer. 3.4.2 Installing ExceLINX for 6485 from the Web If you have a previous version of the software installed on your computer, uninstall it as described above before installing the new version. Download the software from the Keithley Web site, www.keithley.com. The software is a single compressed file, approximately 24 MB in size, and should be downloaded to a temporary directory. Run the downloaded file from the temporary directory. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the software. When the installation is complete, reboot your computer. 3.4.3 Installing only the KE6485 IVI Instrument Driver Installing ExceLINX for 6485 automatically installs the Keithley KE6485 IVI Instrument Driver, the Keithley I/O Layer and NI- VISA runtime. If you wish to install only the instrument driver, run the setup.exe file in the KE6485 subdirectory of the CD. 3.4.4 Installing only the Keithley I/O Layer Installing ExceLINX for 6485 automatically installs the Keithley KE6485 IVI Instrument Driver, the Keithley I/O Layer and NI- VISA runtime. If you wish to install only the I/O Layer and not ExceLINX or the instrument driver, run the setup.exe file in the KeithleyIOLayer subdirectory of the CD. 3.5 Uninstalling ExceLINX Important Note: If you have ExceLINX for another instrument also installed on your computer (e.g. ExceLINX- 1A for 2700), you should answer “no” when prompted to remove shared components during the uninstallation. Using the Add/Remove Programs Wizard in Control Panel, uninstall the following components: ExceLINX for 6485 Keithley 6485 IVI Driver. Keithley I/O Layer. NI-VISA Runtime (If present). Reboot your computer. 4 Configuring Instrument Communications 4.1 Virtual Instruments Before ExceLINX can communicate with your instrument, a virtual instrument configuration must exist in the VISA software. ExceLINX pre-configures instruments for Serial ports 1 and 2, and for a GPIB instrument at GPIB address 14. If you are using one of these, you may skip the rest of this step. Otherwise, you must create a new instrument configuration using the Keithley Configuration Wizard. Open the Wizard by selecting Start>Programs>Keithley Instruments>Keithley Configuration Panel, and wait for the Wizard to start. Follow the Wizard instructions to create a new virtual instrument configuration or modify an existing one. 4.2 Specifying a Virtual Instrument When you use ExceLINX, you must specify which virtual instrument ExceLINX should use to communicate with your instrument. This is done by selecting a virtual instrument in the “Device” field of the ExceLINX configuration task. If you created or modified a virtual instrument configuration in step 4.1 above, you would select that virtual instrument in the “Device Field”. Otherwise, select one of the default virtual instruments according to the following guidelines: If your instrument is at GPIB address 14 and you are using a National Instruments GPIB card, select KE6485_GPIB14 as your device. If KE6485_GPIB14 does not appear in the “Device” field list, then select KE6485ExampleInstr. KE6485ExampleInst is a logical name equivalent to KE6485_GPIB14 by default. If your instrument is at GPIB address 14 and you are using a Keithley Instruments or CEC ISA or PCI GPIB card, select KE6485_GPIB1_14 as your device. If your instrument is at GPIB address 14 and you are using a Keithley Instrument or INES PCMCIA GPIB card, select KE6485_GPIB2_14 as your device. If you are using COM Port 1, select KE6485_COM1 as your device. If you are using COM Port 2, select KE6485_COM2 as your device. 5 Examples The following sections show two examples of using ExceLINX to configure and operate your 6485. The examples assume you are using one of the default virtual instrument configurations described in the previous section. If you are using a custom virtual instrument configuration, select it in place of one of the standard configurations called for in the examples. 5.1 Simple Scan Example This example demonstrates using ExceLINX to configure and operate the 6485 to take 10 readings using all the default settings. A. Launch Microsoft Excel: Select Excel from the Start programs menu. B. Create a new blank workbook: Select the File >> New… menu entry. C. Create a new ExceLINX Meter Config Worksheet: Select the ExceLINX >> Create >> Configure Meter menu entry. D. Configure the Instrument device: In the Instrument section, click the Device pull down arrow and choose the appropriate virtual instrument: KE6485_GPIB_14 or KE6485ExampleInstr – if using a National Instruments GPIB card KE6485_GPIB1_14 – if using a Keithley Instruments or CEC GPIB card KE6485_GPIB2_14 – if using an INES GPIB card KE6485_COM1 – if using a RS-232 COM Port 1 KE6485_COM2 – if using a RS-232 COM Port 2 E. Create a new ExceLINX Meter Scan Worksheet: Select the ExceLINX >> Create >> Scan Meter menu entry. F. Set the Arm Trigger Count: In the Arm Trigger section, click the Count field and type in the number of desired counts (e.g. 10). Click in a different field to ensure Excel accepts the value you entered. G. Start the Scan: Select the ExceLINX >> Meter Scan >> Start entry. The instrument should configure, collect data, and then display the data in the Meter Scan worksheet, Task Data section. 5.2 Fast Scan Example This example demonstrates using ExceLINX to configure and operate the 6485 to take 10 readings with the instrument configured to take readings as fast as possible. A. Launch Microsoft Excel: Select Excel from the Start programs menu. B. Create a new blank workbook: Select the File >> New… menu entry. C. Create a new ExceLINX Meter Config Worksheet: Select the ExceLINX >> Create >> Configure Meter menu entry. D. Configure the Instrument device: In the Instrument section, click the Device pull down arrow and choose the appropriate virtual instrument: KE6485_GPIB_14 or KE6485ExampleInstr – if using a National Instruments GPIB card KE6485_GPIB1_14 – if using a Keithley Instruments or CEC GPIB card KE6485_GPIB2_14 – if using an INES GPIB card KE6485_COM1 – if using a RS-232 COM Port 1 KE6485_COM2 – if using a RS-232 COM Port 2 E. Set Auto Zero to Off: In the Setup section, select the Auto Zero field. Click on the pull down arrow and change the value from On to Off. F. Set Display Digits to None (turns off the instrument front panel display): In the Setup section, select the Display Digits field. Click on the pull down arrow and change the value from 5½ to None. G. Turn Auto-ranging Off: In the Instrument Configuration section, select the Measurement Range field. Click on the pull down arrow and change the value from Auto to a fixed range value (e.g. 20 mA) H. Set Sampling Rate to 0.01: In the Instrument Configuration section, select the Sampling Rate field. Change the rate from Slow to 0.01 by typing in the new value and pressing the tab key. I. Create a new ExceLINX Meter Scan Worksheet: Select the ExceLINX >> Create >> Scan Meter menu entry. J. Set the Arm Trigger Count: In the Arm Trigger section, click the Count field and type in the number of desired counts (e.g. 10). Click in a different field to ensure Excel accepts the value you entered. K. Start the Scan: Select the ExceLINX >> Meter Scan >> Start entry. The instrument should configure, collect data, and then display the data in the Meter Scan worksheet, Task Data section. 6 Known problems and issues 6.1 Sample Trigger Source = TLINKx Fails If the Sample Trigger Source is set to any TLINK value, an invalid value error is returned. Do not use TLINK as Sample Trigger Source. (PR20691) 6.2 Scaling Unit not sent to Instrument The scaling unit character is not sent to the instrument, and is therefore not displayed on the front panel. (PR20215) 6.3 Relative Acquire not Supported This release of ExceLINX does not support the relative acquire function whereby one reading is taken and then used as a correction factor for all subsequent readings. Workaround is to take a single reading and then enter it manually as a relative value on the configuration task sheet. (PR20169) 6.4 Alarm Limits Checked even when Disabled The alarm limit values are checked for validity even when they are turned off. Make certain any value entered for alarm limits is a legal value. (PR20229) 6.5 Power Line Frequency Auto-Detect not Supported This release of ExceLINX does not support auto detection of power line frequency. Select the correct power line frequency in the Power Line Frequency field. (PR20433) 6.6 Logging to File from Meter Read Task Fails The log file option cannot be used from the Meter Read Task in this version of ExceLINX. Do not use the record function from the Meter Read Task. (PR20660) 6.7 Front Panel Lockout from Read Task Erratic The Front Panel Lockout setting is not always properly sent to the instrument from the Read Task. Workaround is to execute the detect device function to set or reset front panel lockout. (PR20597) 6.8 Shared Components Incorrectly Removed When you have multiple version of ExceLINX installed (such as both ExceLINX for 6485 and ExceLINX-1A for 2700) and you uninstall either one, the uninstaller will incorrectly prompt you to remove unused shared components. The shared components are needed by the other version of ExceLINX. Answer no when prompted to remove shared components during uninstallation. (PR20599) 6.9 Multiple Bus Triggers may Fail When the Scan Task arm source is set to Bus, and the task is run several times in a row, a “Could not perform operation because of I/O error” is sometimes returned. Simply run the task again to work around the error. (PR20684) 6.10 Sample Delay Error If the sample trigger delay is set to “Auto” and the unit setting is left as “msec” and error will be returned. When using the Auto setting, select “secs” for the units. (PR20694) 7 Copyright Notice The ExceLINX software is Copyright (c) 2001, 2002 Keithley Instruments. All Rights Reserved. The VISA software supplied with the 6485 IVI Instrument Driver is Copyright (c) 2001 National Instruments Corporation. All Rights Reserved. The KE6485 Series instrument driver is Copyright (c) 2001, 2002 Keithley Instruments. All Rights Reserved. End of Release notes.