Agilent Technical Forums : E5061B C# COM objects ...

brandon@Hallibu...

Posts: 3
Registered: 12/30/11

E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Dec 30, 2011 12:34 PM

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Hello,

I am using an E5061B. In the online help there are several examples of VBA code using COM objects. Are these same objects available in C#?

Best regards,

Brandon W

tsilchia

Posts: 225
Registered: 10/31/05

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Dec 30, 2011 3:04 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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Hello,

For the E5061B (and the entire ENA Family of VNAs) the COM object is supported as embedded VBA only. The embedded COM does not support C#.

The analyzer's model is embedded COM only and no DCOM. This would negate the use of C# and the ENA as a DCOM object.

If you program remotely to the ENA the programming model is limited to SCPI (i.e. Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments via ASCII based SCPI compliant strings).

Sincerely,
tsilchia.

brandon@Hallibu...

Posts: 3
Registered: 12/30/11

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 3, 2012 1:19 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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Thank you for the quick reply! I have one follow up question. Will there be support for C# in the future?

Best regards,

Brandon Williams

tsilchia

Posts: 225
Registered: 10/31/05

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 3, 2012 1:40 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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Hello,

Apologies, but don't look to any DCOM on the ENA Family of Vector Network Analyzers any time soon.

Sincerely,
tsilchia.

daras

Posts: 756
Registered: 12/01/05

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 3, 2012 3:05 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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"
Thank you for the quick reply! I have one follow up question. Will there be support for C# in the future?

Best regards,

Brandon Williams
"

You might want to check out a new tool from Agilent called "Command Expert". The ENA VBA interface closely mimics its SCPI interface and with command expert you get a .NET library that essentially gives you a .NET interface for all the ENA's SCPI commands. it will require Agilent IO libraries installed on the client PC, but it can work over GPIB, USB as well as LAN, so you actually end up with more options than DCOM and none of the DCOM security headaches.

tsilchia

Posts: 225
Registered: 10/31/05

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 3, 2012 3:26 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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Additionally,

If set on a COM / DCOM model then you could also consider the IVI-COM / IVI-C driver for the VNAs.
http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=1669213&nid=-33831.912674&id=1669213.
This is not true COM/DCOM. The IVI-COM driver will encapsulate equivalent SCPI commands as function calls that theorethically should work on many network analzyer families. Note that currently there is no Network Analzyer Classs Compliant IVI-COM / IVI-C driver formal definition so this is a best effort.

Also, your analyzer is an E5061B, if you have options 3L5 and 005 (impedance mode) and you plan to use the Impedance measurement functions I would expect none of this Impedance functionality to be integrated in the IVI-COM / IVI-C driver.

Personally I am not a fan of these drivers (for various reasons left unstated!).

Sincerely,
tsilchia.

brandon@Hallibu...

Posts: 3
Registered: 12/30/11

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 4, 2012 1:47 PM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

Reply

"

You might want to check out a new tool from Agilent called "Command Expert". The ENA VBA interface closely mimics its SCPI interface and with command expert you get a .NET library that essentially gives you a .NET interface for all the ENA's SCPI commands. it will require Agilent IO libraries installed on the client PC, but it can work over GPIB, USB as well as LAN, so you actually end up with more options than DCOM and none of the DCOM security headaches.
"

This may turn out to be a viable solution for me. It would be better for the future if I could make code that I can maintain and customize. Thanks for your help!

"
Additionally,

If set on a COM / DCOM model then you could also consider the IVI-COM / IVI-C driver for the VNAs.
http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/editorial.jspx?cc=US&lc=eng&ckey=1669213&nid=-33831.912674&id=1669213.
This is not true COM/DCOM. The IVI-COM driver will encapsulate equivalent SCPI commands as function calls that theorethically should work on many network analzyer families. Note that currently there is no Network Analzyer Classs Compliant IVI-COM / IVI-C driver formal definition so this is a best effort.

Also, your analyzer is an E5061B, if you have options 3L5 and 005 (impedance mode) and you plan to use the Impedance measurement functions I would expect none of this Impedance functionality to be integrated in the IVI-COM / IVI-C driver.

Personally I am not a fan of these drivers (for various reasons left unstated!).

Sincerely,
tsilchia.
"

Unfortunately, this will not work as a solution for me. I need to automate impedance measurements. I actually started with this driver and realized that I am unable to complete my project using it.

tsilchia

Posts: 225
Registered: 10/31/05

Re: E5061B C# COM objects
Posted: Jan 5, 2012 8:19 AM

in response to: brandon@Hallibu...

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Unfortunately,

With regards to the driver, 'As expected'.

Sincerely,
tsilchia.

Thread: E5061B C# COM objects