Model 9700 Graphical User Interface Software
Minimum System Requirements:
• 486 100 MHz IBM compatible
• Windows® 95 operating system, or a more recent Windows® operating system
• 32 MB RAM (for Windows® 95 operating system)
• 79 MB Free Hard Disk Space
• VGA monitor with 800 x 600 resolution or greater
Program Installation
Download the Utility Software files; the installation program should start automatically. If it does not, click Start, Run, and type 9700 Software 1.04a.zip, followed by setup.exe. (Example: D:\setup.exe) There are automatically installed components and manually installed components.
Automatically Installed Components
Follow the instructions on the screen, exiting other programs before continuing. In some cases, it will be necessary to restart the computer during the installation process, as directed. The installation program will suggest a default directory in which to install the GUI. If this is not acceptable, click the Browse button and choose a new directory. Click OK to accept the new directory and click Next to continue. Click Next again to begin copying files. If the LabVIEW™ Run-Time Engine is not installed on the computer, it will be installed automatically. The message “M9700 Graphical User Interface has been successfully installed” indicates that the process of installing the automatically installed components is complete. Click Finish to exit the installation program and continue with the following step.
Manually Installed Components
It is also necessary to have the National Instruments™ Virtual Instrumentation Software Architecture resource manager (NI-VISA™) installed in order to run the GUI. This is an application program interface (API) for the I/O devices and handles GPIB and serial port communications.
If You Have LabVIEW™ 6i, or Later
The resource manager may already be installed on your computer if you are using LabVIEW™ 6i, or later for instrumentation control, but you should upgrade to this version. If you have a version of NI-VISA™ earlier than 2.0.1 installed, it is strongly recommended that you uninstall it first, reboot, and then install this version. NI-VISA™ should upgrade properly over NI-VISA™ versions 2.0.1 through 2.5.2. The readme.txt file in the “NI-VISA 2.6” folder on the file contains more detailed instructions and information on other installation issues.
If You Do Not Have LabVIEW™ 6i, or Later
If the resource manager (NI-VISA™) is not already on your computer, you may install it by running the visa260runtime file in the “NI-VISA 2.6” folder on the file. To do this, open Explorer (hold the Windows® key down and press ‘e’), or use another method of browsing the file. Open the “NI-VISA 2.6” folder and double click the visa260runtime file, which is an application; when the window appears, click Setup. Choose the “Complete” option of installation. Follow the installation program instructions as prompted.
Other Resources in the File
An updated driver for many GPIB cards has been provided for your convenience in the folder “NI-488.2 (1.7)”. If the GUI works properly with RS232, but does not work properly with GPIB, check to see if this folder contains a newer version of the driver for your card. The ReadMe.txt file contains a list of supported cards and Windows® operating systems.