VISA Interface (Includes VXI, PXI, USB)

Communicate with instruments that support the VISA standard

You can use the VISA interface with a variety of types of interfaces, such as GPIB, Serial Port, TCP/IP, and others. You create a visa object using arguments that determine the type of interface you are communicating over. For example, for a VISA-GPIB object, the visa function takes a board vendor name and a VISA resource string that includes the board index and address. For examples using VISA with the different interface types, see the topics under Examples and How To.

Functions

`binblockread`	Read binblock data from instrument
`binblockwrite`	Write binblock data to instrument
`clear`	Remove instrument objects from MATLAB workspace
`clrdevice`	Clear instrument buffer
`delete`	Remove instrument objects from memory
`disp`	Display instrument object summary information
`fclose`	Disconnect interface object from instrument
`fopen`	Connect interface object to instrument
`fprintf`	Write text to instrument
`fscanf`	Read data from instrument, and format as text
`get`	Instrument object properties
`instrhwinfo`	Information about available hardware
`instrreset`	Disconnect and delete all instrument objects
`propinfo`	Instrument object property information
`set`	Configure or display instrument object properties
`tmtool`	Open Test & Measurement Tool
`trigger`	Send trigger message to instrument
`visa`	Create VISA object
`visa.spoll`	Perform serial poll on VISA objects

`fgetl`	Read line of text from instrument and discard terminator
`fgets`	Read line of text from instrument and include terminator
`flushinput`	Remove data from input buffer
`flushoutput`	Remove data from output buffer
`fread`	Read binary data from instrument
`fwrite`	Write binary data to instrument
`inspect`	Open Property Inspector
`isvalid`	Determine whether instrument objects are valid
`length`	Length of instrument object array
`load`	Load instrument objects and variables into MATLAB workspace
`methods`	Class method names and descriptions
`obj2mfile`	Convert instrument object to MATLAB code
`query`	Write text to instrument, and read data from instrument
`readasync`	Read data asynchronously from instrument
`record`	Record data and event information to file
`save`	Save instrument objects and variables to MAT-file
`scanstr`	Read data from instrument, format as text, and parse
`size`	Size of instrument object array
`stopasync`	Stop asynchronous read and write operations

`instrcallback`	Display event information when event occurs
`instrfind`	Read instrument objects from memory to MATLAB workspace
`instrfindall`	Find visible and hidden instrument objects
`instrhelp`	Help for instrument object type, function, or property
`instrid`	Define and retrieve commands that identify instruments
`instrnotify`	Define notification for instrument events
`memmap`	Map memory for low-level memory read and write operations
`mempeek`	Low-level memory read from VXI register
`mempoke`	Low-level memory write to VXI register
`memread`	High-level memory read from VXI register
`memunmap`	Unmap memory for low-level memory read and write operations
`memwrite`	High-level memory write to VXI register

Examples and How To

Working with the GPIB Interface

The VISA-GPIB object establishes a connection between the MATLAB^® workspace and the instrument via its GPIB interface.

Working with VXI and PXI Interfaces

The VISA-VXI object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument via its VXI interface.

Working with the GPIB-VXI Interface

The VISA-GPIB-VXI object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument via its GPIB-VXI interface.

Working with the Serial Port Interface

The VISA serial object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument via the serial port.

Working with the USB Interface

The VISA-USB object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument via its USB interface.

Working with the TCP/IP Interface for VXI-11 and HiSLIP

The VISA-TCPIP object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument using the instrument's IP configuration.

Working with the RSIB Interface

The VISA-RSIB object establishes a connection between the MATLAB workspace and the instrument via the Rohde & Schwarz VISA passport.

Working with the Generic Interface

You can use the generic VISA interface in both the command line and the Test & Measurement Tool.

Reading and Writing ASCII Data Using VISA

This example explores ASCII read and write operations with a VISA object.

Reading and Writing Binary Data Using VISA

This example explores binary read and write operations with a VISA object.

Asynchronous Read and Write Operations Using VISA

This example explores asynchronous read and write operations using a VISA-GPIB object.

Concepts

VISA Overview

Brief description of the Virtual Instrument Standard Architecture (VISA) standard.

Driver Requirements

Required versions of vendors' drivers.

VISA Driver Limitations

Known limitations with supported VISA drivers.

Instrument Control Toolbox Properties

These properties are available in the toolbox.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting IVI, VISA, and the Quick-Control Interfaces

Try these tips if you have problems using the toolbox with the IVI, VISA, and Quick-Control interfaces. Includes information about supported platforms, adaptor requirements, configuration and connection, and other interface-specific tips.

Featured Examples

Characterizing a low-noise amplifier by measuring its S-parameters

Automate the measurement of 2-port S-parameter measurements from a Keysight Technologies® (formerly Agilent Technologies®) network analyzer using MATLAB® and Instrument Control Toolbox™. The example also visualizes the measurements in MATLAB and saves the measurements to a Touchstone data file using functions from the RF Toolbox™.

Generating and Downloading a Baseband Signal to an RF Signal Generator

The creation of a complex baseband (IQ) signal with MATLAB®, the download of this signal to a vector signal generator, the upconversion of the signal to an RF carrier, and the generation of the RF signal from the instrument. The download of the signal and control of the instrument uses Instrument Control Toolbox™, which supports communication with instruments through interfaces and drivers.

Register-Based Communication Using VISA

Do register-based read and write operations for VISA-VXI and VISA-GPIB-VXI objects.

Read Waveforms from a Keysight® M9210A Digitizer using the IVI-C Driver

Acquire a waveform from both channels of a Keysight technologies M9210A digitizer using an IVI-C driver, and display it in MATLAB. Instrument Control Toolbox™ software supports communication with instruments through IVI drivers. For a complete list of hardware supported, visit the Instrument Control Toolbox™ supported hardware page.

Open Script

Set Output Voltage and Make Measurements on Keysight® AC6801A Power Supply using the IVI-C Driver

The use of MATLAB with an IVI driver to connect to, configure and measure AC voltage using Keysight Technologies AC6801A power supply and output the result in MATLAB®.

Open Script

Measure Frequency on Keysight® 532xx Frequency Counter Using the IVI-C Driver

Initialize the driver, read a few properties of the driver and measure frequency using Keysight Technologies 532xx Frequency Counter and output the result in MATLAB®.

Open Script

Instrument Control Toolbox Documentation

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