Using HP3458A instrument support in an application

Several files need minor modifications to use HP3458A instrument support in an application.

  1. Add the full path to the HP3458A support directory to the application configure/RELEASE file:
    HP3458A=xxxx/modules/instrument/hp3458a/<release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP3458A support.
  2. Add instrument support to application database definition file
    The application database definition file must include the database definition files for the HP3458A instrument and for any needed ASYN drivers. There are two ways that this can be done:
  3. Add the HP3458A support libraries to the application
    You must link the HP3458A support library and the ASYN support library with the application. Add the following lines:
    xxx_LIBS += devHP3458A
    xxx_LIBS += asyn
    before the
    xxx_LIBS += $(EPICS_BASE_IOC_LIBS)
    in the application Makefile.
  4. Load the HP3458A support database records in the application startup script:
    cd $(HP3458A)      (cd HP3458A if using the vxWorks shell)
    dbLoadRecords("db/devHP3458A.db,"P=<P>,R=<R>,L=<L>,A=<A>,amps/volt=<cal>,maxI=<lim>")
    You'll have to provide appropriate values for the PV name prefixes (<P> and <R>), the link number (<L>), the device address (<A>) and the calibration settings (<cal> and <lim>). The link number must match the value specified in an ASYN drvxxxxxConfigure command.

Installation and Building

After obtaining a copy of the distribution, it must be installed and built for use at your site.
  1. Create an installation directory for the module. The path name of this directory should end with modules/instrument/hp3458a.
  2. Place the distribution file into this directory.
  3. Execute the following commands:
    cd modules/instrument/hp3458a
    gunzip hp3458a<release>.tar.gz
    tar xvf hp3458a<release>.tar
    cd <release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP3458A support.
  4. Edit the configure/RELEASE file and set the paths to your installation of EPICS base and ASYN.
  5. Execute make in the top level directory.