Using HP8648 instrument support in an application

Several files need minor modifications to use HP8648 instrument support in an application.

  1. Add the full path to the HP8648 support directory to the application configure/RELEASE file:
    HP8648=xxxx/modules/instrument/hp8648/<release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP8648 support.
  2. Add instrument support to application database definition file
    The application database definition file must include the database definition files for the HP8648 instrument and for any needed ASYN drivers. There are two ways that this can be done:
  3. Add the HP8648 support libraries to the application
    You must link the HP8648 support library and the ASYN support library with the application. Add the following lines:
    xxx_LIBS += devHP8648
    xxx_LIBS += asyn
    before the
    xxx_LIBS += $(EPICS_BASE_IOC_LIBS)
    in the application Makefile.
  4. Load the HP8648 support database records in the application startup script:
    cd $(HP8648)      (cd HP8648 if using the vxWorks shell)
    dbLoadRecords("db/devHP8648.db,"P=<P>,R=<R>,L=<L>,A=<A>")
    You'll have to provide appropriate values for the PV name prefixes (<P> and <R>), the link number (<L>) and the device address (<A>). 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/hp8648.
  2. Place the distribution file into this directory.
  3. Execute the following commands:
    cd modules/instrument/hp8648
    gunzip hp8648<release>.tar.gz
    tar xvf hp8648<release>.tar
    cd <release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP8648 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.