Using HP8673E instrument support in an application

Several files need minor modifications to use HP8673E instrument support in an application.

  1. Add the full path to the HP8673E support directory to the application configure/RELEASE file:
    HP8673E=xxxx/modules/instrument/hp8673e/<release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP8673E support.
  2. Add instrument support to application database definition file
    The application database definition file must include the database definition files for the HP8673E instrument and for any needed ASYN drivers. There are two ways that this can be done:
  3. Add the HP8673E support libraries to the application
    You must link the HP8673E support library and the ASYN support library with the application. Add the following lines:
    xxx_LIBS += devHP8673E
    xxx_LIBS += asyn
    before the
    xxx_LIBS += $(EPICS_BASE_IOC_LIBS)
    in the application Makefile.
  4. Load the HP8673E support database records in the application startup script:
    cd $(HP8673E)      (cd HP8673E if using the vxWorks shell)
    dbLoadRecords("db/devHP8673E.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/hp8673e.
  2. Place the distribution file into this directory.
  3. Execute the following commands:
    cd modules/instrument/hp8673e
    gunzip hp8673e<release>.tar.gz
    tar xvf hp8673e<release>.tar
    cd <release>
    Where <release> is the release number of of the HP8673E 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.