Multiple instruments; same test. Best plan of attack?

I'm looking for some information on design structure dealing with multiple instruments that do the same thing but require different command sets. Specifically I have an application running tests via VISA GPIB using an Agilent PNA. My current application uses a queued state machine with two loops; one taking care of the GUI and another taking care of the states; works like a champ and is easy to add new tests. But I have been asked to migrate the current tests to different flavors of network analyzer specifically old school HP8510 and some non-hp gear. Some tests are very complicated and have a couple dozen steps with numerous sub vi's to take care of all the commands and data formatting. We do not want separate applications; I have to identify what is connected and sequence the test accordingly to attain the correct results.
I'm looking for links, suggestions, or recommended reading to deal with such things and to maintain maintainability.
What I have been able to find is hit and miss with some reading pointing towards using a separate state-loop for each instrument and others just added more and more states to existing state machine.
All opinions / ideas welcome.
-Chris

F1_Fan wrote:
Good suggestions.
SCPI is great but some of the instruments are 20 years old and things like getting bandwith numbers are more complicated in the older equipment. I'm still fighting with people to stop using low level GPIB commands and just use VISA.
My understanding of the replies lies in writing a subset of vi's for each piece of equipment while reusing the common commands (Like writing an overloaded function in .NET land?).
A simple flow diagram of what would occur would be as below if I'm understanding the suggestions -
- Front panel for user to select required test.
- Query what instruments are connected and decide if hardware is available to run such test.
- Using VI's libraries I will create to perform each test; select the proper set and run the test. (I would still use a QSM type design to easily facilitate changes down the road).
- Everything would be invisable to the end user; they are just selecting a test; all front panels will be standard regardless of instrument. They would only differ by the selected test.
Am I on the right track? I'm a VB.NET transplant trying to not get on the "wall of shame" of labview code. LOL.
-Chris
Hi Chris,
This is similar to a Q posted on LAVA earlier this week that can befound here. In that thread Aristos Queue (father of VLOOP LV OOP) outlined some classes to utilize Dynamic Dispatching (choose the sub-VI to run based on the class selected). Conciering your background, that thread may work for you.
Have fun,
Ben
Ben Rayner
I am currently active on.. MainStream Preppers
Rayner's Ridge is under construction

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Dear TestStand Customer:
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satisfaction. As part of our commitment, we want to ensure your success
with our products by delivering industry-leading support and immediate
information regarding issues potentially affecting you. We discovered an
issue in TestStand 2.0.1 that may affect the integrity of some test
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TestStand 2.0.1.
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In order to immediately remedy this problem on current TestStand 2.0.1
installations, download the corrective patch at
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Originally Posted by kjhurni
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