Example 6 - Modifying an Existing IVI Driver to Work with a New Instrument

You do not always have to create an instrument driver from scratch. In many cases, it is easier to modify an existing driver for a similar instrument. This example shows how to use the Instrument Driver Development Wizard to generate a new instrument driver from an existing one.

To modify an existing driver, you first use the Instrument Driver Development Wizard.

1. Select Tools»IVI Development»Create IVI Specific Driver to launch the wizard.
2. Click Next on the Welcome panel to begin.
3. Select Create Driver Based on Existing Driver.
4. Click Browse to select an instrument driver to copy and modify.
   
   This example uses the Fluke 45 instrument driver that you created in Examples 1 through 4. However, you can choose any instrument driver. Make sure that the driver you select has most of the attributes and functions that are necessary for the instrument driver.
   
   After you select the instrument driver, the panel appears, as shown in the following figure.
   
   
5. Click Next to continue.
6. Enter the name, prefix, and target directory for the new driver.
7. Click Generate to generate the new driver files.
   
   The wizard copies the existing driver to the new location. The wizard changes the filename prefixes, function prefixes, and macro prefixes to the instrument prefix you specify. The wizard also changes all occurrences of the old instrument prefix in the function panel help to the new instrument prefix. The resulting driver is completely operational and is ready for you to modify for use with the new instrument.

Typical modifications you might have to perform include the following:

• Modify existing attributes and functions.
• Delete attributes and functions that the instrument does not use.
• Add new attributes and functions.
• Create the instrument driver documentation.