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Connectivity Software for Agilent PNA Series Network Analyzers
Frequently Asked Questions and Trouble Shooting Guide
for Version 1.1
Copyright (c) Agilent Technologies 2001
Contents:
"Not Enough Memory" error in
Excel 97
Why does the Toolbar pop up in Outlook?
Why do I get a message when I open Word XP that says that the macros in this project are disabled?
Why does Microsoft Office think I have changed my document or workbook?
How do I connect to an instrument
My
network analyzer isn't listed as an identified PNA
Do I need to configure logins on the PNA to use
IntuiLink?
Can I install IntuiLink PNA on the instrument
itself?
I get an error trying to update the firmware on the
PNA Series Network Analyzer?
How is security on the PNA affected by installing the IntuiLink
Support Package?
"Not Enough Memory" error in Excel 97
You might get a "Not Enough Memory" error in Excel if you create too many charts with the "get repeated measurement" option. It usually fails on the 62nd chart. The error is related to automatic scaling of fonts in Excel. There is a MS Knowledge base article about this problem in Excel: Q168650 that states it is fixed in Excel SR-2, but it is not fixed.
To resolve the problem, you can add an entry to the registry that disables
automatic font scaling for charts.
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can
be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To do this:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\8.0\Excel\Microsoft Excel
Back to TopIf Microsoft Word is your designated editor, then the toolbar will appear in Outlook when the editor is invoked.
You cannot remove the toolbar, but you can dock it and it will stay docked. It will not affect Outlook.
Microsoft Word XP uses security features to protect against macro viruses. In order to use the toolbar in Word XP, you must change the setting of the Macro Security.
To change the Macro Security setting, in Word click on the TOOLS menu, choose OPTIONS, click on the Security tab, and then click on the Macro Security button. Change the setting from HIGH to either MEDIUM or LOW.
Changing the setting to MEDIUM will result in a message box appearing everytime Word is started asking whether you want to enable or disable macros, to which you should enable them in order to use the toolbar.
Changing the setting to LOW will result in no macro warnings when Word is started and the toolbar will be functional.
Why does Microsoft Office think I have changed my document or workbook?
When you click the PNA toolbar, a reference to a control is embedded in your Microsoft Excel workbook or your Microsoft Word document. [We embed the control in order to persist certain settings within your workbook or document -- such as captured instrument states and remembering if the instrument is connected.] Excel and Word interpret almost any interaction with our control as a potential change to your file, even if no change actually occurred. Merely loading a workbook or document containing a reference to our control is interpreted as a change to the workbook or document you just loaded.
If you attempt to close a workbook or document without saving it, Excel or Word will prompt you to save the file, believing it has been changed.
There is no known workaround for this problem.
Back to TopHow do I connect to an instrument?
IntuiLink PNA only supports connecting to a PNA Series Network Analyzer via the Ethernet LAN connector on the network analyzer. IntuiLink PNA does not support a connection using GPIB or RS-232. The communication between the network analyzer and the PC are done via TCP/IP, therefore LANs, WANs, and even the Internet can be used as connecting media.
Back to TopMy network analyzer isn't listed as an identified PNA
IntuiLink PNA will search the local subnet for PNA Series Network Analyzers (PNA) and list them automatically in the "Identified PNA Series Network Analyzers" list. The following are required in order for the network analyzer to be listed:
The PNA must be connected to a local area network (LAN) using the Ethernet LAN connector on the back of the PNA
The PNA must have the Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support software package installed on it. This can be downloaded and installed using the AgileUpdate utility located in Service submenu of the System menu of the PNA application. It can also be downloaded from the Agilent IntuiLink web site. The Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support package requires that firmware version A.01.23 or newer be installed on the PNA.
The PNA must be on the same subnet as the PC where IntuiLink PNA is installed. For this purpose a subnet is defined as the collection of TCP/IP addresses that are within the range defined by the "Subnet Mask" setting, providing that no routing is required for the two network nodes to communicate. For more info on subnets, see your network administrator or the Windows documentation on network settings.
If the PNA is not on the same subnet as the PC running IntuiLink PNA, the PNA can still be identified by entering the hostname assigned to the PNA in the box labeled "Enter Remote PNA address:" and click the "Identify" button. If the PNA if reachable via TCP/IP, it will be added to the list of the "Identified PNA Series Network Analyzers". You can then connect to it using the "Connect" button.
Do I need to configure logins on the PNA to use IntuiLink?
No. IntuiLink PNA takes advantage of new technology that allows any user to collect data from the network analyzer without the requirement of configuring Windows 2000 logins on the PNA. However, DCOM can be configured on the PNA to require authentication in order to connect, if that is the desired operational model. See your network administrator or Windows 2000 documentation for configuring logins and domains.
Back to TopCan I install IntuiLink PNA on the instrument itself?
Yes. If Microsoft Excel and / or Microsoft Word (or Microsoft Office) are installed on the instrument itself, IntuiLink PNA can be installed. While it is of limited value to do so, it will function correctly. Note however that screen snapshots will just be of the whatever is on the screen at the time, including Microsoft Word or Excel. Also note that best results are obtained if the analyzer is connected to a LAN.I get an error trying to update the firmware on the PNA Series Network Analyzer?
This may be a result of the IntuiLink PNA Support package running on the instrument and locking a file. This is known issue that will be fixed in a future version of the firmware installer. As a workaround, on the PNA, open the Control Panel in Settings selection of the Start Menu. Open the Administrative Tools control panel. Open the Services control panel in the Administrative Tools. In the list of services, find PNAAnswerServer. Stop that service and try updating the PNA firmware again. To re-enable IntuiLink PNA access to the instrument, either reboot or return to the Services control panel and start the PNAAnswerServer service again.
How is security on the PNA affected by installing the IntuiLink Support Package?
During installation of the IntuiLink PNA Support package on the PNA, you are given the option to install for "Easy Connection" or "More Secure". These options configure DCOM and COM+ interfaces differently depending on which option you choose.
Easy Connection:
This option allows most IntuiLink PNA users to connect and retrieve information
from the PNA. This option does not require any knowledge of Windows security or
configuration of the PNA or client computer. In order to achieve this, the
Agilent PNA Series DCOM interface (AgilentPNA835x.Application) is configured
with the authentication level set to "None", and the COM+ server, "PNAthunk"
is also configured with the authentication level set to "None".
More Secure:
This option restricts access to only authenticated users by setting the Agilent PNA Series DCOM interface to an
authentication level of "Default" (typically "Connect") and
the "PNAthunk" COM+ server with the authentication level set to
"Connect". Additionally, the PNAthunk COM+ server is configured with
"Everyone" having access permissions. The authentication level can be
further elevated manually for both interfaces. Access can be further
restricted by specifying narrower access permission assignments.
To configure the PNA Series application DCOM settings use the DCOMCNFG.EXE utility and selecting "Agilent PNA Series" properties. For more details see the PNA application help in the "COM Concepts" section of the "Programming" topic.
To configure the PNAthunk COM+ application to further restrict access, use the Component Services management console in the Administrative Tools control panel. Open Component Services, Computers, My Computer, and COM+ Applications respectively to find the PNAthunk COM+ application configuration. In the PNAthunk Properties dialog, select the Security tab and set the Security Level to "Perform access checks at the process and component level." To specify which users and groups are allowed access, open the PNAthunk COM+ object and its Roles folder. In the IntuiLinkUsers role remove Everyone and add the users and groups that will be allowed access. For further information on COM+ configuration, see Windows 2000 and MSDN documentation.
Further information is available in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on the Agilent IntuiLink web site.