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Connectivity Software for Agilent Vector 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?
RS-232 Communications
Windows 95 and
Agilent SICL F.01.01 and Earlier
Windows 95 and Agilent SICL 'Options'
Menu
HP I/O Libraries version H.01.02
Installation order
Connecting via
DCOM
"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 VNA 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 TopConnecting a vector network analyzer to a personal computer via RS-232 is not recommended nor supported.
Back to TopWindows 95 and Agilent SICL F.01.01 and Earlier
Windows 95 32-bit Agilent SICL and VISA versions F.01.01 and earlier will, by default, yield the CPU during I/O operations.
Agilent IntuiLink requires
that the CPU not be yielded during I/O operations. This is the default operation for
Agilent SICL versions F.01.02 and later.
For Agilent SICL versions F.01.01 and earlier, add a registry entry which instructs SICL not to yield during I/O operations.
Add the following key:
"HKLM/Software/Hewlett-Packard/SICL/CurrentVersion/Options"
Under this key, add a string entry "Yield" with a value "false".
To
get an updated I/O library, go to the web site www.agilent.com
and search for the words "io libraries download". Download and
install the latest version available.
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Windows 95 and Agilent SICL 'Options' Menu
In the I/O Configuration program, the following selections are available in the 'Options' menu:
SICL Yield (Win95 only)
- False (Default) * SICL does not yield the CPU during I/O
- True * SICL yields the CPU during I/O
Note: SICL Yield must be 'False' for proper operation of some Plug&Play drivers. This will prevent a potential deadlock
from within a Windows message handler.
Back to TopHP I/O Libraries Version H.01.02 Installation Order
When installing the Agilent IntuiLink VNA software, Agilent recommends that either Agilent or National Instruments GPIB I/O (VISA) software be installed beforehand. If an older, HP-branded version of the Agilent I/O Libraries will be installed, do so prior to installing the Agilent IntuiLink VNA software. If you find that you have installed the HP I/O Libraries version H.01.02 after installing the IntuiLink VNA software and the IntuiLink VNA does not detect any instruments, follow the following guidelines for rectifying the situation:
Download the latest version of the Agilent I/O Libraries and upgrade.
OR
Perform the following sequence in the order listed.
Back to TopAgilent IntuiLink VNA has the capability of operating in client-server arrangement. The software is installed on both client and server computers. The server is the computer that is connected to the instrument via GPIB. The server is configured to allow DCOM connections (see software overview help index under DCOM), and the client connects via DCOM to perform all of the available operations. If the server is using the H.01.02 version of the HP I/O Libraries, the client may report errors or not find any available instruments connected.
The solution is to upgrade the version of the I/O libraries to a more current version.