Copyright: Copyright (c) 2001 Agilent Technologies


Software Overview
 Software for Agilent Technologies PNA Series Network Analyzers

Software Overview

The IntuiLink Performance Series Network Analyzer (PNA) software offers a set of connectivity tools that enable you to quickly and easily move data from your PNA series network analyzers to your PC.  Whether you are an experienced programmer or would prefer not to program at all, the IntuiLink software is designed to give you a high-level of instrument control using software applications that you are probably already using on your PC.

A Simple Toolbar Add-In for Excel and Word

The IntuiLink PNA software provides an easy-to-use toolbar that enables you to connect to your network analyzer from either Microsoft® Excel® or Microsoft® Word®. Once connected, you can perform simple trace data capture and instrument display image transfers directly into your spreadsheet or document. You can save the data and images in spreadsheets, graphs, or image files for use in all Microsoft® Office® products, including PowerPoint and Microsoft Project. This is a real time-saver when creating presentations, staff reports, and regulatory reports.

In both Word and Excel, the toolbar lets you save settings from the network analyzer. You can then restore those settings to the network analyzer. In this way, you can replicate frequently-used measurements and cut down on test time.

The toolbar also lets you set up a series of automatic "snapshots" of your data. When you use the Repeated Measurement feature, you can capture data from the network analyzer at intervals of your choice, providing a history of measurement data.

Once installed, the toolbar is automatically loaded and operates just like any other toolbar in these applications.  Use the Tools menu to add or remove the toolbar from the application.  The Excel toolbar is shown below, followed by a brief description of each toolbar button.

NOTE:  To get started with the toolbar, you will need to open Excel or Word.  The toolbar will automatically load when you open the application.

 About Agilent PNA Displays the software version number and a list of the supported network analyzer models.

 Connect to Network Analyzer Configures the I/O connection to the network analyzer.

  Capture/Restore Settings Captures the network analyzer settings and stores them in the document or worksheet, or to an external file. Restores the saved settings to the network analyzer. Allows you to edit the name of saved states or delete saved states.

 Get Data Uploads data from the network analyzer to the active worksheet in Excel. Also allows you to obtain repeated measurements.

 Stop Repeated Measurements Stops gathering repeated measurement data from the network analyzer.

 Get Screen Image Gets an image of the network analyzer's display and places it in the active worksheet or document.

 Save S2P Data Gets SxP data from the network analyzer and saves it in an S1P, S2P, or S3P text file for use with device-simulation software packages.

 Toolbar Help Provides step-by-step explanations to help you learn to use the toolbar.

See Also

Installation

Troubleshooting


About PNA Network Analyzer Toolbar
  About Network Analyzer Toolbar

The About dialog box displays the version number of the network analyzer toolbar and lists the supported network analyzer models. It also provides links to relevant Agilent Web sites.

This box includes a Component Info button, which lists the versions of the components of the software.


  Connect to Network Analyzer

The IntuiLink software makes it easy to establish an interface connection between your network analyzer and your PC over a local area network (LAN). Simply select an instrument on a local subnet and press the Connect button. If you want to connect to an instrument outside of the subnet, enter the subnet name or IP address, press the Identify button, and the instruments at that address appear in the Network Analyzers list.

When you are connected, the Connect icon in the toolbar has a green background.


Save / Load Network Analyzer Settings
   Capture/Restore Network Analyzer Settings

IntuiLink PNA gives you the ability to store the current network analyzer settings, including the calibration settings, with the document or worksheet, or to a file on your PC. You can restore settings to the network analyzer from either the PC file or from the stored settings within the document or worksheet. The network analyzer settings saved to a PC file are stored in a binary format (.sta file extension).


Get Waveform Data
  Get Data

One of the most powerful features of IntuiLink PNA is the ability to capture measurement data from the network analyzer and place it in an Excel worksheet. The data is placed in rows and columns on the spreadsheet. The data for the measurement that is active on the instrument or selected in the dialog box will be inserted in the format that it is displayed on the instrument.

For example, if the measurement is displaying a polar representation of the trace the data will be real and imaginary pairs, each in a respective column. Comparatively, if the measurement is displaying a log magnitude representation, the data will be inserted as a single column. By default, a simple Excel graph of the data is also created and inserted into your document.

Click on the link below for an explanation of how the data points are calculated and to see a sample of data captured in Excel.

   Click here to see a sample from Excel and to understand how data points are plotted.

See Also

Start Repeated Measurements


Start/Stop Repeated Measurements
  Start Repeated Measurements

The IntuiLink PNA Excel toolbar gives you the ability to capture measurement data from the network analyzer at intervals that you specify. You can specify a start time for data capture, and either the intervals or the number of times that you want data captured.

The tab on the worksheet displays a time stamp of when the data was captured. The status bar shows the progress of the repeated measurements.

See Also

Stop Repeated Measurements


  Stop Repeated Measurements

To stop gathering data, press this button. If this button is unavailable, then there are no repeated measurements being taken.


  Get Screen Image

For documentation purposes, you may want to capture a "snapshot" of the network analyzer display.  With IntuiLink, it just takes a few seconds to insert the image into your Excel or Word document.  You can also save the image directly to a Windows bitmap (.bmp) file.

   Click here to see a sample.


Get S2P Data
 Save S2P Data

This button allows you to save the S-parameters of the device under test (DUT) to a standard S1P, S2P, S3P file (format depends data availability in the instrument). This information can then be imported to device-simulation software packages such as eeSof, etc.


  Toolbar Help

Like most PC applications, a help system is included with the IntuiLink software to assist you with the operation of the toolbar. Click on the help icon to view the help system.

Note:

In Excel, you must dock the toolbar when displaying the help window. Otherwise, the toolbar may disappear.


Installing PNA  software
Installing IntuiLink Software

You can install the IntuiLink software from the CD-ROM included with your network analyzer's interface module or you can download the software from the Agilent Web site (accessible from the About box). Software updates and future releases will also be available from this web site.

See Also

Minimum System Requirements

Supported Instruments


System requirements
Minimum System Requirements

Operating System

Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® 2000 or Windows NT® 4.0, Service Pack 4

Hardware

Pentium PC, 200 MHz or greater

32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended)

20 MB free disk space (40 MB recommended)

Environments Supported

Applications

Microsoft Office, Service Release 2 to support:

Microsoft Excel 97

Microsoft Word 97

Microsoft Office 2000 to support:

Microsoft Excel 2000

Microsoft Word 2000


Supported Instruments

Network Analyzer Models Supported

Model E8356A

Model E8357A

Model E8358A

Instruments must have A.01.23 or newer firmware and the Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support package must be installed in order for IntuiLink PNA to work with it.


Complimentary Start-Up Assistance

Terms and Conditions

Agilent Technologies will provide Start-Up Assistance at no charge to resolve questions relating to the installation, operation, and use of this software product.  Start-Up Assistance is available to help you install the software on your PC, establish communication with a compatible instrument, and answer questions relating to the functionality of the software components provided by Agilent Technologies.  Start-Up Assistance does not support requests to modify or enhance the functionality of the software.  For services not covered by Start-Up Assistance, you may be referred to fee-based services for advanced assistance.

Agilent Technologies will make reasonable efforts to respond to each customer request for Start-Up Assistance within two working days, but is under no obligation to respond within a prescribed time frame.  Requests for Start-Up Assistance are handled in the order in which they were received.  Agilent Technologies will make reasonable efforts to solve customer problems, but cannot guarantee success.

Agilent Technologies reserves the right to terminate Start-Up Assistance at any time without notice.


Contacting HP for Technical Support
Contacting Agilent Technologies for Technical Support

To find the address and phone number of your nearest support representative, visit the Agilent Web site, accessible from the About box, and follow the links to support.


Waveform data plotted in Excel
How Data is Plotted in Excel

By default, the data that is transferred from the network analyzer is plotted using basic plotting mechanisms available in Excel. These simple plots provide a quick check to verify that the data that was transferred to the spreadsheet represents what is displayed on the instrument screen.

For example, if the instrument is displaying a polar representation of the trace the data will be real and imaginary pairs, each in a respective column. Comparatively, if the measurement is displaying a log magnitude representation, the data will be inserted as a single column.

Because of limitations in Excel graphs, if you want a true picture of the network analyzer data, use the Get Screen Image feature of IntuiLink.


Screen Image Captured from Network Analyzer

You can insert an image of the network analyzer screen into an Excel worksheet or a Word document.


Troubleshooting

Following are some potential problems that you could encounter when using IntuiLink.

Click on an item below for information about that topic.

Instrument Address is Not Listed

Can't Connect/Lost Connection to the Network Analyzer

Problems with Captured Data/Screen Image

Toolbar Disappeared/Does Not Function


Instrument Address is Not Listed

If the instrument address that you want to connect to is not listed in the Select Instrument Address list in the Connect box, check the following:

•	The Identified Network Analyzers list in the Connect box shows the network analyzers found on a local subnet that have the IntuiLink PNA Support package installed on them. If you are trying to connect to a network analyzer that is outside of the subnet, enter the name or IP address the network analyzer in the Remote PNA Address field. Then press the Identify button. The network analyzer found at that hostname or IP address is listed in the Identified Network Analyzers list. (The local subnet is defined as all IP addresses that fall within the TCP/IP subnet mask and to which network traffic is not routed by a router.) If it is still not found, see the following.

•	Verify that the Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support package is installed on the instrument. This can be done by exiting the PNA measurement application by using the File menu and selecting Exit on the instrument, opening the Control Panel in the Settings of the Start menu. Then open the Add/Remove Programs control panel and look for the Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support entry in the list. If it is not there, install it using the AgileUpdate utility in the instrument application’s System menu under the Service submenu. The installation package is also available on the IntuiLink for Vector Network Analyzers CD or from the Agilent PNA Series Network Analyzers web site (see Connect to the Agilent Web Site). If it is installed, see the following.

•	Verify that the network analyzer is reachable via the LAN. This can be done by browsing the LAN with the Windows Network Neighborhood or My Network Places features. A more difficult but robust method is to open a command prompt window and execute the "ping" command to determine whether the network analyzer is accessing the network; for example, "ping mypnahostname.mycompany.com" or "ping 192.168.2.112" (replace the example hostname or IP address with the actual name or address assigned to the network analyzer). If it is not accessible, see the following.

•	Verify that the Ethernet LAN cable is connected to the network analyzer.


Can't Connect to the Network Analyzer
Can't Connect/Lost Connection to the Network Analyzer

There are two categories of problems relating to connections to the network analyzer. Click on the topic below that most closely resembles the problem you are experiencing.

Connection problems to a remote instrument

Connection was dropped


Connection Problems to a Remote Instrument

If you are trying to connect to a remote instrument, check the following in addition to Instrument Address Not Listed:

•	Do you have communication with the network analyzer? Try PINGing the network analyzer and see if you get a response.

•	Is the Agilent IntuiLink PNA Support package installed on the PNA? If not install it using the AgileUpdate utility in the network analyzer’s System menu in the Service submenu or downloading it from the Agilent PNA website.

•	If you entered a name in the Remote PNA Address field, try entering the IP address instead.

•	Is there a problem with the LAN or any of its switches? Contact your network administrator to find out.


Connection was Dropped

If you have lost the connection to the network analyzer:

•	The IntuiLink PNA connection to a network analyzer is through the workbook or document where you made the initial connection. If you open a new workbook or document, you must establish a connection from the new workbook or document to the network analyzer.

•	Microsoft Windows 95 systems and other systems with power management features may encounter problems when an instrument is connected and the computer switches to the power-save mode. When the computer is re-activated, the instrument connection may be lost or corrupted, resulting in a loss of the IntuiLink toolbar functionality. In this case, you must close the Excel worksheet or the Word document, restart the application, and reconnect to the instrument using the toolbar. To avoid this problem, turn off the power management features when using the IntuiLink toolbar.


Problems with Captured Data/Screen Image

Data is Not What You Expected

If the measurement data that you captured from the network analyzer is not what you expected, check the following:

•	Are the settings on the instrument control panel set to capture the kind of data that you want? Reset the display on the network analyzer and try again.

•	Are you connected to the network analyzer from which you want to collect data? To verify, press the Connect icon on the toolbar. In the Connect dialog box, look in the Identified Network Analyzers list for the network analyzer with the Connect icon next to it.

•	Because of Excel limitations, Smith charts and polar graphs cannot be accurately represented, as the background reticule cannot be plotted. If you want the background reticule, use the Get Screen Image feature.

•	In Excel, charts with no data points less that 0,0, always start at 0,0 regardless of the actual starting data point. If you want the chart to accurately represent the network analyzer screen, use the Get Screen Image feature.

Screen Image is Not What You Expected

If the screen image that you captured from the network analyzer is not what you expected, check the following:

•	Are the settings on the instrument control panel set to display the kind of data that you want? Reset the network analyzer and try again.

•	Are you connected to the network analyzer from which you want to collect data? To verify, press the Connect icon on the toolbar. In the Connect dialog box, look in the Identified Network Analyzers list for the network analyzer with the Connect icon next to it.


Toolbar Disappeared
Toolbar Disappeared or Does Not Function

Following are some reasons that the IntuiLink toolbar might disappear or not function as expected.

•	If you do not have the toolbar docked while working in Excel, and you open the online help, the toolbar may disappear. This behavior is particular to Excel. You should dock the toolbar if you want it to be visible while using the online help.

•	If you clicked the X in the upper right corner of the toolbar, the toolbar will close in the same way that a dialog box will close. To re-open the toolbar, go to the View menu in the application, select Toolbars, and put a checkmark next to the toolbar.

•	You might have unloaded the toolbar for this instance of your application. If so, go to the Tools menu, select Add-Ins (Excel) or Templates and Add-Ins (Word) and place a checkmark next to the PNA item.

•	In Excel, when you double-click in a cell for editing, or when your cursor is in the formula bar, the toolbar and the Excel Tools menu are disabled. This behavior is particular to Excel and occurs with different Add-in products. There is no work-around to this problem.

•	Microsoft Windows 95 systems, and other systems with power management features, may encounter problems when an instrument is connected and the computer switches to the power-save mode. When the computer is re-activated, the instrument connection may be lost or corrupted, resulting in a loss of the toolbar functionality. In this case, you must close the Excel worksheet or the Word document, restart the application, and reconnect to the instrument using the toolbar. To avoid this problem, turn off the power management features when using the toolbar.