Ten Minute Tutorial - XStream Browser

Overview of Automation and the XStream Browser

In addition to supporting the familiar ASCII-based remote commands that have been used to control all LeCroy DSOs for many years, all of the Windows-based “X-Stream” instruments fully support control by Automation interfaces based on Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM). Using COM, the controlling application can run directly on the instrument without requiring an external controller.

This tutorial presents an introduction to the use of the internally connected XStream Browser which provides a way to view the scope’s automation commands. Additionally, it will let you make changes to the scope from it and you can also make a change on the scope and then refresh the browser to read the new value. (This is a nice way to find and test automation commands).

Users are strongly urged to consult LeCroy’s Automation manual on the LeCroy Website at:
http://cdn.lecroy.com/files/manuals/entire_x-stream_automation_manual.pdf

This manual is a comprehensive resource on all the aspects of automation programming. Among the topics discussed is the use of the XStream Browser. The XStream browser introduction can be found in the remote manual on page 72 and in the Automation Manual on page 1-5.

Equipment Required

WaveRunner 6 Zi series or equivalent XStream oscilloscope.
Passive Probe.

Initial Setup

Displays shown in the tutorial are based on the following initial setup on a WaveRunner 6 Zi scope:

1. Connect the passive probe from the channel 1 input to the Cal test point on the front panel of the oscilloscope.
2. Recall the default setup: File pull down > Recall Setup> Recall Default.
3. Turn off channel 2.
4. Auto Setup the scope: Press Scope Setup, then select Auto Setup from the fly-out menu.

This completes the initial setup. The scope display should be similar to Figure 1.

The XStream Browser is installed on all LeCroy Windows based oscilloscopes. To launch the Browser, first minimize the instrument application (File->Minimize), then double-click on the X-Stream Browser icon on the desktop (Figure 2).

An alternative is to use the Windows Start button, select All Programs, browse to LeCroy>XStream>Xstream Bowser (see Figure 3). Click on the XStream Browser entry to open the browser.

The XStream Browser will open with a blank work area as shown in Figure 4.

The next step is to connect to the local instrument. You can do this by using the File pull down menu (Figure 5)

or by clicking on the connect icon on the tool bar (Figure 6)

The alternative connection is to connect to a remote instrument using DCOM. This function is beyond the scope of this tutorial, we will restrict our discussions to connection to the local instrument.

You can also close the current session leaving the XStream browser open or Exit and close the Browser.

Once you have connected to the local oscilloscope the XStream Browser will show the automation object The oscilloscopes automation commands have a hierarchical structure based on the functional blocks within the oscilloscope.

Click on the + sign adjacent to the Acquisition function. The view of the Acquisition function will expand to show the sub-elements of the function. Click on C1. The right hand pane will show the controls for channel 1 (C1).

Locate the VerScale Entry and click on it will be highlighted as shown in Figure 8.

Note that automation command appears at the bottom line of the XStream Browser. It is missing only the arguments. The current argument is in the Value column (0.2 or 200 mV/division) the range of values is summarized on the right side of the highlighted line (From 0.01 to 100, step 0.002 Locked to 1,2,5G).

Right clicking on the VerScale entry will allow the user to copy the command to the Windows clipboard. This is useful if you want to copy the command into a program. You can also change the value of the control using the “Set Value” or “Numeric; Replace the Numeric Value” selection. If you do change the value the Refresh command updates the value readout.

If you choose to change the value the Set Variable value pop up box will appear. It provides a description of the variable and the range of values that it can take.

Change the value from 0.2 to 0.5 V/division and press the Set this value button. Note that the value changes on the VerScale value entry.

Locate and click on the Coupling command. Here we have an enumerated list of command variables including DC50 (DC 50 Ohms), Gnd (Ground) , DC1M (DC 1 MegOhm) , or AC1M (AC 1MegOhm). Right clicking on the Coupling command line will cause a pop up to appear as shown in Figure 11.

Here we have an enumerated list. Clicking on any of the selections will update the argument. Try changing the value from DC1M to AC1M. You can also use the Set Value pop up but the entries must match one of the enumerated selections.

Again, right click on the Coupling command. When the pop up appears select Copy Path.

Minimize the XStream Browser and use the Windows Start button to open Notepad (Start>All Programs>Accessories>Notepad.

After Notepad opens type in the following automation command:

Set app = Createobject (“LeCroy.XStreamDSO”)

Press Enter Use the Notepad pull down edit menu and select paste. The command

app.Acquisition.C1.coupling

will appear. Edit this command by adding the following:
= “DC1M”

so that the full script is now:

Set app = Createobject (“LeCroy.XStreamDSO”)

app.Acquisition.C1.coupling= “DC1M”

Save this file to D:\Setups\coupling.lss (lss stands for LeCroy Setup Script)

We have just created a VisualBasic script to change the coupling of channel C1 from AC1M to DC1M.

Open the Windows Explorer and navigate to the file. Double click on the filename to execute the script.

Maximize the scope application and verify that the coupling on channel 1 is now DC 1 MegOhm.

This completes the tutorial.