SICL Overview
SICL is part of the Keysight IO Libraries Suite product. The suite includes three libraries: Keysight Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA), VISA for the Common Object Model (VISA COM) and Keysight Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL).
The subtopics are:
Introducing VISA, VISA COM, and SICL
Keysight Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) is an I/O library designed according to the VXIplug&play System Alliance that allows software developed from different vendors to run on the same system.
If you are using new instruments or are developing new I/O applications or instrument drivers, we recommend you use Keysight VISA or VISA COM. In particular, use VISA or VISA COM if you want to use VXIplug&play instrument drivers in your applications, or if you want the I/O applications or instrument drivers that you develop to be compliant with VXI plug&play standards.
Keysight Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL) is an I/O library that is portable across many I/O interfaces and systems.
You can use Keysight SICL if you have been using SICL and want to remain compatible with software currently implemented in SICL.
Note: Using VISA functions and SICL functions in the same I/O application is not supported
SICL Description
Keysight Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL) is an I/O library developed by Keysight that is portable across many I/O interfaces and systems. SICL is a modular instrument communications library that works with a variety of computer architectures, I/O interfaces, and operating systems.
Applications written in C/C++ (
Windows and Linux) or Visual Basic (Windows only) using this library can be ported at the source code level from one system to another with very few, if any, changes.
SICL uses standard, commonly used functions to communicate over a wide variety of interfaces. For example, a program written to communicate with a particular instrument on a given interface can also communicate with an equivalent instrument on a different type of interface.
SICL Users
SICL is intended for instrument I/O and is best for C/C++ or Visual Basic programmers who are familiar with Windows programming. To perform SICL installation and configuration, you must have system administrator privileges on the applicable Windows system.
SICL Documentation
The following table shows associated documentation you can use when programming with Keysight SICL.
|
Document |
Description |
|
IO Libraries Suite Web site |
You can download the latest copy of SICL and find additional information at: http://www.keysight.com/find/iosuite |
|
SICL Sample Programs |
Sample programs in these user's guide topics are provided online to help you develop SICL applications. |
|
VXIbus Consortium specifications (when using VISA over LAN)
|
TCP/IP Instrument Protocol Specification - VXI-11, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-VXIbus Interface Specification - VXI-11.1, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-IEEE 488.1 Interface Specification - VXI-11.2, Rev. 1.0 TCP/IP-IEEE 488.2 Instrument Interface Specification - VXI-11.3, Rev. 1.0 |