Using Macros

Macros are executable programs that you write, load into the analyzer, and then run from the analyzer. You can have up to 25 macros set up to run on the analyzer.

How to Setup Macros

Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey

  1. Press Macro > Key Setup > Macro Setup....

In the Macro Setup dialog box:

  1. Create an executable program and save it on the VNA hard drive. See SCPI example programs in VBscript.

  2. Use a mouse or the front-panel 'down-arrow' to select a blank line below the last entry. (There may be NO entry.)

  3. Click Edit to start the Edit Macro Setup dialog.

  4. In the Macro Title box, type a descriptive title for your macro.

  5. Click Browse.

  6. Change Files of Type.

  7. Find and select your executable file. Change Files of Type if necessary.

  8. Click OK on the Edit Macro Setup dialog.

  9. Click OK on the Macro Setup dialog.

  10. Press macro to run. It may be necessary to first Preset the VNA to see your macro in the menu.

 

Macro Setup dialog box help

Macro setup allows you to create up to 25 macros that can be launched from the VNA application.

An external keyboard is required to enter the Macro Title and the Run string parameters.

To add a Macro, use a mouse or the front-panel 'down arrow' (NOT the 'Down' key) to select a blank line. Then click Edit.

Macro Title  Shows the titles that appear in the softkeys and menu when you press the Macro key. These titles are associated with the executable files and should be descriptive so you can easily identify them.

Macro Executable  Lists the complete path to the executable file. To follow the example of launching the Keysight VNA Series Home Page, the path to the executable could be "C:\Program Files(x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe.

Macro Runstring Parameters  Lists the parameters that get passed to the program that is referenced in the executable file. Again following the example of launching the VNA Series Home Page, you could assign the runstring parameters "http://www.Keysight.com/find/pna".

Edit  Invokes the Macro Edit dialog box.

Delete  Deletes the selected macro.

Up  Allows you to reorder the macros, moving the selected macro up one line. This order determines how they appear in the VNA Menu and in the softkeys and when you press the Macro front-panel key.

Down  Moves the selection down one line in the list of macros.

 

Macro Edit dialog box help

Macro Title  Add a title that appears in the softkeys and menu.

Macro Executable  Set the complete path to the macro executable file. Click Browse to navigate to the macro executable file and establish the complete path to the file.

Macro run string parameters  Optionally add parameters that are passed to the program referenced in the executable file.

See Macro Setup dialog box

 

How to Run Macros

Using Hardkey/SoftTab/Softkey

  1. Press Macro > Macro<#>.

Macro Example

The following is an example Visual Basic Scripting (vbs) program that you can copy, install, and run on your VNA.

Note: Print these instructions if viewing in the analyzer. This topic will be covered by the Macro Setup dialog box.

  1. Copy the following code into a Notepad file.

  2. Save the file on the analyzer hard drive in the C:/Documents folder. Name the file FilterTest.vbs

  3. Close Notepad

  4. Setup the macro in the VNA

  5. Run the macro

'Start copying here
'This program creates a S21 measurement
'It is written in VBscript using SCPI commands

Dim app
Dim scpi
'Create / Get the VNA application
Set app = CreateObject ("AgilentPNA835x.Application")
Set scpi = app.ScpiStringParser

'Preset the Analyzer.FPREset presets the setting and deletes all traces and windows
scpi.Execute ("SYST:FPReset")
'Create and turn on window 1
scpi.Execute ("DISPlay:WINDow1:STATE ON")
'Define a measurement name, parameter
scpi.Execute ("CALCulate:PARameter:DEFine:EXT 'MyMeas', 's21'")
'Associate ("FEED") the measurement name ('MyMeas') to WINDow (1), and give the new TRACE a number (1).
scpi.Execute ("DISPlay:WINDow1:TRACe1:FEED 'MyMeas'")


'End copying here