Model KPCI-488LPA and KPCI-488LP
Support Software Release Note

This release note contains information on the Support Software for the Model KPCI-488LPA and KPCI-488LP GPIB Interface Boards.

Overview

The Keithley Instruments Model KPCI-488LPA and KPCI-488LP are delivered with a GPIB driver package that supports Windows XP/2000/Vista operating systems. The KPCI-488LP drivers are designed to be command compatible with your current
applications. The driver package provides both Keithley command compatible and National Instruments (NI
command compatible APIs and software support for program developers using Microsoft programming
languages like Visual Basic, Visual C, as well as LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI (C for Virtual
Instrumentation). The KPCI-488LP also supports VISA. Refer to the Keithley Instruments Model KPCI-488LP
Reference Manual (KPCI-488LP-901-01) for complete function and programming information.

Installation Requirements

NOTE - PLEASE INSTALL SOFTWARE BEFORE HARDWARE

Please review this important list of requirements you must be aware of prior to installing the KPCI-488LP:

I. The KPCI-488LP is not compatible with Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) from other IEEE interface board
suppliers. Due to the KPCI-488LP's command compatibility with National Instruments and Capital
Equipment Corporation (CEC), the installation program for the KPCI-488LP will install a DLL that has the
same name as those provided by National Instruments (GPIB32.DLL) and CEC (and previous Keithley)
interfaces (IEEE_32M.DLL). For proper installation of the KPCI-488LP hardware and software, you
must remove any existing GPIB interfaces from your PC and uninstall any currently installed
GPIB drivers. Failure to uninstall any existing GPIB drivers before installing the KPCI-488LP command
compatible drivers can, and likely will cause system problems.

II. For LabVIEWand LabWindows/CVI support, Keithley Instruments recommends the
installation of the NI Command Compatible Driver. For LabVIEW programmers, Keithley Instruments
supplies a set of LabVIEW GPIB VIs that are optimized for use with the KPCI-488LP.

Driver installation

Use the following procedure as a guideline to install the GPIB Driver Package on your computer:

For 2000/XP
1. Insert the Keithley Instruments Driver CD.
2. Allow the CD to auto run and begin the setup program. If setup does not start, open the CD using
Windows Explorer and double-click setup.exe to launch the setup program.
3. Follow the InstallShield Wizard prompts to complete the setup procedure.
4. You may choose to install the Keithley Command Compatible Driver or the NI Command Compatible driver.
5. When setup finishes, please reboot your system.

For Vista
1. Insert the Keithley Instruments Driver CD.
2. Open the CD using Windows Explorer and double-click SETUP_for_Vista.BAT to launch the setup program.
3. Follow the InstallShield Wizard prompts to complete the setup procedure.
4. You may choose to install the Keithley Command Compatible Driver or the NI Command Compatible driver.
5. When setup finishes, please reboot your system.


Known Issues
None

Revision History
CD Revision 2.0, July 2008

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Modification of NI-compatible driver in KEITHLEY CD 2.0
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**** Feature enhancement ****

* NI-compatible driver Rev. 2.00 contained in CD Rev. 2.0 supports both Keithley KPCI-488LPA and KPCI-488LP GPIB interface boards.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of Keithley-compatible driver in KEITHLEY CD 2.0
-----------------------------------------------------------------


**** Feature enhancement ****

* Keithley-compatible driver Rev. 2.00 contained in CD Rev. 2.0 supports both Keithley KPCI-488LPA and KPCI-488LP GPIB interface boards.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of NI-compatible driver in KEITHLEY CD 1.2
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**** Miscellaneous bug fixes ****

* When is in slave mode, a gpib read following a GPIB
write sometimes got stuck.
* When TIMO is set in the wait mask, ibwait returns when the timeout
occures but TIMO bit is not set to ibsta (except the timeout is
caused by GPIB I/O).
* ibwrt is failed when EOS on write is enabled and the write string contains
EOS.
* When a GPIB I/O is in progress, the second GPIB I/O keeps waiting until timeout
instead of directly blocking the second operation.

**** Feature enhancement ****

* Setup program supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista system.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of Keithley-compatible driver in KEITHLEY CD 1.2
-----------------------------------------------------------------

**** Miscellaneous bug fixes ****

* Not asking I/O permission in ieee_inp/ieee_outp.

**** Feature enhancement ****

* Setup program supports Windows 2000/XP/Vista system.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Modification of Keithley-compatible driver in KEITHLEY CD 1.1
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**** Miscellaneous bug fixes ****

1. Get rid of EOL character for ieee488_receive/ieee488_Enter
2. Correct the returned data type of polling response to "char"
for ieee488_spoll/ieee488_ppoll
3. ieee488_transmit parses command error for the command string
including space(" ").
4. "Addressing" is always performed before a device-level read
or write for CEC driver
5. Use pair of BoardSelect(addr) and Feature(204) functions to
detect currently selected board in case of multiple boards in
system


For additional information, visit the Keithley Instruments, Inc. website at www.Keithley.com for the latest software
and manual updates.