© National Instruments Corp. 5-1 STD-GPIB for Windows
Chapter 5Using Your NI-488.2 Software
This chapter introduces the Win16 Interactive Control utility and lists some programming
considerations.

Introduction to the Win16 Interactive Control Utility

You can use the interactive control utility to enter NI-488 functions and NI-488.2
routines interactively and see the values returned by the function calls. Without writing
an application, you can use the utility to do the following:
• Verify GPIB communication with your device quickly and easily.
• Learn the NI-488 functions and NI-488.2 routines before you write your application.
• Become familiar with the commands for your device.
• Receive data from your GPIB device.
• Troubleshoot problems with your application.
For more information about the Win16 Interactive Control utility, refer to the NI-488.2
User Manual for Windows.

General Programming Considerations

As you begin developing your NI-488.2 application, remember the following points:
• You must link the language interface library with your compiled source code.
• You must include the header file in your source code.
For information about choosing a programming method, developing your application, or
compiling and linking, refer to the NI-488.2 User Manual for Windows. For detailed
information about each NI-488 function and NI-488.2 routine, refer to the NI-488.2
Function Reference Manual for DOS/Windows. For additional release notes, refer to the
readme file that came with your NI-488.2 software.