Instrument Database Tutorial

ARES maintains a user-defined instrument database stored as a .csv file within the ARES directory in your MATLAB user path. This database enables persistent tracking of instrument configurations across app sessions.

If the database does not exist, ARES automatically creates one by copying a default template from the source directory.

Database Format

The instrument database is a simple .csv file with the following structure:

Manufacturer

Model

Address

Agilent Technologies

E5072A

TCPIP0::192.168.3.95::inst0::INSTR

ETS Lindgren

EMCenter

TCPIP0::192.168.2.150::inst0::INSTR

Hewlett-Packard

E4433B

GPIB0::19::INSTR

Keysight Technologies

E36233A

TCPIP0::192.168.2.16::5025::SOCKET

  • Manufacturer: The name of the equipment vendor.

  • Model: The specific model number.

  • Address: The VISA resource string used to connect (supports LAN, GPIB, or socket-based communication).

Managing Instruments

To manage instruments in the app:

  1. Click New Instrument to add a new entry.

  2. Fill in the required fields: Manufacturer, Model, and Address.

  3. Added instruments will appear in each measurement module’s Instruments tab.

  4. To remove an instrument, select its row and click Delete Instrument.

  5. After making changes, click Save Changes to update your local database.

Instrument Database

For more technical details, explore the Instrument Interfacing Section, which explains how ARES uses VISA protocols to communicate with connected instruments.

Manual Editing (Optional)

Although the app provides a user-friendly interface for managing instruments, users can edit the instrument database file directly using a text editor or spreadsheet software (e.g., Excel, VS Code, etc.).

File Location

The database file is located in your MATLAB user path, under the ARES directory:

<userpath>/ARES/instrument_database.csv

To check your user path, run the following command in the MATLAB command window:

userpath

Editing Guidelines

  • Open the .csv file with a CSV-compatible editor to avoid corrupting the format.

  • Do not modify the header row (Manufacturer, Model, Address).

  • Each row must contain exactly three fields: Manufacturer, Model, and a valid VISA Address.