Minimizing the Use of Extension Capability Groups

Use only the extension capability groups that your test program requires. Minimizing the number of extension capability groups you access for an IVI session maximizes the number of instruments that you can use with your application.

The class drivers divide the capabilities of an instrument class into capability groups. The capability groups contain functions and attributes that you use to access the features of that capability group. Each class driver defines a base capability group. A specific driver must implement the base capabilities group to be compliant with the class. Therefore, you can always use the base capabilities group in your program.

The other capability groups are extension capability groups. Extension capability groups represent the less common capabilities of the instrument class. Specific drivers are not required to implement the extension capability groups. Not all specific drivers implement the same set of extension capability groups. Each time you use a new extension capability group in your program, you limit the number of instruments that you can use in your application.