BenchVue Platform versus Standalone
Keysight BenchVue is available in two ways:
- Platform-based. The platform is a program that acts as a repository for applications such as the DMM App, Scope App, etc.
- Standalone apps. Thes apps do not require the platform. Thus they “stand alone.” They have a different look and feel, but the functionality is similar to the corresponding apps in the platform.
Standalone Features & Available Apps
Four apps have standalone versions
- Digital Multimeter (DMM)
- Power Supply (PS)
- Oscilloscope (OSC)
- Function Generator (FG)
Supported & Faster Installation
These apps work much like their platform counterparts and are being enhanced with support for new instruments and new features. Because they do not require the large platform infrastructure, they have smaller download sizes and do not require all the dependencies of the platform, so they install faster. The model numbers of the standalone apps are the same as those of the platform equivalents (BV0001-4B).
Test Flow
The four standalone apps have a switch in the user interface allowing you to enable their use with Test Flow. Functions can be dragged and dropped from the app into the platform-based Test Flow. This does require you to install the Platform.
Platform features
The platform has features not found in the standalone apps:
- Up to nine apps can be run at the same time, in any combination, four of which can be “tiled” while others are “popped out” into separate re-sizable windows. You can choose one, two or four apps to be shown in the tiled area.
- Start All, Stop All. These buttons let you start all apps at once, such as taking DMM and Oscilloscope measurements. The start/stop commands are implemented in software, so they can have small delays between them.
- Export All. Measurement data can be exported to common file formats, such as CSV or Excel all at once. Each app can also export its data separately.
- Test Flow. This is a built-in sequencer that lets you build repeatable programs using a graphical drag-n-drop method.
- Data Manager. All collected data is saved automatically in HDF5 files, which can be accessed using this built-in reader.
- Library. This feature provides quick, sorted access to information about instruments, such as manuals, datasheets and tutorials
- Error reporting. This allows you to send Keysight log files and request help from KeysightCare
- Instrument setup. Start Keysight IO Libraries Connection Expert to locate connected instruments on LAN, USB, GPIB and Serial ports
Platform Drawbacks
The platform is a large program and has many dependencies that must also be installed. The installer takes care of this, but on a PC that has never had BenchVue installed on it, it can take a long time to finish the installation.
The Platform and the platform versions of the apps for which there are standalone versions (DMM, FG, OSC, PS) are not being enhanced.
Available Platform Apps
There are numerous apps that can be run inside the platform. Although they can be popped out of the platform and run in separate windows, they require the platform infrastructure.
- Digital Multimeter (DMM) - Model number BV0001B
- Function Generator (FG) - BV0002B
- Power Supply (PS) - BV0003B
- Oscilloscope (OSC) - BV0004B
- Data Acquisition (DAQ) - BV0006B
- Power Meter (PM) - BV0007B
- Universal Counter (CNTR) - BV0011B
- Electronic Load (ELoad) - BV0012B
- USB Modular products (Chassis, DAQ, DMM, FG, OSC, SMU, Switch) - BV0021B-25B
- Serial Control (SRL)
- Power Analyzer (PA)
- Test Flow (TF)
- Network Analyzer (NA) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- Spectrum Analyzer (SA) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- Signal Generator (SG) (requires BV9001B “Complete Control Collection” license)
- FieldFox (FF) - BV0010B
- Current Analyzer (CA) - BV0013B
- LCR Meter (LCR) - BV0014B
- Solar Array Simulator (SAS)
- Advanced Battery Test and Emulation
- Advanced Power Control and Analysis
