2.1 Module functions

get_instruments_list([use_aliases]): returns a list with all instruments that are known to the local VISA system. If you're lucky, these are all instruments connected with the computer.
The boolean use_aliases is True by default, which means that the more human-friendly aliases like ``COM1'' instead of ``ASRL1'' are returned. With some VISA systems¹ you can define your own aliases for each device, e.g. ``keithley617'' for ``GPIB0::15::INSTR''. If use_aliases is False, only standard resource names are returned.

instrument(resource_name[, **keyw])

returns an instrument variable for the instrument given by resource_name. It saves you from calling one of the instrument classes directly by choosing the right one according to the type of the instrument. So you have one function to open all of your instruments.

The parameter resource_name may be any valid VISA instrument resource name, see section 1.3. In particular, you can use a name returned by get_instruments_list() above.

All further keyword arguments given to this function are passed to the class constructor of the respective instrument class. See section 2.2 for a table with all allowed keyword arguments and their meanings.

Footnotes

... systems ¹: such as the ``Measurement and Automation Center'' by National Instruments