Make a connection between MATLAB-VISUAL BASIC via ActiveX as a bridge,

Hi,

I am trying to control LabSpec6 using external software, MATLAB. LabSpec6 is the specific software of Raman instrument (Horiba Corp.) and it has a Visual Basic (VB)-based script option. I think I have succeeded to make a connection between LabSpec6 – MATLAB (R2014a 32-bit) via ActiveX as a bridge, however, it seems that LabSpec6 does not respond to MATLAB commands.

In detail; 1. I could see the functions (methods) which are similar to those used at LabSpec6 VB script. This makes me think that I have succeeded to make a connection between LabSpec and MATLAB.

2. For the test, I ordered simple commands;

>> LabSpec=actxserver('NFACTIVEX.NFActiveXCtrl.1');
>> LabSpec.Acq(0,1,1,0,0)

However, nothing happened and MATLAB fell into a dumb status (in endless ‘Busy’ condition).

3. Moreover, there was a flaky result when I made a command;

>> get(LabSpec)
struct with no fields.

Do you guys have any sense on this?

Thanks in advance! :-)

Answer 1

[Iain]

Using activeX is a bit of a pain. HOWEVER, if you look at the code for xlsread/xlswrite, you'll see that there is a whole load of activeX stuff where matlab tells excel to do things that look remarkably like visual basic (for applications) commands. You can use that code as a leaping off point.

To explain #2 - Your command was issued to LabSpec, but labspec never finished doing whatever you asked of it. This made Matlab just simply wait.

Answer 2

[KANG]

Hi lain,

Thanks for your reply. By the way, I became to know that LabSpec ActiveX was registered to MATLAB with strange file name.

'C:\HORIBA\LABSPE~1\REGISTER\COMMON\NFACTI~1.OCX'

It should be registered as this file

'C:\HORIBA\LABSPEC_6_2_69\REGISTER\COMMON\NFACTIVEX.OCX'

Is there anyone who knows how to fix this?

Thanks in advance!

[Iain]

That shouldn't need to be fixed. Windows maintains a "short" filename which is in the old DOS 8.3 format.

 LABSPEC_6_2_69 is longer than the 8, so it got shortened to "LABSPE~1"
 NFACTIVEX.OCX is longer than the 8, so it got shortened to "NFACTI~1.OCX"

Answer 3

[KANG]

Hi qimao,

Since I could not find the way to reach you, let me use this webpage (hopefully, you will find this!). My answer is,, this issue has been partly solved, but I am still doing something! If you could describe more details, we can discuss about this together.

Thanks!