New Features and Changes

Learn about updates—including new features and behavior changes—introduced in each version of Package Manager.

2025 Q1

January 2025

Network Analyzer

  • Added support for markers.
  • Added support for memory traces.

RF Signal Analyzer (RFmx)

  • Spectrum Analyzer - Added frequency counter measurement.
  • LTE - Added support for downlink NB-IoT.
  • Bluetooth - Added new trace and results for HDT.

RF Signal Generator

  • Added the ability to change the active script while debugging test code in script mode.
  • Added the ability to switch to CW (continuous waveform) or Arb (arbitrary waveform) mode while debugging test code in script mode.

Oscilloscope

  • Enhanced monitoring support- vertical scaling will be automatically updated based on test program settings.
  • Added support for all PXIe-5172 onboard timebase rates.

Professional License Only

The following new features are only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.

  • Sequencer Tool
    • Added support for native instrument types- FGEN, SCOPE, and SMU/VPS panels can now be added to sequences.
    • Added support for parameter sweeps.
  • Measurement Plug-Ins
    • Added support for parameter sweeps for measurement plug-ins.

2024 Q4

October 2024

  • Added segmented sweeps to the Network Analyzer instrument as well as enhancements to pulsed S-parameters, data visualizations, and calibration.
  • Added channel merging capability to the SMU/Power Supply instrument to allow combining multiple channels to achieve a higher output current.

Professional License Only

The following new features are only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.

  • Added support for SCPI-capable oscilloscopes.
    • Fetch data and screenshot captures from SCPI instruments.
    • Fetch configurations from SCPI instruments.
    • Apply configurations to SCPI instruments.
    Refer to SCPI Instrument Panels for more information on using SCPI-capable devices with InstrumentStudio.
  • Sequencer Tool
    • Added support for digital multimeters in the Sequencer Tool. You can now create steps to read measurements from supported digital multimeters.
    • Added support for wait steps. You can now create wait steps in your sequences.
    • UI improvements to the sequencer tool. You can now view steps associated with measurement panels.
  • Measurement Plug-Ins
    • Added support for measurement plug-in versioning. Refer to the Measurement Plug-In User Manual for more information measurement plug-in versioning.
    • Added support for displaying a link to measurement plug-in documentation in InstrumentStudio and TestStand

2024 Q3

July 2024

  • Pin maps are no longer required use measurement plug-ins.
  • Added several enhancements to the Network Analyzer instrument, including the ability to save S-parameter measurement results to Touchstone format (.snp) files.
  • Added band power markers to the Spectrum measurement in the RF Signal Analyzer instrument.

Professional License Only

The following new features are only available with an InstrumentStudio Professional license.

  • Added support for measurement plug-ins. Refer to the Measurement Plug-Ins user manual for more information on developing measurements.
  • Added the Sequencer Tool for sequencing measurements using measurement plug-ins.
  • Added support for connecting to plug-in libraries.

2024 Q2

April 2024

  • Added manual calibration, pulse mode, triggering, and improved calset support to the Network Analyzer instrument.
  • Reference waveform and de-embedding file paths are now stored with the RF Signal Analyzer configuration, allowing for automatic reload.
  • Added several enhancements for Channel Sounding packets using the RF Signal Analyzer Bluetooth personality.

2024 Q1

January 2024

  • Added support for Fixed Markers using RF Signal Analyzer instruments.
  • Added custom bitfile support for RF Signal Analyzer and RF Signal Generator instruments.

2023 Q4

October 2023

  • You can now undo and redo changes made to panel properties.
  • Improved searching and filtering of instruments and measurements in the Edit Layout window.
  • Use the new Network Analyzer instrument to control supported NI vector network analyzers.
  • Added support for capturing IQ data using the RF Signal Analyzer instrument.
  • Added support for Channel Sounding packets using the RF Signal Analyzer Bluetooth personality.
  • Added several enhancements to the RF Signal Analyzer Pulse personality, including support for multi-burst analysis and phase and frequency traces.

2023 Q3

July 2023

  • Added full support for remote RF Signal Analyzer panel for SpecAn, LTE, NR, WLAN and Bluetooth personalities (no longer preview features).
  • Added Bluetooth personality to remote RF Signal Analyzer panel.
  • Added new remote connections section in the preferences menu.
  • Added support for pulse measurements in the RF Signal Analyzer panel.

2023 Q2

April 2023

  • Added LTE, NR, and WLAN personalities to remote RF Signal Analyzer panel preview feature.
    Note Preview features have limited functionality and are not fully supported.

2023 Q1

January 2023

  • Added SMU measurement auto-range support for PXIe-4190 and PXIe-4190 (500 kHz).
  • Added LCR Meter impedance measurement auto-range support in sweep mode.
  • Added remote RF Signal Analyzer panel viewing as a preview feature.
    Note Preview features have limited functionality and are not fully supported.

2022 Q4

October 2022

  • Added oscilloscope Manual Override mode, enabling simultaneous manual configuration of Record length and Sample Size in oscilloscope settings .

2022 Q2

April 2022

  • Single-channel sweep mode measurement added as a preview feature for PXIe-4190 when used in LCR mode.

2022 Q1

January 2022

  • LCR panel debug monitor functionality and usability improvements for the LCR PXIe-4190 module.
  • Custom gating support for Scope measurements.

2021 Q4

October 2021

  • Added new LCR panel supporting interactive use with the PXIe-4190 module.
  • Added access and visibility to pin maps.
  • Improved UI responsiveness and added pin filtering for systems with high channel counts.

2021

April 2021

  • Added new RFSG Signal Generator panel supporting interactive use and debugging using PXIe-5820, PXIe-5830, PXIe-5831, PXIe-5832, PXIe-5840, and PXIe-5841.
  • Added support for the PXIe-4135(40W) and PXIe-4137(40W) source measure unit, newly supported in NI-DCPOWER 20.7.

2020

November 2020

  • Added support for the PXIe-4139(40W) source measure unit, newly supported in NI-DCPower 20.5.
  • Added support for multichannel session in the SMU/Power Supply panel, newly supported in NI-DCPower 20.6. Initializing an NI-DCPower session with independent channels allows you to use multiple instruments in the same session. With independent channels, you can configure multiple channels of the same instrument, or of multiple instruments independent of one another within the same session.
  • Added support for monitoring merged channels in debug mode on the PXIe-4147. Merged channels are newly supported in NI-DCPower 20.6. Merging channels of an NI SMU allows you to use multiple channels in unison to increase the current you can source beyond the normal maximum for a single SMU channel.

2019 SP1

May 2020

  • Added support for the PXIe-4147 source measure unit, newly supported in NI-DCPower 20.0.

2019

September 2019

  • Multiple NI-SCOPE devices of the same model can now be synchronized in the same oscilloscope panel.
  • Added support for selecting trigger sources and events from other NI devices in your system.
  • Added waveform graphing, pulse current, pulse voltage, voltage sequence, and current sequence modes to SMU panels, including automatic hardware synchronization across multiple devices.
  • Added asymmetric limits and software-protected ranges to SMU/Power Supply panels.
  • Added NI-DCPower SourceAdapt configuration to SMU panels, useful for transient measurements.
  • Added channel views to hide idle channels, show power calculations, and condense channel views to the SMU/Power Supply panels.
  • Added inductance and capacitance measurements along with open and short cable compensation to digital multimeter (DMM) panels.
  • Added the ability to generate waveforms from binary files to the waveform generator panel.
  • Added debugging and monitoring support to the waveform generator panel.
  • Added exporting configuration files from the waveform generator panel for use with the NI-FGEN driver.
  • Added capability to export device configurations to TestStand for use in test step configuration.
  • Added ability to use pin maps created in Digital Pattern Editor to group devices and channels by site and use pin names for channel aliases.

2018 SP2

January 2019

  • Added support for the PXIe-5163 oscilloscope, newly supported in NI-SCOPE 18.7.
  • Added CSV file format for data capture.
  • Added support for exporting instrument events to PXI chassis trigger lines.
  • Added support for arbitrary waveform generation mode to the Waveform Generator panels.
  • Added support for frequency list and sweep modes to the Waveform Generator panels.
  • Added FFT channels, frequency markers, and FFT channel measurements to the Oscilloscope panels.
  • Added additional 2-channel measurements to the Oscilloscope panels.

2018 SP1

September 2018

  • Added support for the PXIe-5110, PXIe-5111, and PXIe-5113 oscilloscopes, newly supported in NI-SCOPE 18.6.

2018

May 2018

  • This was the initial release of InstrumentStudio.