kpib.m contains code for GPIB and serial port communication for a number of scientific instruments, organized so that a single common command syntax can operate them all. For example, the command:

r = kpib(INSTRUMENT,GPIB, read )

will return the voltage and current reading from a number of different power supplies. The goal is to be able to write matlab code that can accommodate changing instruments and experimental setups with minimum hassle. If INSTRUMENT and GPIB are defined as constants at the beginning of your code, then they can be changed to accommodate new equipment, and the rest of the code is unchanged. In addition, kpib can test whether an instrument exists at an address and read and write arbitrary strings to instruments for testing.