The External Device Control (EDC) option allows users to access and control external devices through the same GPIB system that controls the MPMS.

EDC provides the ability to trigger devices, send data and receive data, and wait until a condition is met or a specified length of time elapses.

EDC programs are created in the Delphi application by using a pre-existing project template file called EDCPrgm.dpr.

Program structure:

1. Library declaration, at the beginning of the EDC project file, tells Delphi to build a DLL with whatever name is specified by the declaration. The specified name is the name of the project file
2. Uses block. The uses block in the EDC project file defines which Delphi and MPMS units each EDC program must include. You must not remove any unit name appearing in the uses block. 3. Variables Blocks is used to declare local and global variables.
3. Variables Blocks is used to declare local and global variables
4. Function Blocks:
   1. InitializeEDC: calls the Initialize function to initialize the external instrument, variables and data.
   2. ExecuteEDC: executes the measurements.
   3. FinishEDC: calls the Finish function in whichever EDC DLL was initialized. Finishes EDC program.
5. Exports Block lists the names of the functions exported by the DLL. Exported functions can be accessed by other applications that use the DLL. The exported functions are the functions that MPMS MultiVu accesses through the EDC sequence commands. Do not modify.
6. The End EDC sequence command calls the Finish function in the EDC program. It is not necessary since it just finish the DLL which is automatically performed by MultiVu once the sequence is finished.