Agilent Technologies 66311B Types of Scpi Commands, Conventions Used in This Guide, Boldface font

Introduction to Programming - 6

Conventions Used in This Guide

Angle brackets		<	>	Items within angle brackets are parameter abbreviations. For example,
				<NR1> indicates a specific form of numerical data.
Vertical bar				Vertical bars separate alternative parameters. For example, NORM
				TEXT indicates that either "TEXT" or "NORM" can be used as a
				parameter.
Square Brackets		[	]	Items within square brackets are optional. The representation [SOURce:].
				VOLTage means that SOURce: may be omitted.
Braces {	}			Braces indicate parameters that may be repeated zero or more times. It is
				used especially for showing arrays. The notation <A>{<,B>} shows that
				parameter "A" must be entered, while parameter "B" may be omitted or
				may be entered one or more times.
Boldface font				Boldface font is used to emphasize syntax in command definitions.
				TRIGger:COUNt:CURRent <NRf> shows command definition.
Computer font				Computer font is used to show program lines in text.
				TRIGger:COUNt:CURRent 10 shows a program line.

Types of SCPI Commands

SCPI has two types of commands, common and subsystem.

♦Common commands generally are not related to specific operation but to controlling overall dc source functions, such as reset, status, and synchronization. All common commands consist of a

three-letter mnemonic preceded by an asterisk: *RST *IDN? *SRE 8

♦Subsystem commands perform specific dc source functions. They are organized into an inverted tree structure with the "root" at the top. The following figure shows a portion of a subsystem command tree, from which you access the commands located along the various paths. You can see the complete tree in Table 8-1.

ROOT

:OUTPut	[:STATe]
	:DFI	[:STATe]
		:SOURce

:PON:STATe

:PROTection:CLEar

:DELay

:STATus :OPERation [:EVEN] ?

:CONDition?

Figure 6-1. Partial Command Tree

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