Chapter 1 33
Instrument Messages
Instrument Messages Introduction
Instrument Messages
Error Message Types

Events do not generate more than one type of error. For example, an event that generates

a query error will not generate a device-specific, execution, or command error.

−499 to −400:
Query Errors These errors indicate that the analyzer output queue control has detected a
problem with the message exchange protocol described in IEEE 488.2,
Chapter 6. Errors in this class set the query error bit (bit 2) in the event
status register (IEEE 488.2, section 11.5.1). These errors correspond to
message exchange protocol errors described in IEEE 488.2, 6.5. In this case:
•Either an attempt is being made to read data from the output que ue when
no output is either present or pending, or
•Data in the output queue has been lost.
−399 to −300:
Device-Specific
Errors
An error number in the range –399 to –300 indicates that the analyzer has
detected an error where some device operations did not properly complete,
possibly due to an abnormal hardware or firmware condition. This is not a
error in response to a SCPI query or command, or command execution. The
occurrence of any error in this class will cause the device-specific error bit
(bit 3) in the event status register to be set.
−299 to −200:
Execution Errors These errors indicate that an error has been detected during analyzer
execution.
−199 to −100:
Command Errors These errors indicate that the analyzer parser detected an IEEE 488.2
syntax error. Errors in this class set the command error bit (bit 5) in the
event status register (IEEE 488.2, section 11.5.1). In this case:
•Either an IEEE 488.2 syntax error has been detected by the parser (a
control-to-device message was received that is in violation of the IEEE
488.2 standard. Possible violations include a data element which violates
device listening formats or whose type is unacceptable to the device.), or
•An unrecognized header was received. These include incorrect
device-specific headers and incorrect or unimplemented IEEE 488.2
common commands.
64 to 799:
Device-Specific
Errors
These errors indicate that a device operation did not properly complete,
possibly due to an abnormal hardware or firmware condition. These codes
are also used for self-test response errors. Errors in this class set the
device-specific error bit (bit 3) in the event status register (IEEE 488.2,
section 11.5.1).
The <error_message> string for a positive error is not part of the SCPI
standard. A positive error indicates that the analyzer detected an error
within the GPIB system, within the analyzer firmware or hardware, during
the transfer of block data, or during calibration.
Greater than
10000:
Measurement
Applications
Errors
These errors indicate that an error has been detected while executing
measurements requiring a personality option such as the GSM Meas urement
Personality or those measurements found under the MEASURE front-panel
key in SA mode.