A Brief Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI Language Basics
Parameters in Commands
There are four basic types of parameters: booleans, keywords, variables and arbitrary block program data.
OFFON01 |
|
(Boolean) | This is a two state |
| Any numeric value other than 0 is equivalent to ON. The numeric values of 0 or 1 are |
| commonly used in the command instead of OFF or ON. Queries of the parameter |
| always return a numeric value of 0 or 1. |
keyword | The keywords that are allowed for a particular command are defined in the command |
| syntax description. |
Units | Numeric variables may include units. The valid units for a command depend on the |
| variable type being used. See the following variable descriptions. The indicated |
| default units are used if no units are sent. Units can follow the numerical value with, |
| or without, a space. |
Variable | A variable can be entered in exponential format as well as standard numeric format. |
| The appropriate range of the variable and its optional units are defined in the |
| command description. |
| The following keywords may also be used in commands, but not all commands allow |
| keyword variables. |
| • DEFault - resets the parameter to its default value. |
| • UP - increments the parameter. |
| • DOWN - decrements the parameter. |
| • MINimum - sets the parameter to the smallest possible value. |
| • MAXimum - sets the parameter to the largest possible value. |
| The numeric value for the function’s MINimum, MAXimum, or DEFault can be |
| queried by adding the keyword to the command in its query form. The keyword must |
| be entered following the question mark. |
| Example query: SENSE:FREQ:CENTER? MAX |
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