A Brief Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI Language Basics
Variable Parameters
<integer> | is an integer value with no units. |
<real> | Is a floating point number with no units. |
<freq> |
|
<bandwidth> | Is a positive rational number followed by optional units. The default unit is Hertz. |
| Acceptable units include: Hz, kHz, MHz, GHz. |
<time> |
|
<seconds> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are seconds. |
| Acceptable units include: ks, s, ms, us, ns. |
<voltage> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are Volts. |
| Acceptable units include: V, mV, μV, nV |
<current> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are Amperes. |
| Acceptable units include: A, mA, μA, nA. |
<power> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are W. Acceptable |
| units include: mAW, kW, W, mW, μW, nW, pW. |
<ampl> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are dBm. |
| Acceptable units include: dBm, dBmV, dBμV. |
<rel_power> |
|
<rel_ampl> | Is a positive rational number followed by optional units. The default units are dB. |
| Acceptable units include: dB. |
<percent> | Is a rational number between 0 and 100. You can either use no units or use PCT. |
<angle> |
|
<degrees> | Is a rational number followed by optional units. The default units are degrees. |
| Acceptable units include: DEG, RAD. |
<string> | Is a series of alpha numeric characters. |
<bit_pattern> | Specifies a series of bits rather than a numeric value. The bit series is the binary |
| representation of a numeric value. There are no units. |
| Bit patterns are most often specified as hexadecimal numbers, though octal, binary or |
| decimal numbers may also be used. In the SCPI language these numbers are specified |
| as: |
| • Hexadecimal, #Hdddd or #hdddd where ‘d’ represents a hexadecimal digit 0 to 9 |
| and ‘a’ to ‘f’. So #h14 can be used instead of the decimal number 20. |
| • Octal, #Odddddd or #odddddd where ‘d’ represents an octal digit 0 to 7. So #o24 |
| can be used instead of the decimal number 20. |
| • Binary, #Bdddddddddddddddd or #bdddddddddddddddd where ‘d’ represents a 1 |
| or 0. So #b10100 can be used instead of the decimal number 20. |
Block Program Data
Some parameters consist of a block of data. There are a few standard types of block data. Arbitrary blocks of program data can also be used.
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