Chapter 5 Remote Interface Reference

An Introduction to the SCPI Language

hSeY ey i

The SCPI language defines several different data formats to be used in program messages and response messages.

Commands that require numeric parameters

will accept all commonly used decimal representations of numbers including optional signs, decimal points, and scientific notation. Special values for numeric parameters like MINimum, MAXimum, and DEFault are also accepted. You can also send engineering unit suffixes with numeric parameters (e.g., M, K, or u). If only specific numeric values are accepted, the instrument will automatically round the input numeric parameters. The following command uses a numeric parameter:

VOLTage:DC:RANGe {<”z >MINimumMAXimum}[,(@<xt >)]

Discrete parameters are used to program settings that have a limited number of values (like BUS, IMMediate, EXTernal). They have a short form and a long form just like command keywords. You can mix upper- and lower-case letters. Query responses

will v return the short form in all upper-case letters. The following command uses discrete parameters:

UNIT:TEMPerature {CFK}[,(@<xt >)]

Boolean parameters represent a single binary

condition that is either true or false. For a false condition, the instrument will accept “OFF” or “0”. For a true condition, the instrument will accept “ON” or “1”. When you query a boolean setting,

the instrument will v return “0” or “1”. The following command uses a boolean parameter:

INPut:IMPedance:AUTO {OFFON}[,(@<xt >)]

300

Page 298
Image 298
HP 34970A manual HSeY ey