Chapter 3
HP E1459A SCPI Command Reference
The Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) commands described in this chapter are only available in the downloadable SCPI driver for the HP Command Modules such as the HP E1406. If you are not using a command module, you should use the HP VXIplug&play driver. This driver is available on the HP Instrument Drivers CD and available on the World Wide Web.
Common Command Format
The IEEE 488.2 standard defines the Common commands that perform functions like reset,
*RST *ESR 32 *STB?
SCPI Command Format
The SCPI commands perform functions such as making measurements, querying instrument states, or retrieving data. A command subsystem structure is a hierarchical structure that usually consists of a top level (or root) command, one or more
:DISPlay
:MONitor
:PORT <port>
:PORT? [MINimum MAXimum DEFault] [:STATe] <state>
[:STATe]?
Command Separator
Abbreviated Commands
:DISPlay is the root command, :MONitor is a second level commands, and :PORT, PORT?, [:STATe], and [:STATe]? are third level commands.
A colon (:) always separates one command from the next lower level command:
DISPlay:MONitor:PORT <port>.
Colons separate the root command from the second level command
(DISPlay:MONitor) and the second level from the third level (MONitor:CHANnel).
The command syntax shows most commands as a mixture of upper and lower case letters. The upper case letters indicate the abbreviated spelling for the command. For shorter program lines, send the abbreviated form. For better program readability, you may send the entire command. The instrument will accept either the abbreviated form or the entire command.
HP E1459A SCPI Command Reference 39