Agilent Technologies E4446A User Manual
Chapter 6
509
Programming Fundamentals
SCPI Language Basics
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SCPI Termination and Separator Syntax
A terminator must be provided when an instrument is controlled using
RS-232. There are several issues to be understood about choosing the
proper SCPI terminator and separator when this is the case. There is
no current SCPI standard for RS-232. Although one intent of SCPI is to
be interface independent, <END> is only defined for IEEE 488
operation. At the time of this writing, the RS-232 terminator issue was
in the process of being addressed in IEEE standard 1174.
proper SCPI terminator and separator when this is the case. There is
no current SCPI standard for RS-232. Although one intent of SCPI is to
be interface independent, <END> is only defined for IEEE 488
operation. At the time of this writing, the RS-232 terminator issue was
in the process of being addressed in IEEE standard 1174.
A semicolon (;) is not a SCPI terminator, it is a separator. The purpose
of the separator is to queue multiple commands or queries in order to
obtain multiple actions and/or responses. Make sure that you do not
attempt to use the semicolon as a terminator when using RS-232
control.
of the separator is to queue multiple commands or queries in order to
obtain multiple actions and/or responses. Make sure that you do not
attempt to use the semicolon as a terminator when using RS-232
control.
All binary trace and response data is terminated with <NL><END>, as
defined in Section 8.5 of IEEE Standard 488.2-1992, IEEE Standard
Codes, Formats, Protocols and Common Commands for Use with
ANSI/IEEE Std 488.1-1987. New York, NY, 1992.
defined in Section 8.5 of IEEE Standard 488.2-1992, IEEE Standard
Codes, Formats, Protocols and Common Commands for Use with
ANSI/IEEE Std 488.1-1987. New York, NY, 1992.
The following are some examples of good and bad commands. The
examples are created from a theoretical instrument with the simple set
of commands indicated below:
examples are created from a theoretical instrument with the simple set
of commands indicated below:
[:SENSe]
:POWer
[:RF]
:ATTenuation 40dB
:TRIGger
[:SEQuence]
:EXTernal [1]
:SLOPe
POSitive