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A Brief Introduction to the SCPI Language
Overview
Special Characters in Commands
Parameters in Commands
There are four basic types of parameters: booleans, keywords, variables and arbitrary block program
data.
OFF|ON|0|1
(Boolean) This is a two state boolean-type parameter. The numeric value 0 is equivalent to OFF.
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.
Special
Character
Meaning Example
| A vertical stroke between
parameters indicates alternative
choices. The effect of the command is
different depending on which
parameter is selected.
Command:
TRIGger:SOURce EXTernal|INTernal|LINE
The choices are external, internal, and line.
Ex: TRIG:SOURCE INT
is one possible command choice.
A vertical stroke between keywords
indicates identical effects exist for
both keywords. The command
functions the same for either
keyword. Only one of these keywords
is used at a time.
Command:
SENSe:BANDwidth|BWIDth:
OFFSet
Two identical commands are: Ex1:
SENSE:BWIDTH:OFFSET Ex2: SENSE:BAND:OFFSET
[ ] keywords in square brackets are
optional
when composing the
command. These implied keywords
are executed even if they are omitted.
Command:
[SENSe:]BANDwidth[:RESolution]:AUTO
The following commands are all valid and have identical
effects:
Ex1: bandwidth:auto
Ex2: band:resolution:auto
Ex3: sense:bandwidth:auto
< > Angle brackets around a word, or
words, indicates they are not to be
used literally in the command. They
represent the needed item.
Command:
SENS:FREQ <freq>
In this command example the word <freq> should be
replaced by an actual frequency.
Ex: SENS:FREQ 9.7MHz.
{ } Parameters in braces can optionally
be used in the command either not at
all, once, or several times.
Command:
MEASure:BW <freq>{,level}
A valid command is:
meas:BW 6 MHz, 3 dB, 60 dB
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