12.2  Standard Event Status Group 
This group consists of an Event register and an Enable register that are programmed by 
Common commands.  The Standard Event register latches events relating to interface 
communication status.  It is a read-only register that is cleared when read.  The Standard 
Event Enable register functions similarly to the enable registers of the Operation and 
Questionable status groups. 
Command  Action   
*ESE  programs specific bits in the Standard Event Enable register. 
*ESR?  reads and clears the Standard Event register. 
 
The PON bit in the Standard Event register is set whenever the AC source is turned on. 
12.3  Status Byte Register 
This register summarizes the information from all other status groups as defined in the IEEE 
488.2 Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation.  The bit configuration is 
shown in Table 10-6. 
Command  Action   
*STB?  reads the data in the register but does not clear it (returns MSS in bit 6) 
 
The MSS Bit 
This is a real-time (unlatched) summary of all Status Byte register bits that are enabled by 
the Service Request Enable register.  MSS is set whenever the AC source has one or more 
reasons for needing service.  *STB? reads the MSS in bit position 6 of the response but does 
not clear any of the bits in the Status Byte register. 
The MAV bit and Output Queue 
The Output Queue is a first-in, first-out (FIFO) data register that stores AC source-to-
controller messages until the controller reads them.  Whenever the queue holds one or more 
bytes, it sets the MAV bit (bit 4) of the Status byte register.