Ametek SEQUOIA Series - Using Queries; Structure of a SCPI Message

Sequoia Series 17
Including Common Commands
You can combine common commands with system commands in the same message. Treat the
common command as a message unit by separating it with a semicolon (the message unit separator).
Common commands do not affect the active header path; you may insert them anywhere in the
message.
VOLTage:TRIGger 7.5;*TRG
OUTPut OFF;OUTPut ON;*RCL 2
2.3 Using Queries
Observe the following precautions with queries:
• Set up the proper number of variables for the returned data.
• Read back all the results of a query before sending another command to the power
source. Otherwise, a Query Interrupted error will occur and the unreturned data will be
lost.
2.4 Structure of a SCPI Message
SCPI messages consist of one or more message units ending in a message terminator. The terminator
is not part of the syntax, but implicit in the way your programming language indicates the end of a line
(such as a newline or end-of-line character).
2.4.1 The Message Unit
The simplest SCPI command is a single message unit consisting of a command header (or keyword)
followed by a message terminator.
FREQuency?<newline>
VOLTage?<newline>
The message unit may include a parameter after the header. The parameter usually is numeric, but it
can be a string:
VOLTage 20<newline>
VOLTage MAX<newline>