Ametek SEQUOIA Series - Page 20

20 Sequoia Series
2.4.6 Root Specifier
When it precedes the first header of a message unit, the colon becomes the root specifier. It tells the
command parser that this is the root or the top node of the command tree. Note the difference between
root specifiers and header separators in the following examples:
CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1
All colons are header separators
:CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1
Only the first colon is a root
specifier
CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1;:VOLTage 12.5
Only the third colon is a root
specifier
You do not have to precede root-level commands with a colon; there is an implied colon in front of
every root-level command.
2.4.7 Message Terminator
A terminator informs SCPI that it has reached the end of a message. Three permitted message
terminators are:
• newline (<NL>), which is ASCII decimal 10 or hex 0A.
• end or identify (<END>)
• both of the above (<NL><END>).
In the examples of this manual, there is an assumed message terminator at the end of each message.
If the terminator needs to be shown, it is indicated as <NL> regardless of the actual terminator
character.