GDM-8246 MULTIMETER 
PROGRAMMER MANUAL 
 
⎯  10  ⎯ 
command identifies it as a query.   
Layer D is interrelated with device information. Different devices have 
different functions. SCPI command sets belong to this layer. 
Command Syntax 
If you want to transfer any instructions to an instrument, and comply 
with SCPI, there are three basic elements must be included. 
z  Command header 
z  Parameter (if required) 
z  Message terminator or separator 
 
Command Header 
The command header has a hierarchical structure that can be represented 
by a command tree (Figure 4).   
The top level of the tree is the root level. A root node is located at the 
root level. A root node and one or more lower-level nodes form a header 
path to the last node called the leaf node. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 4: Tree hierarchy 
 
:SYSTem 
:AUTO 
Root node
:ERRor 
:STATe  :STARt  :CYCLe 
Lower-level node
Leaf Node
  GDM-8246 MULTIMETER 
PROGRAMMER MANUAL 
 
⎯  11  ⎯ 
The command header is configured by header path and leaf node. Figure 5 
shows the command header for the leaf node indicated in Figure 4. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 5 Command Header 
Parameter 
If the commands have parameters, the values have to be included. In this 
manual, when we expressed the syntax of the command, the < > symbols 
are used for enclosing the parameter type. For instance, the syntax of the 
command in Figure 6 includes the Boolean parameter type. 
NOTE: Do not include the <, >, or | symbols when entering the actual 
value for a parameter. 
 
 
 
Figure 6 Command Header with Parameter