Keithley 6220

Model 6220/6221 Reference Manual Remote Operations 10-15
Return to Section 10 topics
These rules apply to command words that exceed four letters:
• If the fourth letter of the command word is a vowel, delete it and all letters
after it.
immediate = :imm
• If the fourth letter of the command word is a consonant, retain it but drop all
the letters after it.
:format = :form
• If the command contains a question mark (?) or a non-optional number
included in the command word, you must include it in the short-form ver-
sion.
:delay? = :del?
• Command words or characters that are enclosed in brackets ([ ]) are
optional and need not be included in the program message.
Program messages
A program message is made up of one or more command words sent by the com-
puter to the instrument. Each common command is a three letter acronym pre-
ceded by an asterisk (*). The following SCPI commands from the STATus
subsystem are used to help explain how command words are structured to formu-
late program messages.
Single command messages
The above command structure has three levels. The first level is made up of the
root command (:STATus) and serves as a path. The second level is made up of
another path (:OPERation) and a command (:PRESet). The third path is made up
of one command for the :OPERation path. The three commands in this structure
can be executed by sending three separate program messages as follows:
:stat:oper:enab <NRf>
:stat:oper:enab?
:stat:pres
Command structure
:STATus
Path (Root)
:OPERation
Path
:ENABle <NRf>
Command and parameter
:ENABle?
Query command
:PRESet
Command
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