Keithley 6482 - Query Commands; Case Sensitivity; Long-Form and Short-Form Versions

12-10 Return to Section Topics 6482-901-01 Rev. A / August 2012
Section 12: Remote Operations Model 6482 Dual-Channel Picoammeter / Voltage Source Reference Manual
<NDN> Nondecimal numeric: This parameter is used to send values in the binary, octal,
or hexadecimal format. The prefix designates the format type:
#Bxx...x #B specifies the binary format.
xx...x is the binary number (using zeros (0) and
ones (1).
#Qxx...x #Q specifies the octal format.
xx...x is the octal number (values 0 through 7).
#Hxx...x #H specifies the hexadecimal format.
xx...x is the hexadecimal number (values 0
through 9 and A through F).
Examples to send the decimal value 36 in the nondecimal formats:
*ESE #b100100 Binary format
*ESE #q44 Octal format
*ESE #h24 Hexadecimal format
Query commands
This type of command requests (queries) the presently programmed status. It is identified by the
question mark (?) at the end of the fundamental form of the command. Most commands have a
query form:
:ARM:TIMer? Queries the timer interval.
Most commands that require a numeric parameter (<n>) can also use the DEFault, MINimum, and
MAXimum parameters for the query form. These query forms are used to determine the *RST
default value and the upper and lower limits for the fundamental command. Examples are:
:ARM:TIMer? DEFault Queries the *RST default value.
:ARM:TIMer? MINimum Queries the lowest allowable value.
:ARM:TIMer? MAXimum Queries the largest allowable value.
Case sensitivity
Common commands and SCPI commands are not case sensitive. You can use upper or lower
case and any case combination. Examples:
*RST = *rst
:DATA? = :data?
:SYSTem:PRESet = :system:preset
NOTE Using all upper case will result in slightly faster command response times.
Long-form and short-form versions
A SCPI command word can be sent in its long-form or short-form version. The command
subsystem tables in Section 16 provide the long-form version. However, the short-form version is
indicated by upper case characters. Examples:
:SYSTem:PRESet long-form
:SYST:PRES short-form
:SYSTem:PRES long-form and short-form combination
Note that each command word must be in long-form or short-form, and not something in between.
For example, :SYSTe:PRESe is illegal and will generate an error. The command will not be
executed.