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Chapter 4 Remote Interface Reference
An Introduction to the SCPI Language
4
SCPI Parameter Types
The SCPI language defines several different data formats to be used in
program messages and response messages.
Numeric Parameters Commands that require numeric parameters
will accept all commonly used decimal representations of numbers
including optional signs, decimal points, and scientific notation. Special
values for numeric parameters like MINimum, MAXimum, and DEFault
are also accepted. You can also send engineering unit suffixes with
numeric parameters (e.g., Mhz or Khz). If only specific numeric values
are accepted, the function generator will automatically round the input
numeric parameters. The following command uses a numeric parameter:
FREQuency {<frequency>|MINimum|MAXimum}
Discrete Parameters Discrete parameters are used to program
settings that have a limited number of values (like BUS or IMMediate).
They have a short form and a long form just like command keywords.
You can mix upper- and lower-case letters. Query responses will always
return the short form in all upper-case letters. The following command
uses discrete parameters:
SWEep:SPACing {LINear|LOGarithmic}
Boolean Parameters Boolean parameters represent a single binary
condition that is either true or false. For a false condition, the function
generator will accept “OFF” or “0”. For a true condition, the function
generator will accept “ON” or “1”. When you query a boolean setting,
the instrument will always return “0” or “1”. The following command
uses a boolean parameter:
AM:STATe {OFF|ON}
String Parameters String parameters can contain virtually any set of
ASCII characters. A string must begin and end with matching quotes;
either with a single quote or a double quote. You can include the quote
delimiter as part of the string by typing it twice without any characters
in between. The following command uses a string parameter:
DISPlay:TEXT <quoted string>
33210A users guide.book Page 269 Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:16 AM
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