Remote Interface Reference 4
Keysight 34420A User’s Guide 203
Using Device Clear to Halt Measurements
Device clear is an IEEE-488 low-level bus message which can be used to halt 
measurements in progress. Different programming languages and IEEE-488 
interface cards provide access to this capability through their own unique 
commands. The status registers, the error queue, and all configuration states are 
left unchanged when a device clear message is received. Device clear performs 
the following actions.
– All measurements in progress are aborted.
– The meter returns to the trigger “idle state”.
– The meter’s input and output buffers are cleared.
– The meter is prepared to accept a new command string.
– For RS-232 operation, sending the control-C character will perform the 
equivalent operations of the IEEE-488 device clear message. The meter’s DTR 
(data terminal ready) handshake line will be true following a device clear 
message. See “DTR / DSR Handshake Protocol” on page 194 for further 
details.