1 U8480 Series Remote Operation
18 U8480 Series Programming Guide
An Introduction to the SCPI Language
Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) defines how you
communicate with an instrument from a bus controller. The SCPI language uses a
hierarchical structure similar to the file systems used by many bus controllers. The
command tree is organized with root-level commands (also called subsystems)
positioned at the top, with multiple levels below each root-level command. You
must specify the complete path to execute the individual lower-level commands.
Figure 1-1 Hierarchical structure of SCPI
Mnemonic forms
Each keyword has both a long form and a short form. A standard notation is used
to differentiate the short-form keyword from the long-form keyword. The long
form of the keyword is shown, with the short form portion shown in upper-case
characters, and the rest of the keyword shown in lower-case characters. For
example, the short form of TRIGger is TRIG.
Using a colon (:)
When a colon is the first character of a command keyword, it indicates that the
next command mnemonic is a root-level command. When a colon is inserted
between two command mnemonics, the colon moves the path down one level in
the present path (for the specified root-level command) of the command tree. You
must separate command mnemonics from each other using a colon. You can omit
the leading colon if the command is the first of a new program line.
“B” Subsystem
:G :I:H
:M
:N=:B:H:N
“A” Subsystem
:D :F:E
“C” Subsystem
:J :L=:C:L:K
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