Chapter 5 Command Reference
Serial-Port Command/Printer Interface
Operating and Programming Manual 105
Serial-Port Command/Printer Interface
The following paragraphs describe the operation of the serial-port command and
printer interface.
Mode Selection
The serial port may be connected either to a printer or to a device which issues
SCPI commands via RS-232C. The primary distinction is whether the instrument
generates text in response to internal events.
For example, the serial port may be configured so that the instrument sends text
only in response to SCPI commands. You may also configure it so that the serial
port announces all changes in the state of the instrument. This sort of
configuration is available on the front panel in the config/log screen. Set
DISABLED if you want the serial port to be mute unless requested to respond.
Set VERBOSE for detailed status and event reporting.
Pacing
The serial port supports both XON/XOFF (software) and DTR/DSR pacing.
Both pacing features are always enabled. The DSR input of the serial
port is pulled up by a resistor so that it is transparent if not connected.
Many RS-232C printers support this pacing arrangement. Some also
support XON/XOFF. XON/XOFF is also useful when using a terminal.
XOFF is the same as control-S, while XON is control-Q.
The Prompt
The SCPI program parser prints a prompt whenever ready for another command.
If no errors are in the queue, the prompt appears as: scpi>.
The prompt string ends with a space (ASCII 32).
If there are errors in the queue, the prompt reflects the number of the most recent
unread error in the queue. For example, E-100>.
You can read errors from the queue using the syst:err? query. This prints the
error number and a short description of the error, popping that message from the
queue. When the queue is clear, the prompt returns to its normal form. Note: you
can clear the queue without reading the messages using the IEEE common *CLS
command.
End-Of-Line Characters
The 5071A will receive lines terminated with CR (ASCII 13 decimal), LF
(ASCII 10 decimal), or one followed immediately by the other, in either order.
There is no support for IEEE 488 <EOI>. The instrument always terminates
formatted output lines with <CR> and <LF>. (See also Prompt above.)
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