Chapter 4 Remote Operation and Programming
Command Types
Operating and Programming Manual 51
Abbreviated Commands
The command syntax shows most commands as a mixture of upper and lower
case letters. Upper case letters indicate the abbreviated spelling for the command.
For shorter program lines, send the abbreviated form. For better program
readability, you may send the entire command. The 5071A accepts either
command form and is not case sensitive.
For example, if the command syntax shows DIAGnostic, then DIAG and
DIAGNOSTIC are both acceptable forms. Other forms of DIAGnostic, such as
DIAGN or DIAGNOST will generate an error. You may use upper or lower case
letters. Therefore, DIAGNOSTIC, diagnostic, and DiAgNoStIc are all acceptable.
Implied Channel
Some commands contain channel numbers in square brackets: [1|2]. The
brackets indicate that the same programming sequence can be used for both
channels, one of which must be specified. If a channel number is not specified, it
will default to 1.
Implied Commands
Implied commands appear in square brackets ([ ]) in the command syntax. (The
brackets are not part of the command and are not sent to the instrument.)
Suppose you send a second level command but do not send the preceding implied
command. In this case, the instrument assumes you intend to use the implied
command and responds as if you had sent it.
Examine the portion of the DIAGnostic subsystem shown below:
SOURce]
:PTIMe
[:TIME] <hour>,<minute>,<second>
[:TIME]? [MIN|MAX],[MIN|MAX],[MIN|MAX]
The root command SOURce is an implied command (as is :TIME). To set the
instruments time to 9:30 am, you can send either of the following command
statements:
SOURce:PTIMe:TIME 09,30,00
or
PTIMe 09,30,00