6.4 PM100D SCPI Commands
Braces ( { } ) enclose the parameter choices for a given command string. The braces
are not sent with the command string. A vertical bar ( | ) separates multiple
parameter choices for a given command string.
Triangle brackets ( < > ) indicate that you must specify a value for the enclosed
parameter. For example, the above syntax statement shows the range parameter
enclosed in triangle brackets. The brackets are not sent with the command string.
You must specify a value for the parameter (such as "CURR:DC:RANG 50E-6").
Some parameters are enclosed in square brackets ( [ ] ). The brackets indicate that
the parameter is optional and can be omitted. The brackets are not sent with the
command string. In this example [:DC] can be omitted, so the command string can be
shortened to “CURR:RANG 50E-6”. If you do not specify a value for an optional
parameter, the power/energy meter chooses a default value.
Command Separators
A colon ( : ) is used to separate a command keyword from a lower-level keyword.
You must insert a blank space to separate a parameter from a command keyword. If
a command requires more than one parameter, you must separate adjacent
parameters using a comma as shown below:
"SYST:TIME 10, 34, 48"
A semicolon ( ; ) is used to separate commands within the same subsystem, and can
also minimize typing. For example, sending the following command string:
"CORR:BEAM 1; WAVE 1310"
... is the same as sending the following two commands:
"CORR:BEAM 1"
"CORR:WAVE 10"
Use a colon and a semicolon to link commands from different subsystems. For
example, in the following command string, an error is generated if you do not use
both the colon and semicolon:
"CORR:BEAM 1;:AVER 300"
Using the MIN and MAX Parameters
You can substitute MINimum or MAXimum in place of a parameter for many
commands. For example, consider the following command:
CURRent[:DC]:RANGe {MINimum|MAXimum|<numeric_value>[A]}
Instead of selecting a specific current range, you can substitute MIN to set the range
to its minimum value or MAX to set the range to its maximum value.
Querying Parameter Settings
You can query the current value of most parameters by adding a question mark ( ? )
to the command. For example, the following command sets the operating wavelength
to 1550 nm: "CORR:WAVE 1550"
You can query the operating wavelength by executing: "CORR:WAVE?"
You can also query the minimum or maximum operating wavelength allowed as
follows:
"CORR:WAVE? MIN"
"CORR:WAVE? MAX"
Caution If you send two query commands without reading the response from the
first, and then attempt to read the second response, you may receive some data from
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