Agilent Technologies 34401A - Manual (Page 119)

Using the MEASure? Command
The easiest way to program the multimeter for measurements is by
using the
MEASure? command. However, this command does not offer
much flexibility. When you execute the command, the multimeter
presets the best settings for the requested configuration and
immediately performs the measurement. You cannot change any
settings (other than function, range, and resolution) before the
measurement is taken. The results are sent to the output buffer.
Sending the MEASure? command is the same as sending a CONFigure
command followed immediately by a READ? command.
Using the CONFigure Command
For a little more programming flexibility, use the CONFigure command.
When you execute the command, the multimeter presets the best
settings for the requested configuration (like the
MEASure? command).
However, the measurement is not automatically started and you can
change measurement parameters before making measurements. This
allows you to “incrementally” change the multimeter’s configuration
from the preset conditions. The multimeter offers a variety of low-level
commands in the
INPut , SENSe , CALCulate , and TRIGger
subsystems. (You can use the SENSe:FUNCtion command to change the
measurement function without using MEASure? or CONFigure .)
Use the INITiate or READ? command to initiate the measurement.
4
Chapter 4 Remote Interface Reference
Simplified Programming Overview
113