BNC 1201 - 6 1/2 Digit Digital Multimeter User Manual

Page 139

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IEEE-488.2 Common Commands

The IEEE-488.2 standard defines a set of common commands that

perform functions like reset, self-test, and status operations. Common

commands always begin with an asterisk ( * ), are four to five characters

in length, and may include one or more parameters. The command

keyword is separated from the first parameter by a blank space.

Use a semicolon ( ; ) to separate multiple commands as shown below:

"*RST; *CLS; *ESE 32; *OPC?"

SCPI Parameter Types

The SCPI language defines several different data formats to be used in

program messages and response messages.

Numeric Parameters Commands that require numeric parameters will

accept all commonly used decimal representations of numbers including

optional signs, decimal points, and scientific notation.

Special values for numeric parameters like MINimum, MAXimum, and

DEFault are also accepted. You can also send engineering unit suffixes

with numeric parameters (e.g., M, K, or u). If only specific numeric

values are accepted, the multimeter will automatically round the input

numeric parameters. The following command uses a numeric parameter:

VOLTage:DC:RANGe {<range>|MINimum|MAXimum}

Discrete Parameters Discrete parameters are used to program

settings that have a limited number of values (like BUS, IMMediate,

EXTernal). They have a short form and a long form just like command

keywords. You can mix upper- and lower-case letters. Query responses

will always return the short form in all upper-case letters. The following

command uses discrete parameters:

TRIGger:SOURce {BUS|IMMediate|EXTernal}

Boolean Parameters Boolean parameters represent a single binary

condition that is either true or false. For a false condition, the multimeter

will accept “OFF” or “0”. For a true condition, the multimeter will accept

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