3 scpi language, 1 scpi structure, 2 long and short form keywords – Boonton 4240 RF Power Meter User Manual

Page 62: 3 subsystem numeric suffixes, 3 scpi language -2, 1 scpi structure -2, 2 long and short form keywords -2, 3 subsystem numeric suffixes -2, Boonton 4240 series rf power meter, Remote operation 5-2

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Boonton 4240 Series RF Power Meter

Additionally, the ASCII "DC2" character (hexadecimal 12/CTRL R) will cause the instrument to immediately transmit data
base

Continuing the ab

ER>


R/hexadecimal 12)

.

dBm.

The

nd data strings are the sam

form and data

strin

itive.

5.3 SCPI Language

The

mote

standard SCPI

rogramming conventions. The default language is:

ll of the functions of the 4240 Series are accessible remotely via SCPI commands.

he SCP

mand nodes”. Each node may contain

mands

xt-level command node.

rmed of a series of keywords joined together, and

elimited

racter. The command be

e “root node”, and traverses downwards through

specific command. Thi

lar to a DOS file system, where the file system

h directory (SCP

ain a list of files (SCPI commands) and lower-

individual comma

d name (“path”) must generally be speficied,

tcuts available to reduc

string length.

CPI su

i

andard provides a number of

-define

be used for most in

ple, the top level SENSe subsystem groups

omman

ensing signals (de

igitization, linearization), while the OUTPut

bsyste

tput fu

output or controlling an RF

rence

5.3.2 Long and Short Form Keywords

Each command or subsystem may be represented by

rd, or a short form of that keyword. The short form

forms are permitted – intermediate length commands will

s a

Certain subsys ms, such a the SE

or CALCulate subsystems in the 4240 Series, often exist as more than one instance

(often called a “channel” in an instrument). In this case, an optional numeric suffix may be used to define the channel. If this

d on the current talk mode.

ove example:

Terminal Sends

Model 4240 Response

TM0 <ENT

Set the talk mode to send Floating Point Measurements.

R (CTRL

Talk the error flag and the measurement in floating point notation

Data returned: “0,-3.00” - indicating no error and the power is -3

rules for number a

e as for the IEEE-488 interface. Number formats are free

gs are case insens

4240 Series instruments may be re

ly controlled using commands that follow the industry-

p

SYSTem:LANGuage SCPI

A

5.3.1 SCPI Structure

T

I instrument model defines a hierarchical command structure based on “com

com

or names of a ne

Each command is fo

d

by a colon “:” cha

gins with a colon at th

the command tree to form a

s structure is very simi

begins at the root level (“:”), and eac

I subsystem) may cont

level directories. To execute an

nd, the entire comman

although there are several shor

e the command

S

bsystems or command groups are usually al gned with instrument functions, and the st

pre

d subsystems that can

strument types. For exam

c

ds that are related to s

tection, amplification, d

su

m contains commands that control ou

nctions of the instrument such as voltage

refe

output.

either its full keywo

is typically the first several characters of the full name, although this is not necessarily the case. The short form of each
keyword is identified in this manual by the keyword characters shown in UPPERCASE, while the long form will be shown in
mixed case. For example, the short form of “CALCulate” is “calc”, while the long form is “calculate”. Long form and short
form commands may be used interchangeably, but only the exact
not be recognized. Sending “CALCUL” will cause an error.

Note that not all keywords have long forms – in this case, the entire keyword will be shown in uppercase.

While uppercase and lowercase text is used to identify keywords, SCPI is generally case-insensitive, so it is acceptable to
send uppercase, lowercase or mixed case keywords to the instrument. The only exception is when a command accept
literal string argument. In this case, quotes may be used to delimit a string of user-defined case.

5.3.3 Subsystem Numeric Suffixes

te

s

NSe

Remote Operation

5-2

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