Agilent Technologies E3646A, User Manual, Page: 119 / 211

Chapter 4 Remote Interface Reference
An Introduction to the SCPI Language
119
4
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 (V, A or SEC) with numeric parameters. If only specific numeric values are
accepted, the power supply will automatically round the input numeric parameters.
The following command uses a numeric parameter:
CURR {< current >|MIN|MAX|UP|DOWN}
Discrete Parameters Discrete parameters are used to program settings that have a
limited number of values (like
BUS
,
IMM
). Query responses will always return the
short form in all upper-case letters. The following command uses discrete parameters:
TRIG:SOUR {BUS|IMM}
Boolean Parameters Boolean parameters represent a single binary condition that is
either true or false. For a false condition, the power supply will accept ‘‘OFF’’ or ‘‘ 0
’’. For a true condition, the power supply will accept ‘‘ON’’ or ‘‘ 1 ’’. When you query
a boolean setting, the power supply will always return ‘‘ 0 ’’ or ‘‘ 1 ’’. The following
command uses a boolean parameter:
DISP {OFF|ON}
String Parameters String parameters can contain virtually any set of ASCII
characters. A string must begin and end with matching quotes; either with a single
quote or with a double quote. You can include the quote delimiter as part of the string
by typing it twice without any characters in between. The following command uses
a string parameter:
DISP:TEXT <
quoted string
>