Agilent Technologies Infiniium 8000A, Programmer'S Reference Manual

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6-15
Sample Programs
Sample C Programs
Initializing the Oscilloscope
The following function is demonstrated in the “gen_srq.c” sample program.
/*
* Function name: initialize
* Parameters: none
* Return value: none
* Description: This routine initializes the oscilloscope for proper acquisition
* of data. The instrument is reset to a known state and the interface is
* cleared. System headers are turned off to allow faster throughput and
* immediate access to the data values requested by queries. The oscilloscope
* performs an autoscale to acquire waveform data.
*/
void initialize( void )
{
write_IO("*RST"); /* reset oscilloscope - initialize to known state */
write_IO("*CLS"); /* clear status registers and output queue */
write_IO(":SYSTem:HEADer OFF"); /* turn off system headers */
write_IO(":AUToscale"); /* perform autoscale */
} /* end initialize() */
The *RST command is a common command that resets the oscilloscope to a
known default configuration. Using *RST ensures that the oscilloscope is in a
known state before you configure it. It ensures very consistent and repeatable
results. Without *RST, a program may run one time, but it may give different
results in following runs if the oscilloscope is configured differently.
For example, if the trigger mode is normally set to edge, the program may
function properly. But, if someone puts the oscilloscope in the advanced TV
trigger mode from the front panel, the program may read measurement results
that are totally incorrect. So, *RST defaults the oscilloscope to a set
configuration so that the program can proceed from the same state each time.
The *CLS command clears the status registers and the output queue.
AUToscale finds and displays all waveforms that are attached to the
oscilloscope. You should program the oscilloscope’s time base, channel, and
trigger for the specific measurement to be made, as you would do from the front
panel, and use whatever other commands are needed to configure the
oscilloscope for the desired measurement.