Hioki RM3542, Instruction Manual, Page: 111 / 218

9.5 Communication Methods
105
9

Program Messages
Program messages can be either Command Messages or Query Messages.
(1) Command Messages
Instructions to control the instrument, such as to change settings or reset
Example: (instruction to set the measurement range)
:RESISTANCE:RANGE 100E3
(2) Query Messages
Requests for responses relating to results of operation or measurement, or the state of instru-
ment settings.
Example: (request for the current measurement range)
:RESISTANCE:RANGE?
For details:
See: "Headers" (p. 106), "Separators" (p. 107), "Data Formats" (p. 107)

Response Messages
When a query message is received, its syntax is checked and a response message is gener-
ated. The “
:SYSTem:HEADer ” command determines whether headers are prefixed to
response messages.
Header ON
:RESISTANCE:RANGE 100.000E+03
Header OFF
100.000E+03
(the current resistance measurement range is 100 k

)
At power-on, Header OFF is selected.
If an error occurs when a query message is received, no response message is generated for
that query.
No header is applied to commands used only for queries, such as
:FETCH?
and
:CALCu-
late:LIMit:RESult?
.

Command Syntax
Command names are chosen to mnemonically represent their function, and can be abbrevi-
ated. The full command name is called the “long form”, and the abbreviated name is called
the "short form”.
The command references in this manual indicate the short form in upper-case letters,
extended to the long form in lower case letters, although the commands are not case-sensi-
tive in actual usage.
Response messages generated by the instrument are in long form and in upper case letters.
Message Format
Header portion Space Data portion
Header portion Question Mark
FUNCTION
OK (long form)
FUNC
OK (short form)
FUNCT
Error
FUN
Error