2
Response Messages
When a query message is received, its syntax is checked and a response message is generated.
If an error occurs when a query message is received, no response message is generated for that query.
Command Syntax
Command names are chosen to mnemonically represent their function, and can be abbreviated. T he 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-sensitive in actual usage.
:RANGE:R?
OK (long form)
:RANG:R?
OK (short form)
:RAN?
Error
Headers
Headers must always be prefixed to program messages.
(1) Command Program Headers
There are three types of commands: Simple, Compound and Standard.
•
Headers for Simple Commands
This header type is a sequence of letters and digits
:ABORt
•
Headers for Compound Commands
These headers consist of multiple simple command type headers separated by colons “:”
:RANGe:AUTO:R
•
Headers for Standard Commands
This header type begins with an asterisk “*”, indicating that it is a standard command defined by IEEE 488.2.
*RST
(2) Query Program Header
These commands are used to interrogate the instrument about the results of operations, measured values and
the current states of instrument settings.
As shown by the following examples, a query is formed by appending a question mark “
?
” after a program
header.
:FETCh:XY:R?
:RANGe:AUTO:R?