HP 53150A Series, Programming Manual

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Chapter 3 Programming Your Counter for Remote Operation
Overview of Response Message Formats
Programming Guide 3-21
3
Overview of Response Message Formats
Response Messages
Response messages are data sent from the Counter to a computer in
response to a query. (A query is a command followed by a question mark.
Queries are used to find out how the Counter is currently configured and
to transfer data from the Counter to the computer.)
After receiving a query, the Counter interrogates the requested
configuration and places the response in its output queue. The output
message remains in the queue until it is read or another command is
issued. When read, the message is transmitted across the HP-IB or the
serial interface to the computer. You read the message by using some type
of enter statement that includes the device address and an appropriate
variable. Use a print statement to display the message. The following
HP BASIC example illustrates how to query the Counter and display the
message:
10 OUTPUT 703;":ROSC:SOUR?"
20 ENTER 703; A$
30 PRINT A$
40 END
Response Message Syntax
Figure 3-9 shows the simplified syntax of a Response Message. Response
messages may contain both commas and semicolon separators. When a
single query command returns multiple values, a comma is used to
separate each item. When multiple queries are sent in the same program
message, the groups of data corresponding to each query are separated by
a semicolon. Note that a <new line> ^END is always sent as a response
message terminator.