HP E1563A, User Manual, Page: 39 / 166

Digitizer Command Reference 39
Chapter 3
Digitizer Command Reference
Using This Chapter
This chapter describes the Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments
(SCPI) and IEEE 488.2 Common (*) commands applicable to the HP E1563A and
HP E1564A Digitizers.
Command
Types
Commands are separated into two types: IEEE 488.2 Common Commands and SCPI
Commands.
Common
Command Format
The IEEE 488.2 standard defines the Common commands that perform functions
like reset, self-test, status byte query, etc. Common commands are four or five
characters in length, always begin with the asterisk character (*), and may include
one or more parameters. The command keyword is separated from the first
parameter by a space character. Some examples of common commands are shown
below:
*RST *ESR 32 *STB?
SCPI
Command
Format
The SCPI commands perform functions such as making measurements, querying
instrument states, or retrieving data. The SCPI commands are grouped into
command "subsystem structures". A command subsystem structure is a hierarchical
structure that usually consists of a top level (or root) command, one or more
low-level commands, and their parameters. The following example shows the root
command CALibration and its lower-level subsystem commands:
CALCulate
:LIMit:FAIL?
:LIMit:LOWer[:STATe] ON | 1 | OFF | 0
:LIMit:LOWer[:STATe]?
:LIMit:LOWer:DATA <
value>
:LIMit:LOWer:DATA?
:LIMit:UPPer[:STATe] ON | 1 | OFF | 0
:LIMit:UPPer[:STATe]?
:LIMit:UPPer:DATA <
value >
:LIMit:UPPer:DATA?
CALCulate is the root command, LIMit is a second level command, FAIL?, LOWer
and UPPer are third level commands and DATA, DATA?, STATe and STATe? are
fourth level commands.
Command
Separator
A colon (:) always separates one command from the next lower level command as
shown below:
CALCulate:LIMit:FAIL?
Colons separate the root command from the second level command