Keithley 2520, User Manual, Page: 209 / 329

14-20 SCPI Command Reference Model 2520 User’s Manual
Description
This command is used to select the data format for transferring readings
over the bus. Only the ASCII format is allowed over the RS-232 inter-
face. This command only affects the output of READ?, FETCh?, MEA-
Sure?, TRACe:DATA?, CALCx:DATA? over the GPIB. All other
queries are returned in the ASCII format.
NOTE
Regardless of which data format for output strings is selected, the Model 2520
will only respond to input commands using the ASCII format.
ASCII format
The ASCII data format is in a direct readable form for the operator.
Most BASIC languages easily convert ASCII mantissa and exponent to
other formats. However, some speed is compromised to accommodate
the conversion.
Figure 14-1 shows an example ASCII string that
includes current, voltage, time, and status data elements. Data elements
not specified by the :ELEMents command are simply not included in the
string. See
“ELEMents <item list>,” page 14-22 .
Figure 14-1
ASCII data format
IEEE-754 single precision format
REAL, 32, or SREal will select the binary IEEE-754 single precision
data format.
Figure 14-2 shows the normal byte order format for each
data element. For example, if three valid elements are specified, the data
string for each reading conversion is made up of three 4-byte data
blocks. Note that the data string for each reading conversion is preceded
by a 2-byte header that is the binary equivalent of an ASCII # sign and 0.
Figure 14-2 does not show the byte for the terminator that is attached to
the end of each data string.
+1.000206E-03, +1.01, +7.01, +4.04
Current Voltage Time Status