6482-901-01 Rev. A / August 2012
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Model 6482 Dual-Channel Picoammeter / Voltage Source Reference Manual
Section 12: Remote Operations
Short-form rules
Use the following rules to determine the short-form version of any SCPI command:
•
If the length of the command word is four letters or less, no short form version exists.
Example:
:AUTO = :AUTO
These rules apply to command words that exceed four letters:
•
If the fourth letter of the command word is a vowel (including “y”), delete it and all the letters
after it. Example:
:IMMediate = :IMM
•
If the fourth letter of the command word is a consonant, retain it but drop all the letters after
it. Example:
:FORMat = :FORM
•
If the command contains a question mark (?; query) or a non-optional number included in
the command word, you must include it in the short-form version. Example:
:DELay? = :DEL?
•
Command words or characters that are enclosed in brackets ([ ]) are optional and need not
be included in the program message.
NOTE
For fastest response to commands, always use short forms.
Program messages
A program message is made up of one or more command words sent by the computer to the
instrument. Each common command is a three letter acronym preceded by an asterisk (*). The
following example uses the SCPI commands from the :STATus subsystem to explain how
command words are structured to formulate program messages.
:STATus
Path (root)
:OPERation
Path
:ENABle <NRf>
Command and parameter
:ENABle?
Query command
:PRESet
Command
Single command messages
The above command structure has three levels. The first level is made up of the root command
(:STATus) and serves as a path. The second level is made up of another path (:OPERation) and a
command (:PRESet). The third path is made up of one command for the :OPERation path. The
three commands in this structure can be executed by sending three separate program messages
as follows:
:STAT:OPER:ENAB <NRf>
:STAT:OPER:ENAB?
:STAT:PRES
In each of the above program messages, the path pointer starts at the root command (:STAT) and
moves down the command levels until the command is executed.
Multiple command messages
You can send multiple command messages in the same program message if they are separated
by semicolons (;). The following is an example showing two commands in one program message:
:STAT:OPER; :STAT:OPER:ENAB <NRf>
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