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AFG1000 Series Arbitrary Function Generator Programmer Manual
Command Syntax
Table 2: Command message elements
Symbol
Meaning
<Header>
The basic command name. If the header ends with a question mark, the
command is a query. The header may begin with a colon (:) character; if
the command is concatenated with other commands the beginning colon
is required. The beginning colon can never be used with command
headers beginning with a star (*).
<Mnemonic>
A header subfunction. Some command headers have only one mnemonic.
If a command header has multiple mnemonics, they are always separated
from each other by a colon (:) character.
<Argument
>
A quantity
, quality, restriction, or limit associated with the header. Not
all commands have an argument, while other commands have multiple
arguments. Arguments are separated from the header by a <Space>.
Arguments
are separated from each other by a <Comma>.
<Comma>
A single c
omma between arguments of multiple-argument commands. It
may optionally have white space characters before and after the comma.
<Space>
A white space character between command header and argument. It may
optionally consist of multiple white space characters.
Commands
Commands cause the instrument to perform a specific function or change one of
its settings. Commands have the structure:
[:]<Header>[<Space><Argument>[<Comma><Argument>]...]
A command header is made up of one or more mnemonics arranged in a
hierarchical or tree structure. The first mnemonic is the base or root of the tree and
each subsequent mnemonic is a level or branch of the previous one. Commands at
a higher level in the tree may affect those at a lower level. The leading colon (:)
always returns you to the base of the command tree.
Queries
Queries cause the instrument to return information about its status or settings.
Queries have the structure:
[:]<Header>?
[:]<Header>?[<Space><Argument>[<Comma><Argument>]...]
Specify a query at any level within the command tree unless otherwise noted.
These branch queries return information about all the mnemonics below the
specified branch or level.
Query Responses
When a query is sent to the instrument, only the values are returned. When the
returned value is a mnemonic, it is noted in abbreviated format.
