2470 High Voltage SourceMeter Instrument Reference Manual
Section 6: Reading buffers
2470-901-01 Rev. A /
May
2019
6-5
Creating buffers
To create a new user-defined reading buffer, you need to provide a name, capacity, and style for the
new buffer.
User-defined buffer names must start with an alphabetic character. The names cannot contain any
periods or the underscore (_) character. The name can be up to 31 characters long. If you create a
reading buffer that has the same name as an existing user-defined buffer, the existing buffer is
overwritten by the new buffer. Any data in the existing buffer is lost.
When you create a buffer, you set a buffer style. The buffer style controls the amount of information
that is saved with each reading in the reading buffer. Buffer styles are:
•
Compact:
Store readings with reduced accuracy (6.5 digits) with no formatting information, 1
μs
accurate timestamp, maximum approximately 20,000,000 readings. Once you store the first
reading in a compact buffer, you cannot change certain measurement settings, including range,
display digits, and units; you must clear the buffer first.
•
Standard:
Store readings with full accuracy with formatting, maximum approximately 5,000,000
readings.
•
Full:
Store the same information as standard, plus additional information.
•
Writable:
Manually write external data to a reading buffer. For more information, see
(on page 6-31). You cannot select this buffer style from the front panel; you must
use remote commands.
•
Full Writable:
Manually write external data to a reading buffer with two values per buffer index.
You cannot select this buffer style from the front panel; you must use remote commands.
You can only select the style of the reading buffer when you first create the buffer. Not all remote
commands are compatible with the compact, writable, and full writable buffer styles. Check the
Details section of the command descriptions before using them with any of these buffer styles.
There is no fixed limit on the number of user-defined reading buffers you can create. However, you
are limited by available memory in the instrument.
When you create a reading buffer, it becomes the active buffer. If you create two reading buffers, the
last one you create becomes the active buffer.
The following topics provide information about using the front panel to create buffers and introduce
how to use remote commands to create buffers.
