10
Command format
The command format is: <AB[param1],[param2]…,[paramN]>
where:
AB is the command.
[ ] indicates optional parameters separated by comas
example:
<CM4,90>
Cursor Move to Row 4 Column 90
<CS>
Clear Screen
Response format
Key Mode 0 (Default)
The response format is of the form: Ka
or
Ea
or
?a
or
Xa
or
Sa
or
Ba
or
P0
where:
K indicates that the previous command/command set has been accepted.
E indicates a parameter or communications error has been detected in the previous command string.
? indicates that the command is unrecognised.
X indicates that a communications error has been detected by the hardware e.g. parity or framing.
S indicates that the display is running a script.
B indicates that the display is in a “Busy” state within a script.
“a” returns the key status i.e. the number of the key that was last pressed (1=Key 1, 2=Key 2, ….. 6=Key 6)
P indicates that a message has been received but NOT actioned, as the unit is being configured by a local user.
example:
K0
Command accepted, no keys pressed
E4
Command error detected, key 4 pressed
?6
Command unrecognised, key 6 pressed
P0
Command rejected, unit being configured (Any key presses are discarded)
S3
Command rejected, unit running a script, key 3 pressed
X0
Communication error detected
B0
Script engine in a ‘Busy’ state
Note: The unit is configured by a local user accessing the configuration menu directly on the instrument front panel.
Access to this menu can be denied by issuing the <CP> Configuration Prohibit command.
Key Mode 1
The response format is the same as Mode 0 but the meaning of “a” is modified. In this mode “a” is not a printable
ASCII character. Individual key status is returned as the six least significant bits of this byte. The most significant bit of
the byte is always set so that the returned data can be distinguished from the Mode 0 data.
In binary notation the format of this returned byte is as follows:
msb
lsb
b7
b6
b5
b4
b3
b2
b1
b0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
b0 represents the status of Key 1 (0 =key open, 1=key closed)
b1 represents the status of Key 2
..
..
b5 represents the status of Key 6
b6 is always cleared (0)
b7 is always set (1)
