Remote Operation
R&S
®
OSP
243
User Manual 1178.7100.02 ─ 05
Commands are program messages that a controller (e.g. a PC) sends to an instrument
or software. Commands operate an instrument's functions ('setting commands' or
'event commands') and request information ('query commands'). Some commands
only work either way (setting only, query only), others work both ways (setting and
query).
The syntax of a SCPI command consists of a header and usually one or more parame-
ters. To use a command as a query, append a question mark after the last header ele-
ment, even if the command contains a parameter.
A header contains one or more keywords, separated by a colon. Header and parame-
ters are separated by a "white space" (ASCII code 0 to 9, 11 to 32 decimal, e.g. blank).
If there is more than one parameter for a command, these parameters are separated
by a comma from one another.
Remote command examples
Some remote command examples mentioned in this general introduction may not be
supported by your particular application. See also
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7.1
Long and Short Form
The keywords have a long and a short form. You can use either the long or the short
form, but no other abbreviations of the keywords.
The short form is emphasized in uppercase letters. Note however, that this emphasis
only serves the purpose to distinguish the short from the long form in the manual. For
the instrument, the case does not matter.
Example:
CONFigure:POWerup:RESet
is the same as
CONF:POW:RES
.
7.2
Optional Keywords
Some keywords are optional and are only part of the syntax because of SCPI compli-
ance. You can include them or not. Optional keywords are emphasized with square
brackets.
Example:
is the same as
ROUTe:PATH
.
Optional Keywords