SCPI Command Format
SCPI commands control and set instrument specific functions such as setting
the pulsewidth, delay and period. SCPI commands have a hierarchical structure
compose of functional elements that include a header or keywords separated
with a colon, data parameters and terminators. For example:
SCPI Format
:PULSE1:STATE ON
<cr> <lf>
:PULSe1:WIDTh 0.000120
<cr> <lf>
:PULSe:POL NORMal
<cr> <lf>
Any parameter may be queried by sending the command with a question mark
appended. For example:
- QUERY FORMAT
:PULSE1:STATE?
Will return:
1 <cr><lf>
:PULSE1:WIDT? <cr><lf>
Will return:
0.000120000 <cr><lf>
:PULSE1:POL? <cr><lf>
Will return:
NORM <cr><lf>
SCPI Keyword Separator
A colon (:) must always separate one keyword from the next lower-level key-
word. A space must be used to separate the keyword header from the first
parameter. If more than one parameter is used, you must separate subsequent
parameters with a comma.
SCPI Optional Keywords
Optional keywords and/or parameters appear in square brackets ( [ ] ) in the
command syntax. Note that the brackets are not part of the command and
should not be sent to the pulse generator. When sending a second level key-
word without the optional keyword, the pulse generator assumes that you intend
to use the optional keyword and responds as if it had been sent.
SCPI Specific and Implied Channel
Some commands, such as PULSe, allow specifying a channel with an optional
numeric keyword suffix. The suffix will be shown in square brackets [ 1 / 2 ]. The
brackets are not part of command and are not to be sent to the pulse generator.
The numeric parameters correspond to the following channels: 0 = To, 1 = ChA,
2 = ChB, etc. Only one channel may be specified at a time.
If you do not specify the channel number, the implied channel is specified by the
:INSTrument:SELect command or the last referenced channel.
