SIGLENT
SSG5000X Programming Guide 15
2.
SCPI Overview
2.1
Command Format
SCPI commands present a hierarchical tree structure containing multiple subsystems;
each of the subsystems is made up of a root keyword and several sub keywords. The
command string usually starts with a colon “:”, the keywords are separated by a colon
“:” and the parameter settings are separated by spaces. Query commands add a
question mark “?” to the end of the string.
For example:
:SOURce:FREQuency <freq>
:SOURce:FREQuency?
SOURce
is the root key of the command,
FREQuency
is
second
.
The command begins with “:”, and separates the keywords at the same time, <
freq
>
separated by space and represents the parameter available for setting; “?” represents
a query. A query sent to the instrument indicates that the instrument will have a
response string. Therefore, queriies ask a question and expect a response.
2.2
Symbol Instruction
The following four symbols are not the content of SCPI commands and cannot be sent
with the commands, but are used to describe certain aspects of the commands.
1. Triangle Brackets < >
The parameter in the triangle brackets must be replaced by an effective value. For
example:
Send the “CALibration:SPC:TARGet <power>” command in “CALibration:SPC:TARGet
0”
.
2. Square Brackets [ ]
