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Chapter 3 Programming Your Universal Counter for Remote Operation
Elements of SCPI Commands
Programming Guide 3-7
Overview of Command Types and Formats
There are two types of HP 53131A/132A programming commands: IEEE 488.2
Common Commands and Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments
(SCPI). The IEEE 488.2 Common Commands control and manage
communications between the HP 53131A/132A and the controller or personal
computer. The SCPI commands control instrument functions. The format of each
type of command is described in the following paragraphs. (Refer to
Chapter 2, “Command Summary,” for SCPI conformance information.)
Common Command Format
The IEEE 488.2 Standard defines the Common commands as commands that
perform functions like reset, self-test, status byte query, and identification.
Common commands always begin with the asterisk (*) character, and may include
parameters. The command keyword is separated from the first parameter by a
space character. Some examples of Common commands are as follows:
*RST *IDN? *RCL 1
SCPI Command and Query Format
SCPI commands perform functions like instrument setup. A subsystem command
has a hierarchical structure that usually consists of a top level (or root) keyword,
one or more lower-level keywords, and parameters. The following example shows
a command and its associated query:
:INPut:COUPling AC
:INPut:COUPling?
INPut is root-level keyword with COUPling the second level keyword, and AC is
the command parameter.