ASCII String Parameters
String parameters can contain virtually any set of ASCII characters. A string must begin and end with
matching quotes; either with a single quote or a double quote. You can include the quote delimiter as
part of the string by typing it twice without any characters in between. The following command uses a
string parameter:
CALibrate:DATE "12/12/12"
Arbitrary Block Program or Response Data
Definite-length block data <Block> allows any type of device-dependent data to be programmed or
returned as a series of 8-bit binary data bytes. This is particularly useful for transferring large quantities
of data or 8-bit extended ASCII codes.
Device Clear
Device Clear is an IEEE-488 low-level bus message that you can use to return the instrument to a
responsive state. Different programming languages and IEEE-488 interface cards provide access to
this capability through their own unique commands. The status registers, the error queue, and all
configuration states are left unchanged when a Device Clear message is received.
Device Clear performs the following actions:
If a measurement is in progress, it is aborted.
l
The instrument returns to the trigger idle state.
l
The instrument's input and output buffers are cleared.
l
The instrument is prepared to accept a new command string.
l
The ABORt command is the recommended method to terminate an instrument
operation.
Typical Command Processing Times
The following table documents some typical, average command processing times for several types of
setting commands and response queries. This can help you determine the impact of some commonly
used SCPI commands on total test time. All times are in milliseconds.
Setting commands like VOLT <n> only account for the IO latency + command processing, not the time
for the action to complete (like the output voltage to finish changing or output state completing turn
on).
Query command times apply from when the command was sent to the instrument until the response is
received.
Keysight RP7900 Series Operating and Service Guide
5 SCPI Programming Reference
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