Specifications

12
Create "On-Board" Measurement Routines
Softkey programming lets you develop the analyzer's measurement
“personality” by allowing you to create custom firmware functions for
your measurement needs.
As described earlier, softkeys can be defined from the front panel. However,
the following example illustrates how an operator can us a computer to
create longer or more complex measurement routines within a program
and then transfer all the data commands to the analyzer’s non-volatile RAM.
Once stored in memory, these routines can be easily executed from the
front panel by pressing three buttons, or “called” from a computer.
The following program defines a function called Z__OOM.
Use the command flow functions to
monitor a desired signal level. If the
signal goes below the specified level,
alert a computer by setting an GP-IB
service request. This will interrupt
current computer operations and
allow appropriate action to be taken.
The program flow commands of the Agilent 8566B (REPEAT/UNTIL,
IF/THEN/ELSE/ENDIF) allow you to create complete measurement or data
processing routines that can be executed in the analyzer without the use
of an external computer. This frees the computer to handle other system
instrumentation, or carry out additional data processing.
Lines 10-40 define Z__OOM as the
fund ions specified in lines 20 and
30. Line 50 assigns Z__OOM to soft-
keys 6 for front panel execution.
To execute
Via Computer
Type: OUTPUT 718; “Z__OOM”
Press: EXECUTE
Via Front Panel
Press: [SHIFT] [6] [HZ]
Define softkey routines that make decisions