Technical data

1 Introduction to SCPI
8 U2761A Programmer’s Reference
Data types and formats
The SCPI language defines different data formats for use in program
messages and response messages. Instruments are flexible listeners and
can accept commands and parameters in various formats. However, SCPI
instruments are precise talkers. This means that SCPI instruments always
respond to a particular query in a predefined, rigid format.
Numeric
Parameters that accept all commonly used decimal representations of
numbers including optional signs, decimal points, and scientific notation.
You can also send engineering unit suffixes with numeric parameters such
as Mhz or Khz. If only specific numeric values are accepted, the
instrument will automatically round the input numeric parameters. The
following command uses a numeric parameter:
[SOURce:]FM:INTernal:FREQuency <frequency>
Discrete
Parameters used to program settings that have a limited number of values
such as BUS, IMMediate, and EXTernal. Some of these parameters have
a short form and a long form just like command keywords. You can mix
uppercase and lowercase letters. Query responses will always return the
short form in all uppercase letters. The following command uses discrete
parameters:
[SOURce:]SWEep:SPACing {LINear|LOGarithmic}
Boolean
Parameters that represent a single binary condition that is either true or
false. For a false condition, the U2761A will accept OFF or 0. For a true
condition, the U2761A will accept ON or 1. When you query a boolean
setting, the U2761A will always return 0 or 1. The following command
uses boolean parameters:
OUTPut[:STATe] {0|OFF|1|ON}