Programming instructions

Downloading and Using Files
User File Data Downloads
Chapter 4168
Bit Memory and Binary Memory
User files can be downloaded to the bit memory or binary memory. Bit memory accepts data in
integer number of bits, up to the maximum available memory. The data length in bytes for
files downloaded into bit memory is equal to the number of significant bits plus seven, divided
by eight, then rounded down to the nearest integer. You must have enough bytes to contain
the bits you specify. If the number of bits is not a multiple of 8, the least significant bits of the
last byte will be ignored.
Bit memory provides more versatility and is the preferred memory for user file downloads.
Binary memory requires data formatted in 8-bit bytes. Files stored or downloaded to binary
memory are converted to bit files prior to editing in the bit file editor. Afterward, these
modified files from binary memory are stored in bit memory as bit files.
Data Requirements
1. Data must be in binary format.
SCPI specifies the data in 8-bit bytes.
NOTE Not all binary values are ASCII characters that can be printed. In fact, only
ASCII characters corresponding to decimal values 32 through 126 are
printable keyboard characters. Typically, the ASCII character corresponding
to an 8-bit pattern is not printable.
Because of this, the program written to download and upload user files must
correctly convert the binary data into 8-bit ASCII characters.
2. Bit length must be a multiple of the data-field length of the active format.
Also, the bit length of a user file must be a multiple of the data-field length of the active
format in order to completely fill the frame’s data field without leaving a remainder.
Remaining data is truncated by the signal generator’s firmware and is therefore not
present in the resulting waveform at the RF output.