Technical data

SCPI Command Language

SCPI Command Language - Concepts

The Serial BERT is compatible with the standard language for remote control of

instruments. Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI) is the

universal programming language for instrument control.

SCPI can be subdivided into the following command sets:

• SCPI Common Commands

• SCPI Instrument Control Commands

• IEEE 488.2 Mandatory and Optional Commands

SCPI Common Commands

This is a common command set. It is compatible with IEEE 488.2 and contains

general housekeeping commands. The common commands are always headed by

an asterisk. A typical example is the reset command: *RST

The IEEE 488.2 command set also contains query commands. Query commands

always end with a question mark.

SCPI Instrument Control Commands

The programming commands are compatible with the Standard Commands for

Programmable Instruments (SCPI) standard. For more detailed information

regarding the GPIB, the IEEE 488.2 standard, or the SCPI standard, refer to the

following books:

• SCPI Consortium. SCPI-Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments,

1997 ( http://www.scpiconsortium.org ).

• International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. IEEE Standard

488.1-1987, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation.

New York, NY, 1987.

Agilent J-BERT N4903B High-Performance Serial BERT

Programming Guide

Agilent Technologies 79