Technical data

Creating and Downloading User-Data Files 5
Agilent N8211A/N8212A Performance Upconverter Synthetic Instrument Module, 250 kHz to 20 / 40 GHz 133
Save and Recall Instrument State Files
The signal generator can save instrument state settings to memory. An instrument state
setting includes any instrument state that does not survive a signal generator preset or
power cycle such as frequency, amplitude, attenuation, and other user–defined parameters.
The instrument state settings are saved in memory and organized into sequences and
registers. There are 10 sequences with 100 registers per sequence available for instrument
state settings. These instrument state files are stored in the USER/STATE directory. See
also, “Signal Generator Memory” on page 281.
The save function does not store data such as Arb waveforms, table entries, list sweep
data, and so forth. The save function saves a reference to the waveform or data file name
associated with the instrument state. Use the store commands or store softkey functions to
store these data file types to the signal generator’s memory catalog.
Before saving an instrument state that has a data file or waveform file associated with it,
store the file. For example, if you are editing a multitone arb format, store the multitone data
to a file in the signal generator’s memory catalog (multitone files are stored in the
USER/MTONE directory). Then save the instrument state associated with that data file. The
settings for the signal generator such as frequency and amplitude and a reference to the
multitone file name will be saved in the selected sequence and register number.
Save and Recall SCPI Commands
The following command sequence saves the current instrument state, using the *SAV
command, in register 01, sequence 1. A comment is then added to the instrument state.
*SAV 01,1
:MEM:STAT:COMM 01,1,"Instrument state comment"
If there is a waveform or data file associated with the instrument state, there will be a file
name reference saved along with the instrument state. However, the waveform/data file
must be stored in the signal generator’s memory catalog as the *SAV command does not
save data files. For more information on storing file data such as modulation formats, arb
setups, and table entries refer to the signal generator’s User’s Guide.
The recall function recalls a saved instrument state. If there is a data file associated with
the instrument state, the file will be loaded along with the instrument state. The following
command recalls the instrument state saved in register 01, sequence 1.
*RCL 01,1
Save and Recall Programming Example Using VISA and C#
The following programming example uses VISA and C# to save and recall signal generator
instrument states. Instruments states are saved to and recalled from your computer. This
console program prompts the user for an action: Backup State Files, Restore State Files, or
Quit.