Technical data

156 Agilent N8211A/N8212A Performance Upconverter Synthetic Instrument Module, 250 kHz to 20 / 40 GHz
6 SCPI Basics
In the example above, the [:LEVel] portion of the command immediately follows the
:POWer portion with no separating space. The portion following the [:LEVel],
MINimum|MAXimum, are the parameters (argument for the command statement). There is
a separating space (white space) between the command and its parameter.
Additional conventions in syntax statements are shown in Ta b l e 1 3 and Tabl e 14 .
Table 13 Special Characters in Command Syntax
Characters Meaning Example
| A vertical stroke between keywords or parameters indicates
alterative choices. For parameters, the effect of the
command varies depending on the choice.
[:SOURce]:AM:
MOD DEEP|NORMal
DEEP or NORMal are the choices.
[ ] Square brackets indicate that the enclosed keywords or
parameters are optional when composing the command.
These implied keywords or parameters will be executed
even if they are omitted.
[:SOURce]:FREQuency[:CW]?
SOURce and CW are optional items.
< > Angle brackets around a word (or words) indicate they are
not to be used literally in the command. They represent the
needed item.
[:SOURce]:FREQuency:
STARt <val><unit>
In this command, the words <val>
and <unit> should be replaced by
the actual frequency and unit.
:FREQuency:STARt 2.5GHZ
{ } Braces indicate that parameters can optionally be used in
the command once, several times, or not at all.
[:SOURce]:LIST:
POWer <val>{,<val>}
a single power listing:
LIST:POWer 5
a series of power listings:
LIST:POWer 5,10,15,20
Table 14 Command Syntax
Characters, Keywords, and Syntax Example
Upper-case lettering indicates the minimum set of characters required
to execute the command.
[:SOURce]:FREQuency[:CW]?,
FREQ is the minimum requirement.
Lower-case lettering indicates the portion of the command that is
optional; it can either be included with the upper-case portion of the
command or omitted. This is the flexible format principle called forgiving
listening. Refer to “Command Parameters and Responses" on page 158
for more information.
:FREQuency
Either :FREQ, :FREQuency, or
:FREQUENCY is correct.
When a colon is placed between two command mnemonics, it moves
the current path down one level in the command tree. Refer to
“Command Tree" on page 158 more information on command paths.
:TRIGger:OUTPut:POLarity?
TRIGger is the root level keyword
for this command.