User manual

14-10 Remote Operations 2400 Series SourceMeter
®
User’s Manual
Short-form rules
Use the following rules to determine the short-form version of any SCPI com-
mand:
• If the length of the command word is four letters or less, no short form ver-
sion exists. Example:
• :auto = :auto
These rules apply to command words that exceed four letters:
• If the fourth letter of the command word is a vowel (including “y”), delete it
and all the letters after it. Example
• :immediate = :imm
• If the fourth letter of the command word is a consonant, retain it but drop all
the letters after it. Example:
• :format = :form
• If the command contains a question mark (?; query) or a non-optional num-
ber included in the command word, you must include it in the short-form
version. Example:
• :delay? = :del?
• Command words or characters that are enclosed in brackets ([ ]) are
optional and need not be included in the program message.
NOTE For fastest response to commands, always use short forms.Program
messages
A program message is made up of one or more command words sent by the com-
puter to the instrument. Each common command is a three letter acronym pre-
ceded by an asterisk (*). SCPI commands are categorized in the :STATus
subsystem and are used to explain how command words are structured to formu-
late program messages.
:STATus Path (Root)
:OPERation Path
:ENABle <NRf> Command and parameter
:ENABle? Query command
:PRESet Command
Single command messages
The above command structure has three levels. The first level is made up of the
root command (:STATus) and serves as a path. The second level is made up of
another path (:OPERation) and a command (:PRESet). The third path is made up
of one command for the :OPERation path. The three commands in this structure
can be executed by sending three separate program messages as follows: