User manual

Section 13: Instrument Control Library (ICL) Series 3700 System Switch/Multimeter Reference Manual
13-60 3700S-901-01 Rev. C / July 2008
channel.open()
Remarks
This function opens the specified channels for switching aspects. The items specified
in ch_list can include analog backplane relays. For the items specified to open, the
channels associated with them open along with the associated analog backplane
relays for each. For channel patterns, the analog backplane relays that get opened are
the ones that were specified when the pattern was created (see
channel.pattern.setimage() (on page 13-63) and
channel.pattern.snapshot() (on page 13-66)). However, for channels, they
are the ones specified with the channel.setbackplane() (on page 13-70)
function. Another option for getting analog backplane relays to be opened by this
command is to include them in the ch_list parameter.
This command has no effect on how the DMM is configured.
To open all channels on a specific slot, use 'slotX', where X = 1 to 6 in the
parameter string. To open all channels on all slots, use 'allslots' in the
parameter string. Using 'allslots' has no effect on empty slots or slots that do
not support the open command. The 'allslots' only applies to slots with
channels that support being opened and ignores the ones that do not. This allows you
to use 'allslots' to open all channels and not worry about an error if one of the
slots is empty or does not support open channels.
The settling time and user delay associated with a channel needs to elapse before the
command completes (see channel.getdelay() (on page 13-49)).
The parameter string can contain 'slotX', where X equals 1 to 6, or
'allslots'.
An error is generated if:
Syntax error in parameter string.
An empty parameter string is specified.
A specified channel or channel pattern is invalid
Channel number does not exist for slot specified.
Slot is empty.
Channel pattern does not exist.
Does not support being opened like a digital I/O channel.
Channel is paired with another bank for a multi-wire application.
The slotX specified does not support open like a digital I/O card.
Once a parsing error is detected, the command stops processing and no channels are
opened. Channels open only if no syntax errors exist in parameter and all channels
are valid for opening.
For digital I/O, DAC, and totalizer channels, there is no valid behavior. Calling on a
specific channel generates an error. If the digital I/O, DAC, or totalizer channel is in the
range of channels, then the channel is ignored.