User manual

Section 13: Instrument Control Library (ICL) Series 3700 System Switch/Multimeter Reference Manual
13-232 3700S-901-01 Rev. C / July 2008
scan.addwrite()
Function
Writes a specified value to a channel at the added step in the scan.
Usage
scan.addwrite(<ch_list>, <write value>, [<width>])
ch_list: String specifying channels to add, using normal channel list syntax.
write_value: The value to write to the channel for this scan step.
width: Optional value that specifies the width of the channel write.
Remarks
scan.addwrite() is similar to issuing channel.write() at the scan step.
Specifying a channel list results in multiple steps being added to the scan with the
same write value.
For digital I/O channels, only a width of 1, 2, 3, or 4 is supported. Any information (bits)
greater than the specified width are ignored. Values written to inputs are ignored. If no
specified channel is set for output, then an error is generated. If a width crosses
channels, then only the channels set to output are affected.
For totalizer, backplane, and switch channels, there is no valid behavior. Calling on a
specific channel generates an error.
For DAC channels, if the channel mode is changed after the scan is created, the scan
is rebuilt. If the write value is no longer compatible with the new mode, an error is
generated and the scan becomes invalid.
scan.background()
Function
Starts a scan and runs the scan in the background.
Usage
state, scancount, stepcount,
reading = scan.background(rb_buffer)
rb_buffer: Optional. Reading buffer to use during scanning to store the readings. If not
specified, no readings are stored during the scan.
state: The result of scanning:
scan.EMPTY or 0
scan.BUILDING or 1
scan.RUNNING or 2
scan.ABORTED or 3
scan.FAILED or 4
scan.FAILED_INIT or 5,
scan.SUCCESS or 6
scancount: is current scan count completed
stepcount: is current step count completed
reading: is the last reading of scan completed if measurements are taken during the
scan.