User Manual

Command Syntax
Command and Qu
ery Structure
Commands consist of set commands and query commands (usually simply called
commands and queries). Commands change oscilloscope settings or perform a
specificacti
on. Queries cause the oscilloscope to return data and information
about its status.
Most comman
ds have both a set form and a query form. The query form of the
command is the same as the set form except that it ends with a question mark. For
example, the set command ACQuire:MODe has a query form ACQuire:MODe.
Not all commands have both a set and a query form; some commands are set
only and some are query only.
A few commands do both a set and query action. For example, the *CAL?
command runs a self-calibration program on the oscilloscope, then returns the
result of the calibration.
A command message is a command or query name, followed by any information
the oscilloscope needs to execute the command or query. Command messages
consis
toffive different element types.
Table 2-3: Command message elements
Symbol Meaning
<Header>
The basic command name. If the header ends with a question mark,
the command is a query. The header may begin with a colon (:)
character; if the command is concatenated with other commands the
beginning colon is required. The beginning colon can never be used
with command headers beginning with a star (*).
<Mnemonic>
A header subfunction. Some command headers have only one
mnemonic. If a command header has multiple mnemonics, they are
always separated from each other by a colon (:) character.
<Argument> A quantity, quality, restriction, or limit associated with the header.
Not all commands have an argument, while other commands have
multiple arguments. Arguments are separated from the header by a
<Space>. Arguments are separated from each other by a <Comma>.
<Comma> A single comma between arguments of multiple-argument commands.
It may o ptionally have white space characters before and after the
comma.
<Space>
A white space character between command header and argument. It
may optionally consist of multiple white space characters.
The f ollowing figure shows the five command message elements.
2-2 TDS200, TDS1000/2000, TDS1000B/2000B, TDS2000C, TPS2000 Programmer