User manual

Part 5: IEEE 488.2 Programming Reference
Data Types
ASCII data can have the form of character, numeric, string, or block data.
Character Data
These are simple words or abbreviations indicating a specific action.
F3:TRA ON
The data value ON commands the trace F3 to be turned on (the data value OFF has the opposite effect).
This example can become more complex. In some commands, where you can specify as many as a
dozen different parameters, or where not all the parameters are applicable at the same time, the format
requires pairs of data values. The first value names the parameter to be modified, while the second gives
its value. Only the parameter pairs to be changed must be specified.
HARDCOPY_SETUP DEV,EPSON,PORT,GPIB
Here, two pairs of parameters are used. The first specifies the device as an EPSON (or compatible) printer,
while the second indicates the GPIB port.
The command HARDCOPY_SETUP allows many more parameters other than the ones specified here.
Either they are not relevant for printers or they are left unchanged.
Numeric Data
The numeric data type is used to enter quantitative information. Numbers can be entered as integers,
fractions, or exponents:
l F1:VPOS -5 - Move the display of Trace A downward by five divisions.
l C2:OFST 3.56 - Set the DC offset of Channel 2 to 3.56 V.
l TDIV 5.0E-6 - Adjust the timebase to 5 µsec/div.
There are many ways to set the oscilloscope's timebase to 5 µsec/div, such as:
l TDIV 5E-6 - Exponential notation, without any suffix.
l TDIV 5 US - with multiplier U (1E-6) and (optional) unit S for seconds
String Data
This data type enables you to transfer a (long) string of characters as a single parameter. Simply enclose
any sequence of ASCII characters between single or double quotation marks:
MESSAGE 'Connect probe to point J3'
Note: The oscilloscope displays this message in the message bar at the bottom of the touch
screen display.
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