Filter
Top Products
359
A Brief Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI Language Basics
Parameters in Commands
There are four basic types of parameters: booleans, keywords, variables and arbitrary block program
data.
OFF|ON|0|1
(Boolean) This is a two state boolean-type parameter. The numeric value 0 is equivalent to OFF.
Any numeric value other than 0 is equivalent to ON. The numeric values of 0 or 1 are
commonly used in the command instead of OFF or ON. Queries of the parameter
always return a numeric value of 0 or 1.
keyword The keywords that are allowed for a particular command are defined in the command
syntax description.
Units Numeric variables may include units. The valid units for a command depend on the
variable type being used. See the following variable descriptions. The indicated
default units are used if no units are sent. Units can follow the numerical value with,
or without, a space.
Variable A variable can be entered in exponential format as well as standard numeric format.
The appropriate range of the variable and its optional units are defined in the
command description.
The following keywords may also be used in commands, but not all commands allow
keyword variables.
• DEFault - resets the parameter to its default value.
• UP - increments the parameter.
• DOWN - decrements the parameter.
• MINimum - sets the parameter to the smallest possible value.
• MAXimum - sets the parameter to the largest possible value.
The numeric value for the function’s MINimum, MAXimum, or DEFault can be
queried by adding the keyword to the command in its query form. The keyword must
be entered following the question mark.
Example query: SENSE:FREQ:CENTER? MAX