HP 1650B Programming Reference Manual page 25

HP 1650B/HP 1651B
Programming Reference
Numeric data. For numeric data, you have the option of using
exponential notation or using suffixes to indicate which unit is being used.
Tables A-l and A-2 in appendix A list all available suftiies. Do not
combine an exponent with a unit. The following numbers are all equal:
The base of a number is shown with a prefix. The available bases are
example, #BlllOO = #Q34 = #HlC = 28. You may not specify a
base in conjunction with either exponents or unit suffixes. Additionally,
negative numbers must be expressed in decimal.
When a syntax definition specifies that a number is an integer, that means
that the number should be whole. Any fractional part would be ignored,
truncating the number. Numeric parameters which accept fractional
values are called real numbers.
All numbers are expected to be strings of ASCII characters. Thus, when
sending the number 9, you would send a byte representing the ASCII code
for the character "9" (which is 57, or 00111001 in binary). A three-digit
number like 102 would take up three bytes (ASCII codes 49,48 and 50).
This is taken care of automatically when you include the entire instruction
in a string.
String data. String data may be delimited with either single (') or double
instance, the labels "Bus A" and "bus a" are unique and should not be used
indiscriminately. Also pay attention to the presence of spaces, since they
act as legal characters just like any other. So the labels "In" and '
also two separate labels.
Keyword data. In many cases a parameter must be a keyword. The
available keywords are always included with the instruction's syntax
definition. When sending commands, either the longform or shortform (if
one exists) may be used. Upper-case and lower-case letters may be mixed
freely. When receiving responses, upper-case letters will be used
exclusively. The use of longform or shortform in a response depends on
the setting you last specified via the SYSTem:LONGform command (see
chapter 6).
Introduction to Programming an instrument
1-9