Infinity Representation; Sequential And Overlapped Commands; Response Generation; Syntax Diagrams - HP 16500C Programmer's Manual

Programming and Documentation Conventions

Infinity Representation

Infinity Representation
The representation of infinity is 9.9E+37 for real numbers and 32767 for
integers. This is also the value returned when a measurement cannot be
made.

Sequential and Overlapped Commands

IEEE 488.2 makes the distinction between sequential and overlapped
commands. Sequential commands finish their task before the execution of
the next command starts. Overlapped commands run concurrently; therefore,
the command following an overlapped command may be started before the
overlapped command is completed. The overlapped commands for the HP
16500C Logic Analysis System are STARt and STOP.

Response Generation

IEEE 488.2 defines two times at which query responses may be buffered.
The first is when the query is parsed by the instrument and the second is
when the controller addresses the instrument to talk so that it may read the
response. The HP 16500C Logic Analysis System will buffer responses to a
query when it is parsed.

Syntax Diagrams

At the beginning of each chapter in Part 2, "Commands," is a syntax diagram
showing the proper syntax for each command. All characters contained in a
circle or oblong are literals, and must be entered exactly as shown. Words
and phrases contained in rectangles are names of items used with the
command and are described in the accompanying text of each command.
Each line can only be entered from one direction as indicated by the arrow
5–4