Command Separators - Agilent Technologies U3606B Programmer's Reference Manual

1 Introduction to SCPI
SCPI Conventions and Data Formats

Command separators

Using a colon
A colon ( : ) is used to separate a command keyword from a lower-level
keyword. When a colon is inserted between two command mnemonics, the
colon moves the path down one level in the present path (for the specified
root-level command) of the command tree. You must separate command
mnemonics from each other using a colon as shown below:
& MEM:STAT:REC:AUTO ON
An error is generated if you do not use the colon in your command string.
& MEM STAT REC AUTO ON
& SYST:ERR?
Typical response:
$ -113,"Undefined header"
When a colon is the first character of a command keyword, it indicates that the
next command mnemonic is a root-level command.
& :CALC:FUNC NULL
This indicates that the CALC command mnemonic is a root-level command.
However, you can omit the leading colon if the command is the first of a new
program line.
& CALC:FUNC NULL
4 U3606B Programmer's Reference