Introduction To The Scpi Language; Command Types; Keywords - Keysight Technologies BT2152B Operating And Service Manual

4 Programming Reference

Introduction to the SCPI Language

Command Types

Keywords

Queries
Syntax Conventions
Parameter Types
Device Clear
Command Types
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is an ASCII-based instrument command
language designed for test and measurement instruments. SCPI has two types of commands,
common and subsystem.
Common commands are defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard to perform common interface functions
such as reset, status, and synchronization. All common commands consist of a three-letter mnemonic
preceded by an asterisk: *RST, *IDN?
Subsystem commands perform specific instrument functions. They can be a single command or a
group of commands. The groups are comprised of commands that extend one or more levels below
the root. Subsystem commands are arranged alphabetically according to the function they perform.
The following figure shows a portion of a subsystem command tree, from which you access the
commands located along the various paths.
INITiate
:TEST
:OCV (@1)
Keywords
Keywords, also referred to as headers, are instructions recognized by the instrument. Common
commands are also keywords.
INITiate is the root keyword, TEST is a second-level keyword, OCV is a third-level keyword. Colons ( : )
separate the keyword levels.
The command syntax shows most commands (and some parameters) as a mixture of upper- and
lower-case letters. The upper-case letters indicate the abbreviated spelling for the command. For
shorter program lines, you can send the abbreviated form. For better program readability, you can
send the long form.
52 Keysight BT2152A/B Operating and Service Guide