HP 83751A Programming Manual page 42

Getting Started Programming
Essentials for Beginners
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After power is cycled or after *RST, the current path is set to the root.
A message terminator, such as a <new line> character, sets the current
path to the root. Many progr amming languages have output statements
that send message terminators automatically. The paragraph titled, "Details
of Commands and Responses, ' discusses message terminators in more
detail.
When it is between two command mnemonics, a colon moves the current
path down one level in the command tree. For example, the colon in
is the tit character of a command, it spec3ies that the next command
mnemonic is a root level command. For example, the colon in : INIT
specifies that INIT is a root level command.
A semicolon separates two commands in the same message without
changing the current path.
Whitespace characters, such as <tab> and <space>, are generally ignored.
There are two important exceptions. Whitespace inside a keyword, such
as :FREQ uency, is not allowed. You must use white space to separate
parameters from commands. For example, the <space> between LEVel and
6.2 in the command : POHer : LEVe16.2 is mandatory. Whitespace does
not tiect the current path.
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lf a command requires more than one parameter, you must separate
adjacent parameters using a comma. Commas do not affect the current
path.
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Common commands, such as *RST, are not part of any subsystem. An
instrument interprets them in the same way, regardless of the current path
setting.