HP 53181A Programming Manual page 65

Programming Your Counter for Remote Operation
Overview of Command Types and Formats
Overview of Command Types and Formats
There are two types of HP 53181A programming commands: IEEE 488.2 Common
Commands and Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI). The
IEEE 488.2 Common Commands control and manage communications between the
HP 53181A and the controller or personal computer. The SCPI commands control
instrument functions. The format of each type of command is described in the
following paragraphs. (Refer to Chapter 2, "Commands Summary," for SCPI
conformance information.)
Common Command Format
The IEEE 488.2 Standard defines the Common commands as commands that
perform functions like reset, self-test, status byte query, and identification. Common
commands always begin with the asterisk (*) character, and may include
parameters. The command keyword is separated from the first parameter by a space
character. Some examples of Common commands are as follows:
*RST *IDN?
SCPI Command and Query Format
SCPI commands perform functions like instrument setup. A subsystem command
has a hierarchical structure that usually consists of a top level (or root) keyword, one
or more lower-level keywords, and parameters. The following example shows a
command and its associated query:
:INPut:COUPling AC
:INPut:COUPling?
INPut is root-level keyword with COUPling the second level keyword, and AC is
the command parameter.
*RCL 1
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