Overview of Command

The information that is exchanged between the controller (computer) and the device (PCR-MPCR-LEPCR-LE2 series) is called a message.

The PCR uses the SCPI language for the messages.

There are two types of messages, commands that are sent from the computer to the PCR and responses that are sent from the PCR to the computer.

Command Hierarchy

SCPI commands are ASCII-based commands designed for test and measurement devices. The command hierarchy is structured around the common root or node, which is the construction block of the SCPI subsystem. A command consists of a program header, parameters, and punctuation.

The hierarchy is explained using the SOURce subsystem as an example.

 

Program header					Parameter	Hierarchy of node
SOUR:						Root node
	FREQ					Second level
		:LIM				Third level
			:UPP		<numeric>	Fourth level
			:LOW		<bool>	Fourth level
	VOLT					Second level
		:RANGE				Third level
			:UPP		<numeric>	Fourth level
			:AUTO		<bool>	Fourth level

 

A higher node is separated from a lower node using a colon (:).

Command Syntax

This manual denotes SCPI commands using the following format.

MEASure[:SCALar]:CURRent:DC? {<numeric>|MINimum|MAXimum}

SCPI commands can be issued using the short form. The short form of a SCPI command is the section of the command written in uppercase.

SCPI commands can be sent in the long form or short form. Since SCPI commands are not case-sensitive, CURR, Curr, and curr are all accepted as the short form of CURRent. In the long form, CURRENT, Current, and current are all acceptable.

・A space is required between the program header section and the parameter section.

・Multiple parameters, when available, are concatenated using commas.

・Commands are concatenated using semicolons (compound command).

TRIGger:SEQuence2:SOURce PHASe;PHASe 270

In the second command, TRIGger:SEQuence2 is omitted. This is because the path is set to TRIGger:SEQuence2 by the first command TRIGger:SEQuence2:SOURce PHASe.

This compound command is the same as entering the following commands.

TRIGger:SEQuence2:SOURce PHASe

TRIGger:SEQuence2:PHASe 270

An error occurs if a node that is not defined in the current path is designated.

Commands of different subsystems can be concatenated using a colon and a semicolon together.

SOURce:CURRent MINimum;:MEASure:CURRent:AC?

This compound command contains two root nodes, SOURce and MEASure.

When the second or subsequent command starts with a colon, the path specified by the previous command is cleared.

・The maximum number of characters that can be transmitted in a single line is 128.

Special symbols

Special symbols used in this manual to describe SCPI commands are defined below.

·Characters and numbers delimited by "|" in {} braces indicate that one of the items is to be selected.

Do not include the {} braces in the actual program.

·The characters <> indicate program data.

Do not write <> in the actual program.

·Brackets ［］ indicate option data.

When option data is not sent with the program, the default value is applied.
Do not write [] in the actual program.

Queries

The device settings or status can be queried.

To make a query, add a question mark at the end of the program header section.

If a query has parameters, enter a space after the question mark followed by the parameters.

CURRent? MIN

Response

A response returned as an answer to a query. It is a message that is always sent from the device to the computer. The status of the device or measured values are transmitted to the computer.

NOTE

When transmitting two queries in separate lines, read the response to the first query before transmitting the second line.

Program Terminator

All commands must be terminated using a valid terminator.

	RS232C	GPIB	USB	LAN VXI-11/ HiSLIP	LAN SCPI-RAW
during reception	LF	LF or EOI	LF or EOM	LF or END	LF
during transmission	CR + LF	LF	LF + EOI	LF + EOM	LF + END	LF

 

受信時と送信時のターミネータはLF(line feed, ASCII 0x0A）です。

When a command string is terminated, the path is reset to the root level.

NOTE

CR (ASCII 0x0D) is not a terminator.

Common commands

The IEEE-488.2 and SCPI standards contain a set of common commands for reset, self-test, and other functions. These common commands always start with an asterisk. The commands may have one or multiple parameters.

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