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Remote Programming 49
6
Remote Programming
GPIB Capabilities of the Agilent SAS
All Agilent SAS functions except for setting the GPIB address are programmable over the IEEE 488 bus (also known as the
General Purpose Interface Bus or "GPIB"). The IEEE 488.1 capabilities of the Agilent SAS are listed in the Supplemental
Characteristics in appendix A. The Agilent SAS operates from a GPIB address that is set from the front panel (see System
Considerations at the end of this chapter).
Introduction To SCPI
lmportant Learn the basics of Agilent SAS operation (see chapter 5 - Front Panel Operation) before using SCPI.
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a programming language for controlling instrument functions
over the GPIB (IEEE 488) instrument bus. SCPI is intended to function with standard GPIB hardware and conforms to the
IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation. SCPI is layered on top of the hardware portion of
IEEE 488.2. The same SCPI commands and parameters control the same functions in different classes of instruments. For
example, you would use the same DISPlay command to control the Agilent SAS display state and the display state of a
SCPI-compatible multimeter.
Note TMSL (Test and Measurement System Language) was an earlier versions of SCPI. If you have
programmed in this language, then you probably can go directly to chapter 7 - Language Dictionary.
Conventions
The following conventions are used throughout this chapter:
Angle brackets < > Items within angle brackets are parameter abbreviations. For example,
<NR1> indicates a specific form of numerical data.
Vertical bar | Vertical bars separate one of two or more alternative parameters. For
example, 0|OFF indicates that you may enter either "0" or "OFF" for the
required parameter.
Square
Brackets
[ ] Items within square brackets are optional. The representation
[SOURce]:CURRent means that SOURce may be omitted.
Braces { } Braces indicate parameters that may be repeated zero or more times. It is
used especially for showing arrays. The notation <A>{<,B>} shows that
"A" is a required parameter, while "B" may be omitted or may be entered
one or more times.
Boldface font
Boldface font is used to emphasize syntax in command definitions.
TRIGger:DELay <NRf> shows a command syntax.
Computer font
Computer font is used to show program text within normal text.
TRIGger:DELay .5 represents program text.