Technical data
Common (*) Commands 5
Agilent InfiniiVision 2000 X-Series Oscilloscopes Programmer's Guide 123
Introduction to
Common (*)
Commands
The common commands are defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard. They are 
implemented by all instruments that comply with the IEEE 488.2 standard. 
They provide some of the basic instrument functions, such as instrument 
identification and reset, reading the instrument setup, and determining 
how status is read and cleared.
Common commands can be received and processed by the instrument 
whether they are sent over the interface as separate program messages or 
within other program messages. If an instrument subsystem has been 
selected and a common command is received by the instrument, the 
instrument remains in the selected subsystem. For example, if the program 
message ":ACQuire:TYPE AVERage; *CLS; COUNt 256" is received by the 
instrument, the instrument sets the acquire type, then clears the status 
information and sets the average count.
In contrast, if a root level command or some other subsystem command is 
within the program message, you must re- enter the original subsystem 
after the command. For example, the program message ":ACQuire:TYPE 
AVERage; :AUToscale; :ACQuire:COUNt 256" sets the acquire type, 
completes the autoscale, then sets the acquire count. In this example, 
:ACQuire must be sent again after the :AUToscale command in order to 
re- enter the ACQuire subsystem and set the count.
n/a *STB? (see page 142) <value> ::= 0 to 255; an integer 
in NR1 format, as shown in the 
following:
Bit Weight Name "1" Indicates
--- ------ ---- ---------------
7 128 OPER Operation status
condition occurred.
6 64 RQS/ Instrument is
MSS requesting service.
5 32 ESB Enabled event status
condition occurred.
4 16 MAV Message available.
3 8 ---- (Not used.)
2 4 MSG Message displayed.
1 2 USR User event
condition occurred.
0 1 TRG A trigger occurred.
*TRG (see page 144) n/a n/a
n/a *TST? (see page 145) <result> ::= 0 or non-zero value; 
an integer in NR1 format
*WAI (see page 146) n/a n/a
Table 44 Common (*) Commands Summary (continued)
Command Query Options and Query Returns










