User`s guide

Features and Functions 2
34980A User’s Guide 83
Executing a Sequence
After you have defined a valid sequence, you can execute it to process the
specified commands. If the specified sequence name is not currently stored
in memory, an error will be generated.
• If you attempt to trigger a sequence while one is already executing,
the trigger will be placed in a queue. When the trigger queue is full,
a “trigger ignored” error will be generated.
• To abort a sequence execution from the remote interface, use the
ROUTe:SEQuence:ABORt command or a Device Clear. When the
sequence is terminated, the resultant instrument state will be
determined by how of the sequence had been executed when the
ABORt/Device Clear was received. An ABORt command (system abort)
executed from within a sequence will not terminate the sequence. The
*RST and SYSTem:PRESet commands will also abort a sequence
execution prior to performing their own actions.
• When a sequence is defined, the specified commands are checked for
proper syntax and absolute parameter range limits. If an error is
detected during compilation, the entire sequence will be discarded.
More extensive error checking, such as channel range expansion and
validation, is performed when the sequence is executed.
• A sequence may invoke another sequence. but may not invoke itself
recursively. In addition, the number of invocations is limited to four
levels of nesting and this is enforced at the time of execution.
Exceeding the limit will abort the sequence and an error will
be generated.
• You can also execute a sequence when an alarm condition is reached.
See “Executing a Sequence on an Alarm Condition” on page 84 for
more information.
• While a scan is running (see “Scanning” on page 43), the instrument
prevents use of all channels in banks that contain one or more
channels in the specified scan list (these channels are dedicated to
the scan). Therefore, if a sequence attempts to operate a channel in a
scanned bank, an error is generated and the entire sequence will
be discarded.
Front Panel Operation: Sequence > EXECUTE
Although sequences can be defined from the remote interface only, you
can execute pre- defined sequences from the front panel.