User`s guide

Interfaces
Remote (GPIB)
The 662xA comes standard with
a GPIB interface. The N6700A
mainframe also comes standard
with a GPIB interface (LAN
and USB are also standard on
the N6700A). The ability to
lock the front panel, such as
the 662xA did when in remote
mode, is not automatic in
the N6700A. The command
“SYSTem:COMMunicate:RLState
RWLock” must be used to lock
out the front panel. Please see
the N67xxA User’s Guide for
more details.
Local (Front Panel)
Both the 662xA and N6700A
have front panel controls and
display. The 662xA’s front
panel control has individual
buttons for each feature along
with a numerical keypad. The
N6700A eliminates most of
these buttons, but has much
more capable control from the
front panel. It has an extensive
menu system with a few keys
for quick, one-button access as
well as navigational keys and a
numerical keypad. The N6700A
is also capable of displaying
all four channels voltage and
current at the same time, while
the 662xA can only show one
channel at a time.
Comparison of 662xA Commands
and N67xxA Compatibility
Commands
There are three general areas
of differences between the
662xA’s commands and the
N67xxA’s compatibility com-
mands—IEEE 488.2 Syntax,
Status Reporting, and Model
Specific Limits. In addition,
there are specific functions
that are not implemented or
are different.
IEEE 488.2 Syntax
Space Separator
The N67xxA will not allow
a space separator between
numbers.
Example:
“ISET 1 0.5” and “ISET 1, 0.5”
662xA: Both commands are
accepted and processed with
the same results.
N67xxA: Only “ISET 1, 0.5”
is accepted. “ISET 1 0.5” will
result in an error (-103,
“Invalid separator”).
Queries and Readback
Multiple Queries without
Continuous Readback
Sending a second query to
the N6700A without reading
the response to the first will
generate an error.
Example: ISET? 1
VSET? 1
<readback>
662xA: Readback will return
the value of the “VSET? 1”
query without an error.
N6700A: Readback will return
the value of the “VSET? 1”
query and will error (-410,
“Query INTERRUPTED”).
Multiple Queries with
Partial Readback
The N6700A will not allow
a user to query information,
read back only a portion of the
information (a few characters),
send another command, and
finish reading back the remaining
information from the original
query.
Example: ISET 1, 1
ISET? 1
<partial readback>
ISET 1, 0.5
<readback remaining>
662xA: Partial readback will
return a few characters.
Remaining readback will return
the remaining characters along
with the value “1”, from the
“ISET? 1” query, without error.
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