User`s manual

32
An Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is an ASCII-based
instrument command language designed for test and measurement instruments.
The detailed techniques used to program the power supply over the remote interface
are introduced in the following sections.
SCPI commands are based on a hierarchical structure, also known as a tree system. In
this system, associated commands are grouped together under a common node or root,
thus forming subsystems. A portion of the SOURce subsystem is shown below to
illustrate the tree system.
[SOURce:]
CURRent
[:LEVel]
[:IMMediate]
[:AMPLitude] {<current>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
:TRIGgered
[:AMPLitude] {<current>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
:LIMit
[:AMPLitude] {<current>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
VOLTage
[:LEVel]
[:IMMediate]
[:AMPLitude] {<voltage>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
:TRIGgered
[:AMPLitude] {<voltage>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
:LIMit
[:AMPLitude] {<voltage>|MIN|MAX}
[:AMPLitude]？ [MIN|MAX]
[SOURce:] is the root keyword of the command, CURRent and VOLTage are the
second-level keywords, and LIMit is the third-level keywords. A colon ( : ) separates a
command keyword from a lower-level keyword.