Instructions

RIGOL Chapter 1 Programming Overview
1-4 DSG800 Programming Guide
SCPI Command Overview
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a standardized instrument programming
language that is based on the standard IEEE488.1 and IEEE488.2 and conforms to various standards (such
as the floating point operation rule in IEEE754 standard, ISO646 7-bit coded character for information
interchange (equivalent to ASCll programming)). This chapter describes the syntax, symbols, parameters
and abbreviation rules of the SCPI commands.
Syntax
SCPI commands present a hierarchical tree structure and have multiple sub-systems, each of which
contains a root keyword and one or more sub-keywords. The command string usually begins with ":"; the
keywords are separted by ":" and are followed by the parameter settings available; "?" is added at the end
of the command string to indicate query; space is used to separate the command and parameter.
For example,
:SYSTem:COMMunication:LAN:IP:ADDress <value>
:SYSTem:COMMunication:LAN:IP:ADDress?
SYSTem is the root keyword of the command above. COMMunication, LAN, IP and ADDress are the
second-level, third-level, forth-level and fifth-level keywords respectively. The command string begins with
":" which is also used to separate the multi-level keywords. <value> denotes the parameter available for
setting. "?" denotes query and the RF signal generator returns the response information (the output value
or internal setting value of the instrument) when receiving a query command. The
command :SYSTem:COMMunication:LAN:IP:ADDress and prarameter <value> are separated by a space.
"," is generally used for separating different parameters contained in the same command; for example,
[:SOURce]:SWEep:LIST:LIST? <Start>,<Count>
Symbol Description
The following four symbols are not the content of SCPI commands and will not be sent with the command;
but, they are usually used to describe the parameters in the commands.
1. Braces { }
Multiple optional parameters are enclosed in the braces and one of the parameters must be selected
when sending the command.
2. Vertical Bar |
The vartical bar is used to separate multiple parameters. When you send a command, one of the
parameters must be selected. For example, the :SYSTem:LANGuage CHINese|ENGLish command.
3. Square Brackets [ ]
The contents (command keywords) enclosed in the square brackets are optional and will be executed
no matter whether they are omitted or not. For example, for the [:SOURce]:AM[:DEPTh]? command,
sending any of the four commands below can generate the same effect.
:AM?
:AM:DEPTh?
:SOURce:AM?
:SOURce:AM:DEPTh?
4. Triangle Brackets < >
The parameter enclosed in the triangle brackets must be replaced by an effective value. For example,
send the [:SOURce]:FREQuency <value> command in :FREQuency 4MHz form.