B&K Precision MDL Series - Programming Manual - Manual (Page 20)

20
Moving Among Subsystems
In order to combine commands from different subsystems, you need to be able to reset the header
path to a null string within a message. You do this by beginning the command with a colon (:), which
discards any previous header path. For example, you could clear the output protection and check the
status of the Operation Condition register in one message by using a root specifier as follows:
PROTection:CLEAr; :STATus:OPERation:CONDition?
The following message shows how to combine commands from different subsystems as well as within
the same subsystem:
POWer:LEVel 200; PROTection 28; : CURRent: LEVel 3; PROTection:STATe ON
Observe the use of the optional header LEVel to maintain the correct path within the voltage and
current subsystems, and the use of the root specifier to move between subsystems.
Including Common Commands
You can combine common commands with subsystem commands in the same message. Treat the
common command as a message unit by separating it with a semicolon (the message unit separator).
Common commands do not affect the header path; you may insert them anywhere in the message.
VOLTage 17.5;*TRG
OUTPut OFF;*RCL 2;OUTPut ON
Case Sensitivity
Common commands and SCPI commands are not case sensitive. You can use upper or lower case and
any case combination.
Example:
*RST = *rst
:DATA? = :data?
:SYSTem:PRESet = :system:preset
Long-form and Short-form Versions
A SCPI command word can be sent in its long-form or short-form version. The command subsystem
tables in Chapter 3 provide the long-form version. However, the short-form version is indicated by
upper case characters.
Example:
:SYSTem:PRESet (long-form)
:SYST:PRES (short form)
:SYSTem:PRES (long-form and short-form combination)