KEPCO EL Series Electronic Load Operator Manual P/N 243-1295 Firmware Version 4.00 to 4.xx - Manual (Page 45)

SERIES EL 071414
3-9
3.13 SCPI PROGRAMMING
SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) is a programming language con-
forming to the protocols and standards established by IEEE 488.2 (reference document
ANSI/IEEE Std 488.2, IEEE Standard Codes, Formats, Protocols, and Common Commands). SCPI com-
mands are sent to the Series EL Electronic Load as ASCII output strings within the selected pro-
gramming language (PASCAL, C, BASIC, LABVIEW, etc.) in accordance with the interface
protocol used.
Different programming languages (e.g., BASIC, C, PASCAL, LABVIEW, etc.) have different
ways of representing data that is to be put on the control bus. It is up to the programmer to
determine how to output the character sequence required for the programming language used.
If the optional IEEE 488.2 (GPIB) interface is used, address information (GPIB address) must
be included before the command sequence.
3.13.1 SCPI MESSAGES
There are two kinds of SCPI messages: program messages from controller to electronic load,
and response messages from the electronic load to the controller. Program messages consist of
one or more properly formatted commands/queries and instruct the electronic load to perform
an action; the controller may send a program message at any time. Response messages con-
sist of formatted data; the data can contain information regarding operating parameters, elec-
tronic load state, status, or error conditions.
3.13.2 COMMON COMMANDS/QUERIES
Common commands and queries are defined by the IEEE 488.2 standard to perform overall
electronic load functions (such as identification, status, or synchronization) unrelated to specific
electronic load operation (such as setting voltage/current). Common commands and queries are
preceded by an asterisk (*) and are defined and explained in Appendix A. Refer also to syntax
considerations (PARs 3.13.3.7 through 3.13.6).