AMETEK BPS Series Programming Manual - Manual (Page 20)

AMETEK Programmable Power BPS / MX / RS Series SCPI Programming Manual
20 Manual P/N 7003-961 Rev AA
2.4.6 Root Specifier
When it precedes the first header of a message unit, the colon becomes the root specifier. It
tells the command parser that this is the root or the top node of the command tree. Note the
difference between root specifiers and header separators in the following examples:
CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1 All colons are header
separators
:CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1 Only the first colon is a root
specifier
CURRent:PROTection:DELay .1;:VOLTage 12.5 Only the third colon is a root
specifier
You do not have to precede root-level commands with a colon; there is an implied colon in
front of every root-level command.
2.4.7 Message Terminator
A terminator informs SCPI that it has reached the end of a message. Three permitted
message terminators are:
• newline (), which is ASCII decimal 10 or hex 0A.
• end or identify ()
• both of the above ().
In the examples of this manual, there is an assumed message terminator at the end of each
message. If the terminator needs to be shown, it is indicated as regardless of the
actual terminator character.