Measurement Computing Personal488 rev.3.0 For DOS & Windows 3.Xi - Manual (Page 203)

9K. Command Descriptions II. SOFTWARE GUIDES - 9. Driver488/SUB
II-188 Personal488 User’s Manual, Rev. 3.0
available for Driver488/SUB and Driver488/W31. The commands for Driver488/W95 and
Driver488/WNT are provided as guides, pending current software revisions. Refer to your operating
system header file for the latest available information specific to your application.
A double-lined banner box similar to the following:
Driver488/XXX Only
indicates differences among these Driver488 versions. For more detail on the individual system
commands, see “Section III: Command References.”
Format
The format for the Driver488/SUB, W31, W95, and WNT command descriptions consists of several
sections which together define the command. Using the C language, this format is implemented for the
system commands found in Sub-Chapter 15B: “Driver488/SUB, W31, W95 & WNT Commands” of
the “Section III: Command References” in this manual.
Syntax
The Syntax section of the system command description describes the proper command syntax that must
be sent to Driver488. To define the specific command function, syntax parameters accompany each of
the system commands. For five detailed listings of syntax parameters for Driver488/SUB and
Driver488/W31, turn to the topic “Syntax Parameters” found in each of the five Sub-Chapters of
Chapter 14 “Command Summaries.”
Returns
The Returns section describes the return of the function completed. Note that most functions return a
value of
-1 to indicate an error. Where no other return value is needed, a 0 indicates normal
completion. Some functions can also return specific values such as the number of bytes of data
successfully transferred.
Note: This format section differs from the Response section of the Driver488/DRV.
Mode
This section of the command description format specifies the operating modes in which the command is
valid. Driver488 may be configured as the System Controller in which case it is initially the Active
Controller, or as a Not System Controller in which case it is initially in the Peripheral state. The
Driver488 configuration as System Controller or Not System Controller can be changed by the
INSTALL program.
Note: Even if Driver488 is not configured as the System Controller, it can still become the Active
Controller if another controller on the IEEE 488 bus passes control to Driver488.
The modes are referred to by their names and states as shown below:
Mode Name State Mode Name State
System Controller SC Not System Controller *SC
Active Controller CA Peripheral (Not Active Controller) *CA
Active System Controller SC
•CA System Controller, Not Active SC
•*CA
Not System Controller,
Active Controller *SC
•CA Not System Controller,
Not Active Controller *SC
•*C
A
Bus States
This section of the command description format indicates the state of the bus device. The mnemonics
abbreviations for these bus states, as well as the relevant bus lines and bus commands, are listed in the
following two tables: