Agilent Technologies 87130A Switch User Manual


 
Agilent 87130A Operating and Service Manual 4-3
Remote Operation
Programming Syntax
Programming Syntax
Talking to the Switch
Driver
In general, computers acting as controllers communicate with the switch
driver by passing messages over a remote interface using the I/O statements
provided in the instruction set of the controllers host language. Therefore,
the messages for programming the switch driver described in this manual,
will normally appear as ASCII character strings imbedded inside the I/O
statements of your controllers program.
For example, the HP 9000 Series 300 BASIC and PASCAL language
systems use the
OUTPUT statement for sending program messages to the
switch driver, and the
ENTER statement for receiving response messages from
the switch driver.
Messages are placed on the bus by using an output command and passing the
device selector, program message, and terminator. Passing the device
selector ensures that the program message is sent to the correct interface and
instrument.
Example The following query command reads out the firmware datecode:
OUTPUT <device selector>;:SYSTEM:VERSION?
where <device selector> represents the address of the device being
programmed.
Programming
Conventions
The programming examples in this manual are written in HP Basic 5.0 for an
GPIB controller compatible system.
The actual OUTPUT command used when programming is dependent on
the controller and the programming language being used.
Angular brackets < >, in this manual, enclose words or characters that
symbolize a program code parameter or a bus command.
Information that is displayed in quotes represents the actual message
that is sent across the bus. The message terminator (NL or EOI) is the
only additional information that is also sent across the bus.
On most controllers, it is not necessary to type in the actual
<terminator> at the end of the program message. These controllers
automatically supply the program message terminator when the return
key is pressed.