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Error Types Negative error numbers are language-related and categorized as shown below.
Positive error numbers are instrument specific and for the System Instrument
are summarized in Table B-2. For other instruments, refer to their own user’s
manual for a description of error messages.
Command Errors A command error means the instrument cannot understand or execute the
command. When a command error occurs, it sets the Command Error Bit
(bit 5) in the Event Status Register. Command errors can be caused by:
• A syntax error was detected in a received command or message. Possible
errors include a data element which violates the instrument’s listening
formats or is of the wrong type (binary, numeric, etc.) for the instrument.
• An unrecognizable command header was received. Unrecognizable
headers include incorrect SCPI headers and incorrect or unimplemented
Common Commands.
• A Group Execute Trigger (GET) was entered into the input buffer inside
of a Common Command.
Execution Errors An execution error indicates the instrument is incapable of doing the action or
operation requested by a command. When an execution error occurs, it sets the
Execution Error Bit (bit 4) in the Event Status Register. Execution errors can be
caused by the following:
• A parameter within a command is outside the limits or inconsistent with
the capabilities of an instrument.
• A valid command could not be executed because of an instrument failure
or other condition.
Device-Specific Errors A device-specific error indicates an instrument operation did not complete,
possibly due to an abnormal hardware or firmware condition (self-test failure,
loss of calibration or configuration memory, etc.). When a device-specific error
occurs, it sets the Device-Specific Error Bit (bit 3) in the Event Status Register.
Query Errors A query error indicates a problem has occurred in the instrument’s output
queue. When a query error occurs, it sets the Query Error Bit (bit 2) in the
Event Status Register. Query errors can be caused by the following:
• An attempt was made to read the instrument’s output queue when no
output was present or pending.
• Data in the instrument’s output queue has been lost for some reason.
Error Number Error Type
-199 to -100 Command Errors
-299 to -200 Execution Errors
-399 to -300 Device-Specific Errors
-499 to -400 Query Errors
Table B-1. Negative Error Numbers
B-2 Error Messages