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FORMat
The FORMat command subsystem is used to specify the output format of the
readings from the HP E1429 Digitizer.
Subsystem
Syntax
FORMat
[:DATA] <
type>[,<length>]
[:DATA]
FORMat[:DATA] <type>[,<length>] specifies the output format for measurement
data.
Parameters
Parameter
Name
Parameter
Type
Range of
Values
Default
Units
type
discrete ASCii|PACKed| REAL none
length
numeric 9 (ASCii)|16 (PACKed)|
64 (REAL)
none
Comments • PACKed format is signed 16 bits, however, the original 12-bit reading is shifted
left 4 bits and the lower most 4 bits are 0 filled. Thus, to get the actual value of the
reading, the packed value should be divided by 16. Packed readings always
represent a value between -1.023 and +1.0235 (i.e. there is no correction done
internally for the range setting), and further post-processing by the user is
necessary to get the actual reading value if the SENSe<chan >:VOLTage:RANGe
setting is not 1V.
• REAL,64 format sends data back as IEEE-754 64-bit real numbers. The data is
converted internally to reflect the SENSe<chan >:VOLTage:RANGe setting, and
no further conversion is needed by the user.
• Both PACKed,16 and REAL,64 formats return data preceded by the IEEE-488.2
definite length arbitrary block header. The header is as follows:
# <num_digits > <num_bytes >
# signifies a block transfer
<num_digits > is a single digit (1 through 9) which specifies how many digits
(ASCII characters) are in the <num_bytes > descriptor which follows
<num_bytes > is the number of data bytes which immediately follow the
<num_bytes > field
228 Command Reference FORMat Subsystem