FORMat...    Related Topics

This subsystem selects a data format for transferring numeric and array information from and to the analyzer.

 

Command tree: FORMat

:BORDer

[:DATA]

:DEXPort

:SOURce

FORMat:BORDer NORMal | SWAPped

Controls whether binary data is transferred in normal or swapped byte order.  

Parameters

SWAPped – The least significant bit is transferred first (little endian)

NORMal – The most significant bit is transferred first (big endian)

*RST value

SWAPpped (if the GPIB Language is set to PNA or HP xxxx, then the order is NORMal)

 

SCPI, Command Types

Confirmed, command or query

 

Example:

FORM:BORD NORM

Change the bit order to normal mode.

 

 

FORMat[:DATA] ASCii | REAL [,<length>]

Selects the format for numeric data transferred to and from the analyzer.  

The format setting is only valid for commands and queries whose description states that the response is formatted as described by FORMat[:DATA]. In particular, it affects trace data transferred by means of the commands in the TRACe:... system.

ASCII

Numeric data is transferred as ASCII bytes. The numbers are separated by commas as specified in IEEE 488.2.

 

REAL

Data is transferred in a definite length block as IEEE floating point numbers of the specified <length>. See block data format.

If binary data is transferred to the analyzer, the receive terminator should be set to EOI (SYSTem:COMMunicate:GPIB[:SELF]:RTERminator EOI) to avoid inadvertent interruption of the data transfer.

 

<length>

The optional <length> parameter is needed for REAL format only. It defines the length of the floating point numbers in bits. Valid values are 32 and 64.

*RST value

ASCII. The default length of REAL data is 32 bits (single precision).

 

SCPI, Command Types

Confirmed, command or query

 

Example:

FORM REAL, 32

Select real data format.

SYST:COMM:GPIB:RTER EOI

Set the terminator to EOI.

(During a calibration) ... CORR:CDAT? 'REFLTRACK',1,0

Query a system error correction term. The data is transferred in a definite length block which can be written to a file; the analyzer displays the message <no_of_bytes> bytes binary data received.

 

 

FORMat:DEXPort:SOURce FDATa | SDATa | MDATa

Defines the format for traces retrieved with the ZVR-compatible command TRACe[:DATA][:RESPonse][:ALL]?

This command is not relevant for results read with the CALCulate:DATA... commands.

Parameters

See list of parameters below.

Range [def. unit]

Depending on the measured parameter and format. The unit is the default unit of the measured parameter; see CALCulate<Ch>:PARameter:SDEFine.  

*RST value

SDATa

 

SCPI, Command Types

Device-specific, command or query.

 

Example:

See TRACe[:DATA][:RESPonse][:ALL]?

 

 

The following parameters are related to trace data (see also Data Flow diagram):

FDATa

Formatted trace data, according to the selected trace format (CALCulate<Chn>:FORMat). 1 value per trace point for Cartesian diagrams, 2 values for polar diagrams.

SDATa

Unformatted trace data: Real and imaginary part of each measurement point. 2 values per trace point irrespective of the selected trace format. The trace mathematics is not taken into account. Wave quantities are returned as voltages.

MDATa

Unformatted trace data (see SDATa) after evaluation of the trace mathematics.