Format Commands

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write) Set the byte order used for GPIB data transfer. Some computers read data from the analyzer in the reverse order. This command is only implemented if FORMAT:DATA is set to :REAL.

If FORMAT:DATA is set to :ASCII, the swapped command is ignored.

Parameters

<char>

Choose from:

NORMal - Use when your controller is anything other than an IBM compatible computers.

SWAPped - for IBM compatible computers.

Note: Use NORMal if you are using VEE, LabView, or T&M Tool kit.

Examples

FORM:BORD SWAP
format:border normal

Query Syntax

FORMat:BORDer?

Return Type

Character

Default

Normal

Applicable Models: All

(Read-Write) Sets the data format for transferring measurement data and frequency data.

• To transfer measurement data, use CALC:MEAS:DATA.

• To transfer Cal Set data, use SENS:CORR:CSET:DATA

• To transfer Source Power correction data, use:

• SOURce:POWer:CORRection:COLLect:TABLe:DATA

• SOURce:POWer:CORRection:COLLect:TABLe:FREQuency

• SOURce:POWer:CORRection:DATA

• To transfer FIFO buffer data, use SYST:FIFO:DATA?

The following commands transfer frequency data. Use <REAL, 64>

• CALC:MEAS:DATA:SNP?

• CALC:MEAS:X?

• SENS:X?

Use FORMat:BORDer to change the byte order. Use “NORMal” when transferring a binary block from LabView or Vee. For other programming languages, you may need to SWAP the byte order.

Parameters

<char>

In the VNA, measurement data is stored as 32 bit and frequencies stored as 64 bit. Therefore, use REAL,32 when getting data and REAL,64 when getting frequencies. That way you are guaranteed to avoid losing any precision as well as getting the maximum speed on the data transfer.

Choose from:

• REAL,32 - (default value for REAL) Best for transferring large amounts of measurement data.  Can cause rounding errors in frequency data.

• REAL,64 - Slower but has more significant digits than REAL,32.  REQUIRED to accurately represent frequency data. See above list for commands which transfer frequency information.

• ASCii,0 - The easiest to implement, but very slow. Use when you have small amounts of data to transfer.

Note  The REAL,32 and REAL,64 arguments transfer data in block format as explained in Transferring Measurement Data.

Examples

FORM REAL,64
format:data ascii

Query Syntax

FORMat:DATA?

Return Type

Character,Character

Default

ASCii,0

Syst:Preset does NOT reset this command.

However, *RST does reset this command to ASCii,0