:WAVeform XY-Format Commands

:WAVeform XY-Format Commands

Y and XY Value Waveforms

Although similar, the data returned in the :YFORmat and :XYFormat queries is not the same as waveform data saved to a disk using the :DISK:WAVeform commands.

XY-Format Waveform Data

XY-format waveform data returns a single-valued waveform's amplitude and time data in ASCII or binary (64-bit double or 32-bit float values) format. XY-format is designed for returning a waveform or waveforms created when a precision timebase is used, as these waveforms are sampled using unequal time separations between adjacent data points. Returning 64-bit floating point values provides greater measurement resolution but at the sacrifice of longer times required to transfer the data.

If you query waveforms created when using a precision timebase using the Y-format instead of XY-format, the waveform data must be converted to equal time separations. This requires interpolating amplitude values, and, in some time instances, a data point will be void (NaN) and the total point in the waveform may change.