Utility Commands
These commands are used to query the Model 346 for various information not covered by the other sections. This includes the SCPI error queue, settings lock, and option card query.
DFLT Factory Defaults Command
DFLT <code>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
code |
n |
Must be 99 to confirm the reset. |
Example
DFLT 99 resets the Model 346 to factory default settings.
Remarks
This process returns all power-cycle persistent settings to their factory default values. This includes PID gains, sensor curve selection, sensor configuration, and option card settings. The process does not affect the instrument’s loaded curves or calibration data.
*IDN? Identification Query
*IDN? [term]
Returns
<manufacturer>,<model number>,<serial number>,<firmware version>Field |
Description |
|---|---|
<manufacturer> |
Manufacturer identification |
<model number> |
Instrument model number |
<serial number> |
Instrument serial number |
<firmware version> |
Instrument firmware version |
Example
*IDN? returns the identification string LSCI,MODEL346,LSA1234,1.1.2025102214
*RST Power-On Reset Command
*RST [term]
Example
*RST returns the Model 346 to a power-on state.
Remarks
This command is equivalent to a power cycle of the Model 346 but will not require a restart of the front panel application.
Readings may become invalid after this command is issued, so it is recommended to wait at least 5 s for the readings to
stabilize before using them again. Note, issuing the command string *RST;*OPC? will not return a response, therefore an
open loop delay of 5 s is recommended in client software after issuing the command, before resuming communications.
TST? Self-Test Query
*TST? [term]
Returns
<status>[term]
0 = no errors found, 1 = errors found
SYSTem:KLOCk Settings Lock Command
SYSTem:KLOCk <state>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
state |
n |
Valid entries: 0 = Unlocked 1 = Locked |
Example
SYSTem:KLOCk 1 locks the front panel settings.
Remarks
When the front panel settings are locked, the front panel will display “Settings Locked” when attempting to edit settings and display a lock icon in the lower left of the home screen.
SYSTem:LOCal GPIB Local Command
SYSTem:LOCal[term]
Parameters
none
Example
SYSTem:LOCal sets the GPIB interface to local mode.
Remarks
This method sets the instrument to local mode, returning control to the front panel. However, if a GPIB device is connected, the device may return to the locked state if communications are issued over GPIB.
SYSTem:KLOCk? Settings Lock Query
SYSTem:KLOCk? [term]
Returns
<state> (see command for description)
CARDS? Option Cards Query
CARDS? [term]
Returns
<E>, <F>, <G>, <H> [term]
Card ID |
Card type |
|---|---|
0 |
Not installed or not responding |
1 |
Scanner card |
2 |
Unpublished |
3 |
Unpublished |
4 |
Thermocouple |
Example
CARDS? returns "0, 1, 0, 0" if the Model 346 has nothing in slots E, G, and H, and a scanner in slot F.
SYSTem:ERRor[:NEXT]? Error Queue Next Query
SYSTem:ERRor[:NEXT]? [term]
Returns
<error code>,<error message> [term]
Remarks
Returns the next item from the error queue and removes it from queue. If the queue is empty, the error code is 0 and the error message is “No error”.
SYSTem:ERRor:CLEAR Error Queue Clear Command
SYSTem:ERRor:CLEAR [term]
Remarks
Removes all errors from the error queue.
SYSTem:ERRor:COUNt? Error Queue Count Query
SYSTem:ERRor:COUNt? [term]
Returns
<count> [term]
Remarks
Returns the number of unread items in the error queue. If the queue is empty, the response is 0.
SYSTem:ERRor:ALL? Error Queue All Query
SYSTem:ERRor:ALL? [term]
Returns
<error code>,<error message> [term]
Example
Remarks
Queries the error/event queue for all the unread items and removes them from the queue. If there are multiple errors queued, the response returns a comma separated list of code, error message pairs, in FIFO order. If the queue is empty, the error code is 0 and the error message is “No error”. If more than 16 errors are recorded, the error queue will overflow and all future errors will be lost and the queue will end with -350,”Queue overflow”.
SYSTem:ERRor:STARtup? Error Startup Query
SYSTem:ERRor:STARtup? [term]
Parameters
none
Returns
<error code> [term]
Remarks
Returns the critical startup error code from the last power-on or reset. If no critical errors occurred during startup, the response is 0. The error code is a bitfield with the following bit definitions:
Bit |
Bit weighting |
Description |
|---|---|---|
0 |
1 |
Main NOVRAM corrupt |
1 |
2 |
Model ID not communicating |
2 |
4 |
Revision ID not communicating |
3 |
8 |
Input NOVRAM corrupt |
7 |
128 |
Option card C NOVRAM corrupt |
8 |
256 |
Option card C ID not communicating |
9 |
512 |
Option card C revision ID not communicating |
10 |
1024 |
Option card C hardware fault |
11 |
2048 |
Option card D NOVRAM corrupt |
12 |
4096 |
Option card D ID not communicating |
13 |
8192 |
Option card D revision ID not communicating |
14 |
16384 |
Option card D hardware fault |
15 |
32768 |
Option card E NOVRAM corrupt |
16 |
65536 |
Option card E ID not communicating |
17 |
131072 |
Option card E revision ID not communicating |
18 |
262144 |
Option card E hardware fault |
19 |
524288 |
Option card F NOVRAM corrupt |
20 |
1048576 |
Option card F ID not communicating |
21 |
2097152 |
Option card F revision ID not communicating |
22 |
4194304 |
Option card F hardware fault |
23 |
8388608 |
Option card G NOVRAM corrupt |
24 |
16777216 |
Option card G ID not communicating |
25 |
33554432 |
Option card G revision ID not communicating |
26 |
67108864 |
Option card G hardware fault |
27 |
134217728 |
Option card H NOVRAM corrupt |
28 |
268435456 |
Option card H ID not communicating |
29 |
536870912 |
Option card H revision ID not communicating |
30 |
1073741824 |
Option card H hardware fault |
SYSTem:AUTODATETIME Auto Date/Time Command
SYSTem:AUTODATETIME <state>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
state |
n |
Valid entries:
|
Example
SYSTem:AUTODATETIME 1 enables automatic date and time zone adjustment.
Remarks
When enabled, the instrument will automatically adjust its date and time based on the configured time zone and network time protocols.
SYSTem:AUTODATETIME? Auto Date/Time Query
SYSTem:AUTODATETIME? [term]
Returns
<state> (see command for description)
SYSTem:TIME Time Setting Command
SYSTem:TIME <hour>, <minute>, <second>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
hour |
n |
Hour in 24-hour format (0 to 23) |
minute |
n |
Minute (0 to 59) |
second |
n |
Second (0 to 59) |
Example
SYSTem:TIME 14, 30, 45 sets the time to 2:30:45 PM.
Remarks
Time settings will not be accepted if SYSTem:AUTODATETIME is enabled.
SYSTem:TIME? Time Query
SYSTem:TIME? [term]
Returns
<hour>, <minute>, <second> (see command for description)
Example
SYSTem:TIME? returns 14, 30, 45 for 2:30:45 PM.
SYSTem:DATE Date Setting Command
SYSTem:DATE <year>, <month>, <day>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
year |
n |
Year (2000 to 2100) |
month |
n |
Month (1 to 12) |
day |
n |
Day (1 to 31) |
Example
SYSTem:DATE 2024, 3, 15 sets the date to March 15, 2024.
Remarks
Time settings will not be accepted if SYSTem:AUTODATETIME is enabled.
SYSTem:DATE? Date Query
SYSTem:DATE? [term]
Returns
<year>, <month>, <day> (see command for description)
Example
SYSTem:DATE? returns 2024, 3, 15 for March 15, 2024.
SYSTem:TZONe Time Zone Setting Command
SYSTem:TZONe <hours>, <minutes>[term]
Parameters
Name |
Type |
Description |
|---|---|---|
hours |
n |
UTC offset in hours (-14 to 14) |
minutes |
n |
UTC offset in minutes (-59 to 59) |
Example
SYSTem:TZONe -5, 0 sets the time zone to UTC-5 (Eastern Standard Time).
Remarks
The time zone offset is used for automatic date and time adjustment when SYSTem:AUTODATETIME is enabled.
SYSTem:TZONe? Time Zone Query
SYSTem:TZONe? [term]
Returns
<hours>, <minutes> (see command for description)
Example
SYSTem:TZONe? returns -5, 0 for UTC-5 time zone.