FAQs from Rohde & Schwarz

Disable range checking / use plain SCPI commands with IVI.NET drivers

Question

I installed an IVI:NET driver version that fits to a newer firmware version as currently installed on the instrument. As I only have remote access, I am searching for a way to switch off the range checking of the parameters or better use plain SCPI commands.

Answer

All the IVI drivers allow to switch off range checking as it is defined in the IVI standard (IIviDriverOperation interface).

Example for RsRtx:

RsRtx driver = new RsRtx("TCPIP::192.168.1.10");
driver.DriverOperation.RangeCheck = false;

Plain SCPI commands can be used as follows (See section "System" of the driver help file):

RsRtx driver = new RsRtx("TCPIP::192.168.1.10");
// Write command
driver.System.WriteString("*RST");
// Query command
driver.System.WriteString("SYST:ERR?");
response = driver.System.ReadString();

However, the recommended way is to use our utility functions (See section "Utility Functions" of the driver documentation):

RsRtx driver = new RsRtx("TCPIP::192.168.1.10");
// Write command
driver.UtilityFunctions.WriteToInstrument("*RST");
// Query command
string val = driver.UtilityFunctions.QueryString("*IDN?");