Keysight Technologies

Command Expert

Data Sheet

Keysight’s Command Expert is a FREE software application that

provides fast and easy instrument control in many PC application
environments!

All your instrument control in one interface!

Introduction
Controlling instruments has become more complicated as I/O options have increased and instruments
have become more capable. PC applications typically do not offer assistance in finding the right instrument
commands, setting the correct parameters, and passing data and variables.

Command Expert combines instrument commands, documentation, syntax checking and command
execution all in one simple interface. Command Expert works with instruments that use Standard
Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI), IVI-C, or IVI-COM drivers.

–– Find instrument commands

–– View complete command documentation
–– Verify command syntax
–– Build instrument command sequences
–– Execute instrument command sequences
–– Integrate sequences into PC application environments
03 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

Faster Startup
Connect to instruments that have been
discovered by Keysight IO Libraries Suite.
Quickly scan for instruments and configure
them as Command Expert instruments.

Search capability displays a list of

commands ranked by relevance. The
results are displayed and can be selected
to view the detailed documentation.

Examples provide sequences of commands

that can be used directly in Command
Expert and the PC application. These
examples provide the building blocks
for developing the sequences for the
specific needs of each user. Simply enter
the search term(s) and see the list of
associated examples. Filters can narrow
down the list by instrument, application
and/or command type. SCPI, IVI-C, and
IVI-COM examples are included.
04 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

Faster Time to Measurements

Prototype command sequences with
ease. Connect to the instruments through
any I/O interface, and begin executing
sequences of commands. Verify the
sequence of commands before integrating
into other programs.

Work in Simulation Mode if hardware is

not available. An IO Monitor log file can
be used as a data source for instrument
simulation. Once hardware is available,
run the commands and confirm the actual
results.

Import Commands into Command Expert

to create a sequence using an imported
file. The two types of files that can be
imported are:

1. A text file (.txt) that contains SCPI

commands. The SCPI commands
can also be imported from a
document or an instrument web
page.
2. An IO Monitor log file (.xml created
by Keysight IO Monitor. Keysight IO
Monitor is part of the Keysight IO
Libraries Suite).
05 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

Export Sequences to Popular Programming Languages

Once a sequence has been created and
debugged in Command Expert, easily
export the full command sequence.
Exporting the sequence will create
working code in a variety of different
languages allowing for simple copy/paste
of the text into your favorite development
environment.

Supported Export Formats

–– SCPI
–– C# with calls to SCPI.NET Drivers
–– VB.NET with calls to SCPI.NET
Drivers
–– Python with calls to PyVISA
–– C/C++ with calls to VISA Formatted
I/O
–– MATLAB with calls to Instrument
Control Toolbox
–– Comma-separate values (for Excel)

BenchVue Test Flow Integration

Import Command Expert sequences
directly into Keysight’s BenchVue Test
Flow application which enables test
automation without needing to write a
single line of code. Together BenchVue
Test Flow and Command Expert allow
users to automate, loop, and export results
of simple to complex tests with hundreds
of different types of instruments.

The Command Expert Block inside of

BenchVue Test Flow enables users to
import previously developed Command
Expert Sequences or to generate new
sequences immediately. Use Test Flow
to control the flow of your test, and
Command Expert to get the exact
instrument setup for demanding test
needs.
06 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

MATLAB Add-On
The Command Expert MATLAB Add-on
is a set of MATLAB functions that run
Command Expert sequences in MATLAB.
Run an entire sequence in a single
line of MATLAB code. The instrument
control sequence can be developed
in the Command Expert graphical
environment that shows full instrument
documentation and enables the ability
to rapidly find, perform, and sequence
instrument commands. The sequence can
contain a mix of SCPI, IVI-C and IVI-COM
commands.

Command Expert can also generate

MATLAB code for a sequence of SCPI
commands. The generated code uses
MATLAB and Instrument Control Toolbox.
Each SCPI command in the sequence
is translated into one or more lines of
MATLAB code.

Excel Add-In
When Command Expert is installed, a new
Command Expert tab in the Excel ribbon is
available. Select “Create/Add Sequence”
in the Command Expert Task Pane to
bring up Command Expert and build an
instrument command sequence.

Run the sequence directly from Excel. The

sequence can transfer settings data from
the Excel workbook to the instrument,
and retrieve measurement data from
the instrument directly into the Excel
workbook.

Share workbooks with other users.

07 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

Python Add-On
The Python Add-on is a set of Python
functions that let you run Command
Expert sequences in Python. The
entire sequence can be run in a single
line of Python code. The instrument
control sequence can be developed
in the Command Expert graphical
environment that displays full instrument
documentation and enables the ability to
rapidly find, perform and sequence the
instrument commands. The sequence can
contain a mix of SCPI, IVI-C and IVI-COM
commands. Use with PyVISA in Python.

Integration with Graphical Programming Environments

In Keysight VEE, Command Expert
is a new add-on that provides a VEE
object called the Command Expert
Sequence object. Each Command Expert
Sequence object contains a sequence
of instrument commands. Double-click
on the sequence and Command Expert
will open up on the screen. Add different
parameters and commands then save
the sequence. Additional parameters
become new terminals to the Command
Expert Sequence object once updated in
Command Expert.

In LabVIEW, Command Expert is a new

add-on that provides a LabVIEW Express
VI called the Sequence block. Double-click
on the sequence block and Command
Expert will open up on the screen. Add
different parameters and commands then
click OK to update the sequence. Sequence
parameters become terminals on the
Sequence object in LabVIEW.
08 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

Easily Control Instruments in Visual Studio Programs

Command Expert automatically generates
SCPI.NET drivers for the instruments
that include a SCPI command set. This
provides access to all of the instrument
SCPI commands in .NET.

SCPI.NET drivers provide an efficient way

to add instrument control steps without
leaving the Visual Studio environment
while making use of standard Visual Studio
productivity aids such as Intellisense and
compile-time type checking. It is even
possible to view full documentation for
SCPI commands within Visual Studio.

In addition, the SCPI.NET drivers perform

data translation between native .NET
data types and instrument commands
and responses. This can be particularly
useful with block data commands such as PC operating requirements for Command Expert 1.6
retrieving waveforms. Operating system Microsoft Windows 7: 32-bit or 64-bit
–– Editions: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional,
Ultimate, Enterprise
Microsoft Windows 8 or 8.1: 32-bit or 64-bit
–– Editions: Base, Professional, Enterprise
Microsoft Windows 10: 32-bit or 64-bit
–– Editions: Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education
Disk At least 1 GB free disk space
Keysight IO Libraries Suite Version 15.0 or above www.keysight.com/find/iosuite
Monitor At least 1024x768 monitor resolution
Browser Any supported version of Microsoft Internet Explorer
The current list of instrument SCPI Command Sets can be found at:
www.keysight.com/find/commandsetlist

Application development environment requirements for Command Expert

MATLAB MATLAB R2009a through R2016a
SystemVue SystemVue 2013.07 and above
Visual studio Visual studio 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, or 2015
Python Python 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, or 3.5 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Python must be installed for all users (not “just for me”).
LabVIEW LabVIEW 8.2.1 through 2015
VEE VEE Pro 9.22 or 9.32 of VEE Pro or VEE Runtime
Excel Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, or 2016

Download Command Expert now at:

www.keysight.com/find/commandexpert
09 | Keysight | Command Expert - Data Sheet

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© Keysight Technologies, 2011 - 2016
Published in USA, August 10, 2016
5990-9362EN
www.keysight.com