2182A via RS-232 into Excel

[laecus2580]

I am trying to use Excel VBA to read and store data from the 2182A, but I am having trouble with reading data. I have tested successfully using the "*IDN?" command, but ":READ?" is giving me trouble. Are there any resources available discussing the use of Excel and instruments like the 2182A?

[Dale C]

When you use *IDN? , do you receive the identification information back?
If you do, then you do the same thing with :READ?
Can you send any other commands to the 2182A via RS-232?

[laecus2580]

With *IDN? I do get a correct and full response.

Other commands appear to be successful, such as ":SENS:FUNC 'VOLT'" and ":SENS:CHAN 1". Are there other query commands I should try?

[Dale C]

If that is the case then try
*RST
:READ?
That should reset the Model 2182A and give up one reading.

[laecus2580]

I get ERRO-110

[laecus2580]

I think I have found my issue. I was not correctly sending the CR to terminate the command, whereas with the *IDN? I was adding a ;. However, with each :READ? I still get ERROR-213. Is there a way to eliminate that error or the associated beep?

[Dale C]

Error -213 is INIT IGNORED.
The READ? command contains the INIT.
Send *RST at the beginning of the program to place the unit in IDLE. Then a READ? will work without the -213 erro.
OR
If the unit is updating then just send a FETCH? instead of the READ?