Keysight 34970A Programming Manual: Switch and Measure Automation Explained

The Keysight 34970A data acquisition and switch unit is a long-running lab standard, and the 34970A programming manual is where engineers go to automate it. This guide explains the SCPI essentials for scanning, channel configuration, and measurement, and shows how TestFlow automates switch and measure routines on the 34970A without writing code.

What the 34970A does

The 34970A is a switch and measure mainframe that holds plug-in modules, most commonly multiplexer cards for routing many channels into its internal DMM. It is the classic tool for multi-channel temperature, voltage, and resistance logging, controlled over GPIB and RS-232 using SCPI.

34970A SCPI essentials

From the programming manual, the commands you build a scan from:

• •*RST resets to a known state.
• •CONF:VOLT:DC (@101:110) configures DC voltage on channels 101 to 110.
• •CONF:TEMP TC,K,(@111:115) configures type-K thermocouples on a block of channels.
• •ROUT:SCAN (@101:110,111:115) defines the scan list.
• •TRIG:SOUR TIM and TRIG:TIM 5 scan on a five-second timer.
• •TRIG:COUN 100 sets how many scan cycles to run.
• •INIT then FETC? runs the scan and fetches readings.

Channel configuration and scaling

The 34970A supports per-channel scaling, alarms, and monitoring. In SCPI you configure each channel block, apply scaling with the CALC:SCAL subsystem if needed, and define the scan order. This is powerful and it is also detailed work that lives in a script.

The cost of hand-written scans

A 34970A scan written in SCPI works well and becomes a maintenance item. It is specific to your channel layout, the logic is in one engineer's script, and re-wiring channels or adding a measurement means editing and re-testing the code.

Automating the 34970A with TestFlow

TestFlow turns the 34970A datasheet into a working scan without scripting.

• •Datasheet to scan plan. Upload the 34970A datasheet and TestFlow builds the channel configuration and scan sequence.
• •No SCPI by hand. TestFlow generates and runs the commands, so there is no script to maintain.
• •Vendor-neutral. Combine the 34970A with a non-Keysight supply or DMM in one workflow.
• •Repeatable and shareable. The scan runs identically on any machine and can be shared across a team.
• •Open execution. Runs use the TestFlow runner or the cloud runner on GitHub.

Automate the scan, keep the hardware

The 34970A is a reliable mainframe. The work to automate is the scan logic, and that is exactly what TestFlow generates for you.

Start free at testflow.io, upload your 34970A datasheet, and get an automated switch and measure workflow in minutes.