displaying GPIB results

[Mr. Jones]

I've installed all the neccesary hardware to communicate with my instrument. NI recognizes my instrument, and vice versa. I thought if I type a GPIB command using NI-488.2 Communicator, click "Query", the reading result would be displayed. The command(s) do work b/c I see the instrument's parameters/readings change. So What I want is to be able to see the results on my PC, not only on my instrument. Is there a process I should be using,
1. Query, 2. Write, 3. Read, that I don't know about.

Thanks.

[Mr. Jones]

I forgot to add some info. I can send a string the instrument succesfully. The instrument's setting will change correctly. The problem is in the reading section of the NI-488.2 Communicator, it displays
"iberr = EABO" error.

[Brian_Beal]

A query is a WRITE with a READ. It assumes that the command that is written will cause the instrument to send a response. This isn't always the case. I've found that most times a response should not be expected. Unless a response is to be expected, nothing will show up on the PC.

[Dennis_Knutson]

As Brian mentioned, a query is a very special command. If the instrument is a newer one that uses the SCPI format, a command that tells the instrument to return a value has a "?" at the end. As an example, if you were to send to a DMM, the command SET:FUNC:RES, the instrument would change to resistance mode but not send any data back. If you were to send the command SET:FUNC?, then the DMM would return the current setting. If you were to send the command READ:MEAS?, then the DMM would return the current measurement.