Create Data Plugin for Labview BIN files?

[StGl]

Hi all,

I have a DAQ application here which saves aquired data to Labview binary files (it uses a typedef to define the data structure and uses the Labview write to binary file VIs). Currently, I'm using a small Labview tool to read these files and convert them to TDM(S) before analyzing them in DIAdem.

Now, it would be neat to have a data plugin which can directly read these binary files. Is there a possibility to create one in an easy way (similar to using the Labview read from binary file VIs - you just show them your data structure typedef and you're done)? Did anyone do this before?

Thanks for any help!

Regards,

Stefan

[StefanR]

Hi Stefan,

we are currently developing an SDK to create DataPlugins in G (LabVIEW). This will allow you to use the read from binary file VIs to read-in the data and map it to the TDM model with the help of the VIs provided with the LabVIEW DataPlugin SDK.

We have a prototype of this SDK ready to work which needs LabVIEW 8.5.x.

If you have LabVIEW 8.5.x, please reply and I will be happy to provide you with the LabVIEW DataPlugin SDK.

Greetings from cloudy Aachen

Stefan

[StGl]

Hi Stefan,

ja, ich habe Labview 8.5.1 und würde das SDK gerne testen!

Danke & Gruß aus dem ebenfalls wolkigen Schweinfurt,

Stefan

[Brad_Turpin]

Hi StGl,

Actually, if the binary file structure is rather simple, you would get better functionality from a 15 line VBScript DataPlugin.  The awesome thing about the LabVIEW DataPlugin API is that you can re-use complicated G-code that you already have.  In this case, I'd bet that the file is pretty simple and that the effort of reprogramming the read algorythm in a VBScript DataPlugin would be minor.

LabVIEW DataPlugins add another memory copy to the DataPlugin read process, and they are currently not as efficient when reading a select index window of data values.  If I were you, and the binary data file could be read with DirectAccessChannels in a VBScript DataPlugin, I would do it that way.

Of course, if it turns out that your binary structure is not super-simple, then re-using the G-code you already have would make sense.  The LabVIEW DataPlugin API has a learning curve to it, both in the paradigm of the VI usage and in the details of the build process.

Brad Turpin
DIAdem Product Support Engineer
National Instruments