Suggestions for Using DIAdem as a Material Properties Database

[GT_Mark]

Hi All,

  I am writing to get some feedback from more experienced DIAdem users on how I am trying to use DIAdem.  Essentially I am using the software to save test data, perform modifications and analysis on this data (and save revised data), build protected databases of said data, then produce different reports on the fly.

Currently the 'database' for a particular material and a particular test is a .TDM file which loads into the Data Portal with each specimen as a channel group.  The VB code used to load this file requires a password to run, but ultimately, if one knew where the file was stored they could just load it and avoid the password prompt.  Does anyone have a better solution for creating/editing/managing/locking a database of information through DIAdem?

I have seen posts talking about using other software like Citadel or an SQL db to manage the database side of things but I do not really know much about those packages or how they would integrate into DIAdem

I think using DIAdem for the other functions has been pretty self explanatory though please feel free to share experience on those topics if you wish.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[SerJames]

Hi GT_Mark,

DIAdem can communicate with any SQL/ODBC and ADO compatible database. The actual DIAdem help files have documentation on the commands available, for example the following is your reference for ADO:

http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370858K-01/ado/ado/ado_general/

and an example for SQL:

http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/370858K-01/comoff/sql_select/

You can also find an example of using an ADO Database in the existing Example Finder

Examples>Creating Scripts>Using Interfaces>ADO Database Application

As well as a published example about how to hook up a Citadel Database to DIAdem

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/B0DBF70DEB899B74862575A600523042

A more generic article about acquiring data from Databases can be found here

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/60786875B7C1131A86256C080052324C?OpenDocument

From the looks of it you have everything else set up, with modification, analysis and report generation. If you have a more specific Database in mind, feel free to follow up with more specific questions and we can tackle those more directly. Hopefully the above materials give you a starting point for how to incorperate and use a database with DIAdem.

Regards,

[GT_Mark]

Hi and thank you for your reply!

I suppose my biggest question while reading over your comments is: Do you think I need to use a separate database for storing test data?  Currently I'm using the DIAdem data portal to store data and DIAdem VIEW to save charts and information about each specimen.  This is beginning to get klunky though.

If you do think I should switch to saving things in another database, do any of the aforementioned database solutions offer specific benefits in being free, easy to use, or in managing and locking unauthorized access?  I'm sure one could go on and on about this, I'm just looking for some high-level advice from someone with experience.

Thanks very much!

[StefanR]

What about putting your database TDM file in a network location (share), apply the according access rights to that share (using the existing Windows mechanisms), and let DataFinder Server Edition index that file. Database done. Turn on security - secured.

Now you can either connect to that DataFinder and load the entire TDM file into the data portal (in case you have the required access rights ), or you can use that "database" to query specific part of that TDM file (some groups/channels) and load them, or even no longer load them but look at the DataFinder database.

No rocket sience - iit's simple.

[GT_Mark]

Thank you for that suggestion.  This is similar to how I am doing it now, except that I am also loading a corresponding DIAdem VIEW page for every test specimen in the .TDR file.  I think this is what is bogging down my program, not the .TDR file.  I'm going to try and separate the Data Portal information from the VIEW pages and see if things speed up.  Thanks for the help!