How does everyone configure/store hardware parameters?

[Stranman]

We tend to require a lot of 16-32 channel analog input systems so I'm looking to standardize a program for such.  Currently I used a tab-delmitted configuration file that contains all the calibration (gain & offset) data for the attached sensors that gets loaded in when the program is first started.

I'm wondering how everyone else is doing this out there and if there's a better approach?

Lemme know your thoughts.

-P

[Dennis_Knutson]

This is more a application program question than instrument control and you do not mention the program you are using.

There are numerous ways to do this. You can also use ini files or xml to store the settings. For multiple stations, I prefer to use a database. I don't have to worry about someone deleting/modifying some local file. All the data for all stations is in a central location. Since the test results are typically stored in the same database, I simply have to create a settings table.

[Albert.Geven]

We use inifiles and a control that allows people to see and change these settings.

For each channel we remember:

a boolean: in use

a channel number

a channel name

a channel unit like [V] for volt

an offset

a gain

a range that inside is used for max and min

the device like dev1

and we are thinking over connection type for a device single ended / differential and maybe even thermocouple data.