Labview/Serial Basics?

[NickV]

Hello,

I am working with a RS232 interface on a combustion analyzer and I am looking for some guidance. I have successfully received data from the analyzer using Window Hyperterminal. However, I want to plot certain variables on a chart during data collection as well as format all of the data for easy analysis later on. I would like to use LabView for this project and I have looked over several example VIs. However, I have a few questions that have not been answered.

Here is a sample of the data which is received every 30 seconds.

-->
0
fuel oil light
ppm
0
07.04.2003
16:47:59
1
60
25.45
10.56
0.00
0.00
10.81
0.00
64.94
-0.95
280.26
7.69
19.55
2.02
64.94

If I want to plot values from line 10 and 12. Is ther
e an easier way then using shift registers to keep track of the line being scanned in?

Lets say I want to plot the 64.94 value. Does labview consider 64.94 text or an actual number? Do I need to do some type of conversion?

Lastly, are there any public VI's available that handle the amount of serial data at one time that my project requires?

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

Nick

[cyanopugnax]

Hi,
all data received from the rs 232 buffer is text, so it has to be converted (with standard so-called sub-VIs) This is easy. Also scanning data from line 10 and 12, display this data and save it in separate files is basic LabView-stuff.

Regards
Holger

[BrandonS]

The data recieved from the serial read is most likely a ascii text string. You can use the Scan from String VI (Functions >> String) to convert it from a string value to a floating point value that can be plotted in a graph in LabVIEW.