extra characters appearing when using VISA

[X-rayChemist]

Hi, I am new to labview and have a problem I've been working on for a few days. I am reading masses printed from a scale hooked up by a RS-232 to USB connection, with the ultimate goal of recording mass vs. time. Currently random letters appear in the mass at various times and cause the waveform chart to drop to zero, Looking at the signal using another program I am getting a constant  mass reading. Searching the forums I have not been able to find a way around this problem. Any help would be . I attached my current program to the bottom to better explain my predicament. 

[Dennis_Knutson]

Why are you using the run continuous mode? The stop condition of the while loop is also wrong. It should be stop when true.

[X-rayChemist]

I am running in contiuous mode because it seems to be the only way to get the nummerical output, same with the stop condition, I need to have the loop off in order for the number to be displayed. I am sure there is a better way to get this to work.

[Dennis_Knutson]

The better way is to use the correct stop action and not run continuous. Please provide error message/code that you get.

[crossrulz · Accepted solution]

1. Use a proper Stop button.

2. Set the loop's termination condition to be Stop When True.

3. Do not use the Run Continuously.  What you are doing here is constantly reinitializing the serial port, which is likely causing data to be missing and giving you your weird results.

4. Close you port after the loop.

5. There is no need at all for that property node.  You can define what the termination character is with the Configure Serial Port.