How do you add a graph to a TDMS file

[Wolleee]

Hello All,

is it possible to add a graph or an image of my front panel graph to a TDMS log and if so, how would i do that?

Thank you,

[James.M]

TDMS isn't exactly the same as an Excel file, so images and graphs aren't an option. It's meant as a rapid data saving and organizing filetype. If you want to add graphs and stuff to your data, you could use the Report Generation Toolkit to set up an excel file and add graphs to that.

[crossrulz]

In theory, you could get the image of your graph/front panel into an array of bytes and save that byte array in the TDMS file.  Of course, you would have to create your own viewer to read that image data properly and display it or whatever.

Personally, I would just save the image as a png and stick it in the same folder as the TDMS file.  You could then zip the files so that you just have one file to pass around.

[Hooovahh]

As others have said TDMS is not the right file format for images.  It can be done but other options are probably better.  But that doesn't mean you can't start with TDMS and end with something like XLSX with images.  Here is a link for a tool I made that converts TDMS to XLSX, from there you can use ActiveX to import images and save them.  Or make real graphs like in Excel.  Or use the Report Generation Toolkit to edit the XLSX file after the conversion.

https://forums.ni.com/t5/Example-Code/TDMS-to-XLSX-Conversion/ta-p/3511652

[Wolleee]

Thank you all for the replies.

After reading them, i think i may just make this an xls file and just graph the data.  I dont need high speed file loggin becuase this application is simply for thermocouple data.  Im just not a big fan of the report generation toolkit, i have had issues with it.

[James.M]

You can also look in to some third-party add-ons for excel functionality. XLR8 is one that I've heard of and I think there are other competitors. XLR8 understands the excel file format, so it doesn't need excel installed on the computer to edit the files.

[Hooovahh]

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@matt198717 wrote:

Im just not a big fan of the report generation toolkit, i have had issues with it.

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It's not perfect, but I still find it useful enough to recommend.  Of course you can do it all in ActiveX and make your own toolkit.  One such toolkit is found here.

https://forums.ni.com/t5/Example-Code/Excel-Toolkit-GOOP/ta-p/3996464