How do you make a time stamp update?

[AdamS]

Hi, thanks in advance...

I am programming an interface to a scale... it retrieves a weight, time stamps it, enters a comment, then sends this string to a spreadsheet.

My problem: the time stamp never updates unless I right click it > select "data operations" > select "set time to now". Then it's stuck there and never updates while the program is running. It just keeps on stamping 8:15 (or whatever time it is updated to) all day long.

Am I using the wrong VI here or is there something else I have to select to get it to work?

Thanks a million...

Adam Stagnaro
Abaxis Inc

[DavidT]

Try using the 'Get Date/Time String' or 'Get Date/Time Seconds' vi to obtain your timestamp. Which one you use depends on how you wish to format your timestamp. Im not sure which vi you are currently using, but it looks to me like you are either using a timestamp constant (which wont update in your loop) or control (which you need to manually update from the front panel).
Hope this helps.

[AdamS]

Shoot... sorry I wasn't more clear. I actually am using the "get date/time", formatted to only output time in one case and only the date in another case. It still never updates...

any ideas? Should it update every time it executes?

[Dennis_Knutson]

You cannot "select "data operations" > select "set time to now". " for either Get Date/Time in Seconds or Get Date/Time String function. Maybe you could post your code or a picture of it so someone could see what you're actually using? If you are using one of the Get Time functions, it will update every time it is called. Is it inside a while loop?

[AdamS]

Figured it out... my own dumb mistake. I thought I had to have a time stamp attached to the "get time/date"... I erased it and voila... current time.

Thanks for taking time out of your day to help a guy out...