Open Data Storage

[djb]

I am trying to use 'Open Data Storage.vi' with the DBF dataplugin to read a .DBF file created by a 3rd party application.  I always get error -2558 'Labview cannot open the data storage file'.  As an experiment I've also tried to write a new file and I get the same error (even with function set to 'create').

It doesn't seem to be specific to the DBF plugin.  I'm also unable to create a CSV file. 'Open Data Storage.vi' just won't open or create anything (always error -2558)

Any ideas?

[fuhuan]

hi djb,

    Could you attach your DBF test file for us to look into it? The DBF DataPlugin only supports reading but not writing, so it throws error -2558 when you set function to 'create'.

[djb]

Attached is an example .DBF file where I get the -2558 error.

Thanks for any tips or help you can provide

[mikeporter]

Another problem is file extension confusion. Many, many programs generate different kinds of files with the DBF extension. What program created the file?

Mike...

[fuhuan · Accepted solution]

Hi djb,

     Thanks for offering this test file. The test file has long name that doesn’t follow 8.3 naming convention, so it cannot be open by DBF DataPlugin.  That’s why the LabVIEW throws error -2558.  

     Please rename your file e.g. “Example.DBF”, then your file can be read.

     You can refer to web to see the detailed usage of DBF DataPlugin.

[djb]

Thanks!  Using the shorter old-style file name does solve the problem.

Now, can anyone point me to some good examples of how to convert the signals into conventional Labview data types (i.e. date/time-strings or timestamps, and numeric arrays)?