data logging and supervising module tutorial

[adam_jcm]

hi and thanks in advance for any replys.

i´m a standard user of labview and i´ve done some applications.

now i want to take one application that i've made and monitor it using the net.

i was told that the best way to do this is using the data logging and supervising module.

but i'm having serious trouble understanding the concept of the module itself, just from reading the getting started and the manual.

can anybody tell me of a simpler tutorial so that i can easily understand how to adjust my current application to be monitored using the net.

amonteiro

[tst]

You have no need for the DSC module. DSC is designed for control applications. To connect to your front panel you need to use a function called "Remote panels", which you already have, if you own any version other than the base version. You can find more details here. You can also search for "remote panels tutorial" on this site.

[adam_jcm]

tanks for the answer.

but i feel i did not provide you with enough information.

my application is running on a testsite measuring temperatures and storing them on a txt file. i go there once a month to retrieve the information. what i would like now is a way to transmit the information over the web via a gprs modem which i have allready installed there, every time it's measured (30m intervales) to my computer where i will feed it in to a database and make it available for review, on a website.

amonteiro

[tst]

There are two parts here: First, you need to control the GPRS modem, either through serial commands or through a DLL interface, depending on the modem and have another modem to recieve the data in your computer. Then, you have to write code to do this transfer. The second thing you need is to publish your data. I'm not sure whether this can be done with the standard LV web server or whether you need the internet toolkit, so I'll leave this to someone else to answer.

[chrisger]

hi,

there are several solutions i can think of (depends on the amount of data)

- send your datafiles via ftp to a remote ftp - server (can be done with the LV - built in DataSocket read/write functions, works very fine)
- get your datafiles from a local ftp-server on the acquiring pc (can be done with a simple browser)
- attach your files to a mail (use the LV-mail-VIs contained in Full development system or higher or use the MS MAPI Control or third party like www.mabry.com).

best regards
chris

[Donald]

amonteiro,

Going back to your initial question:
"i was told that the best way to do this is using the data logging and supervising module. …
can anybody tell me of a simpler tutorial so that i can easily understand how to adjust my current application to be monitored using the net?"

There isn't a simple all-in-one LabVIEW DSC (Datalogging and Supervisory Control) module tutorial. There is no evaluation version of the DSC. There is a brief web video (http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/nioc.vp?pc=res&cid=10418〈=US&p_0=demo) but you probably won't get too much out of it for what you're trying to do.

tst and chrisger are correct that you can do what you've mentioned with plain LabVIEW, but using the DSC module might be the suitable path and be more of an "out-of-the box" solution IF:

1) the database you mentioned in your second post doesn't exist right now and you don't have experience interfacing LV with db's;
2) the actual device measuring temperatures at the test site supports any of a variety of communication protocols (Modbus, DNP 3.0, some documented serial protocol) or is one of a multitude of PLCs.
3) you don't mind the additional cost of the DSC module.

because

1) LVDSC use is integrated with NI's Citadel database;
2) The Industrial Automation OPC servers that come with LV DSC (or are available separately) have provision for dialing out to remote devices. The IA OPC servers also include an ASCII object that can be used to communicate with any serial device that accepts ASCII characters;
3)[Capital cost of DSC + Time cost of prgmming with DSC] might be < [Time cost of prgmming everything in plain LV]

Your "trouble understanding the concept … just from reading the [DSC's] getting started" etc. is reasonable since the remote dialing would be handled by an IA OPC server (formally known as 'Lookout Protocol Drivers') and these aren't really discussed in detail in the DSC manuals.

A very, very over-simplified example is that you would just insert the appropriate phone number in the "Phone Number" field in the IA OPC server configuration as shown in the attached jpg.

If you're comfortable with doing it all in plain LabVIEW, good luck. Going the DSC route would not be without headaches.

Message Edited by Donald on 03-14-2005 04:49 PM

[adam_jcm]

thank you Donald for your advice.

i think i'll try the DSC module, because i think it will be the best solution and if successful it would bring extra value to future applications for our company.

once again thanks,

amonteiro