Smart camera / vision builder data logging

[Michelle_N]

Yes, you need a server running. I do not know if an FTP server is built into any OS, but you can install this free FTP Server - it seems to work fairly well: FileZilla

You can also choose to log the file to your Smart Camera but after talking to the Applications Engineer you spoke with recently it seems that you prefer to log the files straight to your PC.

[antique]

Yes I would prefer logging to the PC but that is not working. I did install Filezilla and have set it up everyway that I can imagine but it will not work. When trying to use the FTP server the setup goes great until I enter the file path then I get a message saying “invalid file name” I get this with both Data Logging and Image Logging. I can only choose Log to FTP Server when logging Image. Basically nothing is working. But still need to try and get it to work. I do appreciate you taking time and helping.

[Michelle_N]

Are you able to connect to your FTP server? When you click Test Login what does the pop-up window say? You cannot log Images to the Smart Camera but you can log data files (.txt files).  If you are able to log on to your FTP server via VBAI, what happens if you run the inspection with the "invalid file name" dialog? Does that step fail? Does it pass but you never see your text file on your PC?

[antique]

Here is a screen shot of what happens when I hit the test login.

Is there any type of documentation that might give me a clue on how to properly set this up other than a one thread per day diagnostics? I would think there should be a step by step some where. I do not have that and when in training they did not go over the FTP server.

[Michelle_N]

I believe there are a couple things you may still need to configure in FTP to get things setup correctly.

First make sure you have write privledges for that particular directory. I found this helpful tutorial:http://lifehacker.com/339887/build-a-home-ftp-server-with-filezilla   Focus on the section entitled Create Server Users. I gave myself all privleges for the C:\ drive, but the more important are Read and Write.

Then, change folder path C:\  to / or nothing at all. FTP will call your C:\ drive / or the root directory. You could also just get rid of C:\ all together and leave it blank. If you want to create a folder in your C:\ drive, it would look something like the images I have attached. Both of these will create a folder called VBAI Smart in your C:\ directory.

Let me know if you are having any more issues.

Message Edited by Michelle_B on 09-05-2008 01:38 PM

[antique]

Me again. I have spent 3 days trying every combination and did follow the directions on the website you suggested. Still a no go. This could be used in many applications here but I am the second technician that has tried to get it to work the way it was described when we purchased the unit and can still not get it to perform as described. After several weeks on this forum and calling NI and not getting the call back that I was told I would I am at a loss as where to go from here. Please give me some indication as what the next step should be.

Thanks

Gerald

[Michelle_N]

Gerald,

Can you give me specific issues/errors you are running into? At what point are things not doing what you expect? I need more detail to help you out.The last post was tailored to the image you posted in the previous post. What I can do is work with the Applications Engineer that you spoke with earlier. But either way we need more information to help you. I cannot tell from your postings if it is an issue of the VBAI settings, FTP server, or the SmartCamera.

You can test your FTP server by logging into it without VBAI from another machine and attempting to save a file there. If you are able to then it is probably an issue of settings in VBAI, in which case a screen-shot would be very helpful. Have you tried saving a file to an existing directory instead of creating a new folder?

We do our best to post on the discussion forums but if you prefer to speak with an Applications Engineer for support then please use www.ni.com/ask to create a service request so we assist you via the phone.

[cpschnuffel]

Hi Michelle,

I have the same problem. I use VBAI 3.6 and a NI 1744 SmartCamera. At the end of an inspection I want to log the acquired data into a text file and put this file onto the local drive, but nothing happens (without any error message).

What could this be? I need a quick answer.

In the attachment you find some screenshots from the inspection and from the data logging step.

Best regards from Berlin

Carsten

[OliviaC]

Hi Carsten,

When you say local drive, are you referring to the local drive on the SmartCamera or the local drive on your PC? When you do the data logging step in VBAI, you can only save your log file either on the SmartCamera or to an ftp site.

[tylerw]

edit: Sorry, I was looking at your old post, I didn't realize your bump was regarding a new problem. You can disregard this unless you are still having the FTP problem

I'm looking at your FTP set.jpg. The source of the problem is that you have the IP set to 127.0.0.1. This IP address is always refering to the localhost http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localhost When you hit "test login", it attempts to log in from your PC to your PC, and when deployed127.0.0.1 refers to the smart camera, not your PC. Put the real ip of your PC (not localhost or 127.0.0.1) in the FTP setup.

Message Edited by tylerw on 04-20-2009 04:53 PM