MDF DataPlugin
This DataPlugin supports reading / importing of Bosch MDF data files, ETAS INCA® MDF data, and Vector CANape® and other Vector products. The DataPlugin supports MDF version 3.0 files up to version 3.2. The MDF DataPlugin also supports writing of MDF 3.0 and 3.2 files.
The Measure Data Format (MDF) is well-established in the automotive industry for recording, exchanging, and post-measurement analysis. MDF files are produced by eg. INCA® from ETAS, and by CANape® and other products from Vector.
A DIAdem script that maps MDF channels to a common time channel is described in this KB article.
Note: There is a second DataPlugin which supports MDF version 4 files.
Supported Features (Reading MDF Files):
- Reading MDF files up to version 3.2.
- Channels with data types int40/48/56 Bit
- Channels with data types #9 up to #16
[unsigned integer, signed integer (two’s complement), IEEE 754 floating-point format FLOAT (4 bytes), IEEE 754 floating-point format DOUBLE (8 bytes) with Big Endian (Motorola) or Little Endian (Intel) Byte order.] - Channels with length 0.
- Additional MDF-Header properties: "Author" ("Operator name"), "Project" and "Division".
- Ignore invalid block id's and continue loading.
- Replacing of "/" characters to "\" in channel names and group names. (The "/" character is defined as separator for addressing a channel with group- and channel name syntax.)
- As of version 1.3.3.1 the root property "hd_start_time", representing the start time of the measurement, has been added.
Previously the root property "datetime" was used. - Create additional properties encoded in the "root.description" property separated by ":".
(only if long channel names are used)
Supported Features (Writing MDF Files):
- MDF files in version 3.0 and 3.2.
Writing behavior is controlled by the root property 'version'. Set this property value to "MDF 3.2" to write MDF 3.2 files. - By writing MDF files the first channel of a channel group will be treated as time channel.
- All channels in a group should have the same channel length.
- Only the following set of properties are written to MDF files. All other properties are ignored when writing MDF files.
Root Level: description(string), author(string), datestring(string), timestring(string), Division(string), Project(string), Program(string), Subject(string)
Group Level: description(string)
Channel Level: name(string), description(string), unit_string(string), LongName(string) - In case of channel names with more than 32 characters, use the channel property "LongName" instead of "name".
- Channel data are stored in Little Endian(Intel).
Not Supported Features:
- Text channels are ignored by writing MDF files.
| File Extension: | *.MDF, *.DAT |
| Direction: | Read / Write |
| Last Change: | December 19, 2012 [1.3.6.1] |
| Update Information: | Enum properties are two channels. Chunk size now available as plugin parameter. |
| Related Links: |
Requirements
Filename: mdf.zip
Software Requirements
Application Software: DIAdem Development System 10.2, LabVIEW Base Development System 2010
Language(s): C++
Reader Comments | Submit a comment »
Limited channel name length
Hello,
It seems the data plugin limits the length
of the channel names when importing
the signals from an MDF file, is there a
trick to increase the name length?
Respectfully yours,
E
- LENCLUD Etienne, Inergy Automotive Systems Research. Etienne.Lenclud@inergyautomotive.com - Mar 1, 2012
MDF format now at V4
Is there a plan to update this plugin to
support the new ASAM Common MDF 4 specification?
- Oct 17, 2011
MDF DataPlugin requires DIAdem 10.0
The MDF DataPlugin does work with
DIAdem 10.0 and higher. DIAdem 9.1 is
not supported by the MDF DataPlugin.
- Stefan Romainczyk, National Instruments Germany. stefan.romainczyk@ni.com - May 13, 2008
Problem with mdf-plugin in DIADEM 9.1
Hello,
I downloaded the MDF Dataplugin and installed
it on my PC with DIADEM 9.10.2036. When
trying to open a Canape MDF-file I get the
error message: " Das Laden der Datei
"C:\TMP\S_Fahrt1.mdf" mit dem Ladeverfahren
"MDF" ist fehlgeschlagen!
Einzelheiten können Sie der Logdatei
entnehmen.
Fehlermeldung des Ladeverfahrens:
Die Datei "C:\TMP\S_Fahrt1.mdf" kann
nicht geöffnet werden." "
The file should be ok
Best regards
Dr. Mathias Lutz
- Dr. Mathias Lutz, hofer. mathias.lutz@hofer.pdc - Sep 7, 2007
Legal
This example program (this "program") was developed by a National Instruments ("NI") Applications Engineer. Although technical support of this program may be made available by National Instruments, this program may not be completely tested and verified, and NI does not guarantee its quality in any way or that NI will continue to support this program with each new revision of related products and drivers. THIS EXAMPLE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).
