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:

DataPlugin to read MDF version 4 files

DataPlugin to read MDF data files from 'Caesar Datensysteme' or data files from 'Stiegele Datensysteme'

TDM-Mapping of the MDF DataPlugins (Version 3 and Version 4)

Map MDF channel to a common time channel

How to install this DataPlugin (C++)

Overview DataPlugins / DataPlugins Home Page

DIAdem home page

 

 

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