Migrating Data from VI Logger to LabVIEW SignalExpress
PrintOverview
This tutorial explains the process of and converting a VI Logger datalog to a Technical Data Management Streaming (TDMS) file. VI Logger has been replaced by LabVIEW SignalExpress, but datalogs taken in VI Logger will still be accessible in LabVIEW SignalExpress. LabVIEW SignalExpress requires the data to be stored in the TDMS format. The utility to make this conversion is attached to this document.
Table of Contents
Installing the VI Logger to LabVIEW SignalExpress Conversion Utility
VI Logger records its data into a citadel database. To make the data available to LabVIEW SignalExpress, you must convert the VI Logger records into the TDMS file format. The VI Logger to LabVIEW SignalExpress conversion utility provides this ability.
The utility is a LabVIEW stand alone application, which requires you to have the LabVIEW Runtime-Engine. You should have the Run-time Engine installed, but you can dowload the LabVIEW Run-time Engine here Drivers and Updates if necessary. Select LabVIEW as the Product Line and choose LabVIEW Run-time Engine for Software. Choose version 8.2 and the appropriate operating system.
Download the utility here VI Logger to LV Signal Express Data Migration Utility. Install the utility to your system, by default it will install in the National Instruments directory located in Program Files.
Converting VI Logger datalogs to TDMS files.
Run the conversion utility. The following screen will appear:
Select the desired datalogs to convert and click the convert button.
A dialog box appears that allows you to view an html report in Internet Explorer. This allows you to look at the path the data was written to. National Instruments recommendeds you view the path the first time you use the utility to make sure you can find the TDMS files you generate. The HTML file should appear as the following image:
If the HTML report appears, the conversion should have been succesful. You can proceed to import the TDMS file into LabVIEW SignalExpress. If you need to convert another log, you must begin the execution of the Conversion Utility again by clicking on the Run arrow icon circled below.
Attaching the TDMS Files to a LabVIEW SignalExpress Project
Open a new LabVIEW Signal Express Project
Go to the File menu and choose File»Import»Import Logged Signals from SignalExpress TDMS Files as shown below.
The TDMS file dialog box will appear. Open the folder of the TDMS file you want to import, and then click the current folder folder button circled below.
The log should now appear in the Data Log window of your LabVIEW SignalExpress project.
Conclusion
Converting your datalogs to TDMS files will give you the ability to access the new features available in LabVIEW SignalExpress. It is recommended that you convert, as LabVIEW SignalExpress will continue to see updates and improvements, while VI Logger will not have any major new additions. This utility was designed to make sure you did not lose access to logs you previously created. LabVIEW SignalExpress is a more interactive enviroment that allows more flexibilty in viewing and comparing your signals. The benefits of converting your datalogs is more than worth the small ammount of time time it takes to complete the conversion operation.
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