Re: RS232 Datalogging and Control


"Jimbo" <James.Wyninegar@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1150587097.990655.139150@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I would say take a look at National Instruments. I used them several
years back to control an environmental test chamber using a combination
of GPIB and RS-232. It was great! They have a lot of expertise in
data acquisition and control software. The learning curve is a bit
high but if you can afford it their software cuts these kinds of tasks
down by 2/3rds. They have a kind of Graphical based programming
language which makes it fairly easy to program. Also, if you must, you
can write your own code...I think you can write it in C but I'm not
sure.

you can find them at www.ni.com

GOOD LUCK!

I saw a website demonstration of NI Labview and liked it, a graphical
programming language that you don't have to learn syntax for. However, I am
only at this company for a few months and they don't have Labview, so quick
'n dirty is the only solution available to me ( I'm really an analogue
engineer ).

Looks like attempting to piece something together from QBasic or buying in
some ready-made suitable software are my two best options so far, thanks for
the replies folks.

Andy wrote:
I've been handed the task of controlling a thermal cycling oven and a
digital voltmeter, both RS232 enabled, so as to control the oven from a
computer ( automatically send commands ) and log data from the voltmeter.

Unfortunately my expertise in this area is somewhat out of date.
MS Hyperterminal doesn't look capable enough, OK for logging data but no
programmable capability.

My question is, is there a datalogging program available that also allows
ascii characters to be sent to addressable instruments, in order to (a)
control the oven and (b) log data from the DVM without programming?

I imagine writing a program in some language, possibly Visual Basic, is
the
way to go but that'll get me bogged down in learning a software language.
However, if I can't buy in suitable software I'll just have to learn VB,
but
does anyone know of such software?

thanks,

Andy.



.

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