Re: RS232 Datalogging and Control


"John - KD5YI" <groups5munge@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:tTolg.4862$Za5.135@xxxxxxxxxxx
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Unfortunately my expertise in this area is somewhat out of date.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.


I found an ad in the back of Circuit Cellar which led to....

http://www.taltech.com/products/winwedge.html

You can capture your data in Excel (or some other application, they say),
manipulate it using spread*** cell formulas or VBA, and send out data
or commands.

Just a thought. Good luck.

John

You could try Softwire from http://www.measurementcomputing.com. I have not
used it, but I think it is similar to Labview, but supposedly easier to
use. It costs about $995, but you can download an evaluation. I use a
communications library component in Borland Delphi for serial
communications, but it gets tricky at that level. I only know enough VB to
do some tricks in MS Access, and I hate the syntax.

Also, there is an Excel Add-in from Measurement Computing that interfaces
to their analog and digital interface boards, some of which are less than
$100. I don't know if it can do anything with RS232, however. It uses USB,
and the board has analog and digital IO.

Paul
www.pstech-inc.com


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