Data acquisition software (e.g. LabView, DASYLab). What should I use?

[Buckeye_Guy]

I need to purchase data acquisition software (e.g. LabView, DASYLab) to download data on RS-422. What should I use?

Right now I have the following components in my system:

1. Laptop computer with USB port.
2. Black box containing 56K bytes of data. It has an RS-422 port.
3. USB to RS-422 converter (manufactured by Sealevel).
4. RS-422 cable.

I need to send commands to the black box on the RS-422. And then I need to transfer data from the black box to the computer on the RS-422 and save the data in a binary file.

I need to design a simple user interface to do this. What is the best data acquisition software to do this with?

A long time ago I used a package called “Test Point” by Capital Equipment Corporation. I loved that software, but apparently it is no longer sold. I know LabView is the most commonly used data acquisition package, but I have heard the learning curve is substantial. Will DASYLab do what I want? I have heard it is simpler than LabView. Would you recommend something else? Wonderware? Azeotech?

Thank you

 

[filip.amator]

It seems that LabView has got much bigger community around the Internet - in case of any problems very often you can find very similar question/solution at NI forum.

 

[srizbf]

....
I need to send commands to the black box on the RS-422. And then I need to transfer data from the black box to the computer on the RS-422 and save the data in a binary file.

I need to design a simple user interface to do this. What is the best data acquisition software to do this with?
...

Thank you

So the job is only to save the 56k bytes sitting in blackbox to the PC ?

 

[Buckeye_Guy]

So the job is only to save the 56k bytes sitting in blackbox to the PC ?

Yes, that is correct. I send the box commands, and it streams data back in 1K chunks.

 

[HDowns]

The USB to RS-422 converter will create a COM port on your computer. You may find many data loggers in Internet.
I have used this application in the past: https://www.aggsoft.com/serial-data-logger.htm
It can send requests to a device and log to files.

 

[filip.amator]

Depending on your programming skills you could use Python with TKinter GUI extension to make a simple control panel - the software is for free.

 

[Pabitlo]

Check out "ProfiLab-Expert 4.0".
https://www.electronic-software-shop.com/profilab-expert-40.html?language=en

 

[asimov_18]

There is a open source software called script communicator that can log data to text file, google search for it.