PLX-DAQ Data Download?
ExplicitTyro
Posts: 1
Hello everybody,
I will give a bit of background information before I proceed. I am currently using the PLX-DAQ to log data and display data in "real time" (using the graphing feature). I am using an arduino with a 100K thermistor. Currently, it is set to log temperature every hour for 1 week (approx. 169 hours). I then save-as and then title the file with the week. Then I disconnect the Serial port, clear columns, then reconnect to start a new week. This is very important as, in the lab, we need temperature and humidity to stay within a certain range. Otherwise, our electronics may be prone to failure, and if any thing does happen, we are able to show NASA our logs of the conditions within the lab.
Alongside with the weekly data logs, I want to have a master list. The master list must be able to log data for several years without editing. This will be the most convenient as sometimes people forget to manually change the file. I have looked at the plx-daq macro and have seen a checkbox called "data download". I read the FAQ/Help list that Parallax offers, but I do not completely understand this command. Where does it save to? Is there a limit on how much data it can save? Will it be able to share the Serial port with the current graphing excel file? I also want to keep the weekly-sheets because I will be able to print the graphs for physical storage should anything happen to the arduino and/or computer that will run it.
TL;DR I want to be able to save data in a master log that doesn't have to be changed, as well as a weekly log. I need the weekly log so that data will be easy to print in a graph and list form.
Thank you for reading.
I will give a bit of background information before I proceed. I am currently using the PLX-DAQ to log data and display data in "real time" (using the graphing feature). I am using an arduino with a 100K thermistor. Currently, it is set to log temperature every hour for 1 week (approx. 169 hours). I then save-as and then title the file with the week. Then I disconnect the Serial port, clear columns, then reconnect to start a new week. This is very important as, in the lab, we need temperature and humidity to stay within a certain range. Otherwise, our electronics may be prone to failure, and if any thing does happen, we are able to show NASA our logs of the conditions within the lab.
Alongside with the weekly data logs, I want to have a master list. The master list must be able to log data for several years without editing. This will be the most convenient as sometimes people forget to manually change the file. I have looked at the plx-daq macro and have seen a checkbox called "data download". I read the FAQ/Help list that Parallax offers, but I do not completely understand this command. Where does it save to? Is there a limit on how much data it can save? Will it be able to share the Serial port with the current graphing excel file? I also want to keep the weekly-sheets because I will be able to print the graphs for physical storage should anything happen to the arduino and/or computer that will run it.
TL;DR I want to be able to save data in a master log that doesn't have to be changed, as well as a weekly log. I need the weekly log so that data will be easy to print in a graph and list form.
Thank you for reading.
Comments
After starting a new month sheet, I 'print' the previous workbook to PDF. This gives me a PDF file with a chart on each page. I move the spreadsheet into a .zip file named with the year for 'permanent' storage. Maybe something like this would work for you?
I'm afraid I've never used the PLX-DAQ application, so I can't really advise on that. Perhaps you could have a master log that keeps going and going, and just copy a week's worth of data out of that stream to paste into another worksheet for graphing?
P.S. Welcome the the forums!