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All things pertaining to wireless and RF links
By archendekta
#60398
I'm needing to get input serial data directly into a an application like Excel or mysql.

There is software like "http://www.superlogics.com/specpage.asp?Items=1004" or "http://www.taltech.com/products/winwedge.html" that would work but the price of the software is a bit high
for this current project.

Anyone know of any freeware out there for the windows os
to input serial data into win apps without using expensive OTS software? Roll your own VB or C samples out there to do this?
User avatar
By leon_heller
#60405
Save the data to a file and read that into the application. Not as neat but easy to implement. Time-stamping the data will help.

Leon
By riden
#60435
It sounds like you need a program that monitors the serial port, formats the data, and writes a data file that can be read by Excel. One of the easiest paths is to create a comma delimited or comma separated value (CSV) file. These files can be directly opened by Excel and be imported into MySQL. A lot depends upon the nature of the serial data, but it isn't hard to write a small program to do this. I've seen or written similar programs in C++, Java, Liberty BASIC, and PERL.
By sylvie369
#60448
You might find this helpful:
http://www.theabramgroup.com/basicstamp/

It's mainly for communicating with Basic STAMPS, but it does explain how to use the free VB5 to read a serial port.
By archendekta
#60537
Thanks sylvie369 & dez.ellis, just what I'm looking for I believe. Appreciate the other suggestions too, and will put them in me toolbox too.
By Jay C
#60543
Another suggestion. Format your output as CSV. I do this with robotic telemetry and capture the output to file using hyper terminal. Then just open with Excel or OpenOffice.

Alternatively, there are free libs and compilers for C and Java.

FWIW,
Jay
By rdxbam
#60665
Leon & Jay, thanks. I'll try your suggestions too, it will make for a good practice & tool.
By BrianS
#60863
Labview can do this I believe.

Bryan