USB Raw (Graphtec GL840) to graph LabVIEW

[joshosu21]

Hello,

I am very new to LabVIEW and am trying to read in temperatures from a Graphtec GL 840 midi logger to LabVIEW and graph them. I have been having some errors and need help getting the readings to go into a waveform graph. I created a VISA driver for the Graphtec and made sure it was working in MAX, but am having errors with my VISA Events. My .vi file is below with some errors I am getting. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[rolfk]

It's very unclear what you did. You talk about using USB Raw. In 99.9% of the cases that is the wrong thing to do. USB Raw means that you have to implement the entire USB protocol yourself in LabVIEW. And that is not just writing some string commands to the device and reading string answers, but it means writing exactly the right binary bytes in exactly the right order to exactly the right USB endpoints and reading the binary response and being able to decode that information in there. Without a VERY elaborate USB protocol documentation for a device this is simply impossible. And even then you would also want to have an actual hardware USB protocol logger which lets you see what bytes go over the USB bus in order to debug your software.

And an USB Raw driver needs to be properly signed since Windows 7, so it is questionable that you really did an USB Raw setup.

[joshosu21]

Ok rolfk, do you have any recommendations for how to do it then? I've never used LabVIEW before this project so I looked up some tutorials and that's why I used the USB Raw. If you have any ways to do it, I would really appreciate it.

[JÞB]

Well, Graphtec does have a USB driver for the device and, an executable that controls it.

Both available here 

I did not see a programming manual but, you could contact them.  They might have a LabVIEW Driver in house but they certainly have a list of commands and expected responses.

[rolfk]

As Jay mentioned, there is no Programmer Reference Manual to be found anywhere for this device. Without that it is like trying to talk to an alien without a translator. Basically impossible!

You will have to contact Graphtec about this. You may mention LabVIEW, but may get a blank stare at that or even some hostile reaction. Another less confrontational approach for some manufacturers is to ask them how to use their device from another software than their own, such as a C# or Python program. If they can give you a description for that or even an example, you have at least something to start with. And maybe it is your super lucky day and they even have a working LabVIEW driver. If that happens you may consider buying a lottery ticket too. Fortuna seems to have a loving eye on you. 😁

[~Its_Me~]

Hello Rolfk thanx for all the support you give to the ppl here!

I am happy to give some support this time in stead of asking. Here you can find the manuals and drivers:

http://www.graphteccorp.com/support/software/instruments.html 

And here you can find the Labview support files with examples:

http://www.graphteccorp.com/support/software/sdk/sdk-instrument.html 

I must say I do find there website confusing. But I did try the example provided and it seems to be working just fine 🙂 Please note that in the example the Device ID is not the USB number but its a setting you need to set manually in the datalogger check the manual to find the setting.

Hope I can make someone happy with this info.

[Ron_OD]

Greetings,

How long did it take the company to respond and send you the LabVIEW driver?

I went through their website application last Friday and haven't heard anything back yet.

[JÞB]

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@Ron_OD wrote:

Greetings,

How long did it take the company to respond and send you the LabVIEW driver?

I went through their website application last Friday and haven't heard anything back yet.

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That should not matter, Graphtec should have an effective continuous improvement program for their customer service. Read my signature line for my opinion about whether or not Graphtec DOES have an effective customer service improvement process. 😉

[Ron_OD]

Greetings, 

I was just trying to get a read on how long it took to get the driver so I can plan accordingly or whether or not to go another direction with other existing lab equipment.

Regards,

Ron

[JÞB]

Graphtec has about $20.3 Million in Capital.   Here's a shot of their whole America's operations.  How much support can you expect?

No, no, not the big sidewalk in the foreground, That's the Avery Dennison Corporation, your Graphtec office entrance is behind the palm tree.