Import Binary

The Import Binary option in the File menu is a procedure that can be used to read many instrument-generated binary data files. This is an advanced feature that should be used only by individuals whose skills include a good familiarity with binary data formats. In general, you will will need a published specification for the binary file format you wish to configure.

Fixed Length Data Blocks and Fixed Position Offsets

The binary file must contain fixed length data blocks where the values to be read are a fixed offset from the beginning of the block.

Binary Configuration Files

AutoSignal uses binary configuration files to store the specific information needed to process a given type of binary data file. You must first create or read a binary configuration file prior to importing the binary data. These configuration files have BCF extensions.

Binary Configurations Supported

AutoSignal's binary read option supports two different formats:

· Both the X and Y values are in the repeating data blocks.

· The starting X-value and/or constant X-increment are stored in the file header. Only the Y values are in the repeating data blocks.

Both formats allow for an optional import of a main, X, and Y data title from the file header.

Title Offsets and Lengths

The offsets and lengths must be specified in decimal (base-10) values and are measured from the beginning of the file. The first byte in the file is at offset 0. Title import is optional. Simply leave a title offset blank if you do not want to import that title. If the title string is null terminated, you need not specify the title length. In this case, the length field can be left blank or you may enter 0.

X in Header Offsets and Lengths

If the X information is in the file header, you must provide an offset and data type for the initial X value and/or an offset and type for the X increment. If the initial X type is None, an initial X of 0.0 is assumed. If the increment type is None, an increment of 1.0 is assumed.

Supported Data Types

The following data types are supported:

     C Data Type            Bytes      Data Range

     Signed Char            1      -128 to 127

     Unsigned Char            1      0 to 255

     Signed Short Integer      2      -32768 to 32767

     Unsigned Short Integer      2      0 to 65535

     Float                  4      ± 1.2E-38 to 3.4E+38

     Signed Long Integer      4      -2147483648 to 2147483647

     Unsigned Long Integer      4      0 to 4294967295

     Double                  8      ± 2.2E-308 to 1.8E+308

     Long Double            10      ± 3.4E-4932 to 1.1E+4932

The binary read option does not support the Pascal 6-byte float, the non-IEEE BASICA floating point format, or the floating point binary decimal format.

Data Block

You must specify the offset for the first data block and the length of a data block. If you have not specified X as being in the header, you must specify its position within the data block as well as its data type. The Y data position and type in the data block must always be specified. The X and Y positions are relative to the start of each data block.

Read

The Read option is used to read a previously saved [BCF] binary configuration file.

Save

Use the Save option to save a [BCF] binary configuration file.

Initiating the Import

Click OK to initiate the binary import. The file you subsequently select will be processed using this binary configuration.