.. highlightlang:: us

.. index:: Import of MDF Files
.. index:: MDF Files
.. index:: VS100
.. index:: INCA

.. _import-of-mdf-files:

Import of MDF Files
===================

The Addin converts MDF data files to UniPlot-netCDF data files.

The calibration systems VS100/INCA (ETAS GmbH) or the Drive-Recorder from 
IAV GmbH and the CANalyzer (Vector Informatik GmbH) create MDF files.

.. _installation_vs100:

Installation
------------

* Choose :ref:`tools-add-in-manager`.

* Check the "MDF-Import" addin.

* Choose OK. Restart UniPlot.

.. _usage_vs100:

Usage
-----

* Start UniPlot.

* Choose :ref:`fileimport-data`.

* Choose Type ``"MDF File (*.dat; *.mdf)"``.

* Select one or more MDF files. 

* To create a dataset versus time: Choose the Type ``2D: y/t MDF/INCA/CAN``.
  If you select this type UniPlot will automatically select the correct time
  channel. 

.. _configuration_vs100:

Configuration
-------------

Use the :guilabel:`Tools=>Configuration MDF (INCA)` to set the option for
creating the channel names in the NC file.

.. image:: S:/uniplot-obj/images/Inca-ConfigurationDlg-en.*

**Options:**

**Strip Group Name from Channel Name (Gxx_)**
   If this option is marked, the group name is not added to the channel name.
   If the MDF file contains multiple time groups the time channel names are
   enumerated as following: time, time_2, time_3, etc.

**Strip Device Name from Channel Name**
   If this option is marked, the characters following the first backslash are
   removed from the channel name.

**Strip CAN Id from Channel Name (_CANXX)**
   If this option is not marked, the characters _CANXX where XX is the message id
   is added to the channel name. The text is only added if the channel is 
   a CAN bus channel.

**Use MDF Display Identifier as Channel Name**
   If this option is marked, the display names are used as channel names instead
   of the long names.

If MDF file are imported in your own scripts the settings can be set in your
script as following::

   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripDeviceName", 1);
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripGroupName",1);
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_UseDisplayNames", 0);
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripCANID", 1);

Attribute mdfComment
--------------------

The ``mdfComment`` attribute can have multiple lines.

If a line of the ``mdfComment`` contains a colon (``:``) the line will be split
into a attribute name and value. The line will be removed from the ``mdfComment``
attribute. 

Example:

.. code-block:: none

   City Testdrive
   Engine: x1234
   Temperature: 22 °C

In the nc file the following attributes will be created: Engine=``x1234``, 
Temperature=``22 °C``, mdfComment=``City Testdrive``.

.. _format_vs100:

Format
------

In MDF format, data is saved in groups. Each group contains signals with the same
time base. For each group one time channel is saved in the netCDF file. The group
number with the letter ``G`` is added to each channel name, e.g. ``G1_ZWSTAT``.

The data is saved as a float (4 bytes) in the specified units.

Trigger information is saved for each time channel (if triggers were used). In
this case the following attributes are saved: ``tr_trig_time``, ``tr_trig_pre``,
``tr_trig_post``, ``tr_condition`` and ``tr_wincount``.

The attribute ``tr_wincount`` contains the number of trigger times saved in
``tr_trig_time``, ``tr_trig_pre``, ``tr_trig_post``.

It is not necessary to select the correct time channel in the Import dialog box.
Example: X: ``G2_Time``, Y: ``G2_vfzg``). You can simply choose ``G1_Time``
and then select any signal, e.g. X: ``G1_Time``, Y: ``G2_vfzg``. UniPlot will
choose the correct time channel.

Signals from different groups can be correlated. The function will use linear
interpolation to make sure both signals use the same time, e.g. 
X: ``G1_Lst``, Y: ``G2_vfzg``).

The following parameters are read from the Windows-Registry:

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1

   * - Key
     - Type
     - Default Value
     - Description
   * - Settings\\MDF_StripDeviceName
     - Number
     - 0
     - Flag for MDF import. For example INCA/VS100.  If the flag has the value 1,
       the channel name in MDF files is cut at the first backslash. Normally the
       channel and device name  are separated by a backslash. Default Value is 0.
       Example: G3_InjCrv_phiMI1Des_ETKC_1 (Name with device name ETKC),
       G3_InjCrv_phiMI1Des (Name without the device name).
   * - Settings\\MDF_StripGroupName
     - Number
     - 0
     - Flag for MDF import. For example INCA/VS100.  If the flag has the value 1,
       the channel name in MDF files does not contain the groupname, e.g. ``G1_``. 
       Default Value is 0. Example: G3_InjCrv_phiMI1Des_ETKC_1 (Name with group
       number), InjCrv_phiMI1Des (Name without group number).
   * - Settings\\MDF_StripCANID
     - Number
     - 1
     - If this option is not set, the characters ``_CANXX`` where ``XX`` is the
       message id is added to the channel name. The text is only added if the
       channel is a CAN bus channel.
   * - Settings\\MDF_UseDisplayNames
     - Number
     - 0
     - If set to 1, the display name is used as the channel name.

The options can be set with :ref:`WriteProfileInt`::

   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripGroupName",1);
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripDeviceName", 1)
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_UseDisplayNames", 0);
   WriteProfileInt("Settings", "MDF_StripCANID", 1);

See also :ref:`uniplot's-use-of-the-windows-registry`.

The channel attribute ``C_format`` can be used to format the channel data. For
example, to display the data as hex values type in the format string ``0x%08x``.
(Import MDF file, click on the **>>** button. Select the channel and click on the
``C_format`` attribute. Type in the format string ``0x%08x`` and click on the
**Set** button.)

Norm-Names
----------

The addin :ref:`norm-names` can be used to replace channel names with
norm names. For example the name ``Engine_01_BZ_Speed_CAN1`` could be replaced
with ``speed``.

Default scheme name is ``MDF``. A column with this name must be added to the norm 
name Excel file. Insert the scheme name in Row 1.

Alternatively you can use a global attribute value from the MDF file as a scheme
name. For example ``Project=x123`. In this case you must insert the attribute
name ``Project`` into the windows registry with the following command::

   WriteProfileString("NormName", "mdf_scheme_name", "Project");

For this example add the scheme name ``x123`` to the Excel file.

.. us.history

**History**

.. list-table::
   :header-rows: 1

   * - Version
     - Description
   * - R2015.10
     - New Option Settings\\MDF_StripCANID.
       New Version 3.7.3.
   * - R2013.8
     - New attributes MDF-Format and MDF-Program.
       For MDF files created with DIAGRA M (RA Consulting GmbH, 
       http://www.rac.de) the unit string for time channels are set to ``s``.
       New Version 3.7.2.
   * - R2013.6
     - If the time channel values are not strictly increasing a small number 
       (1e-12) is added to che consecutive identical time values to make sure
       is is strictly increasing.
   * - R2013.1
     - Norm Name Conversion added.
   * - R2012.4
     - Un unsorted MDF file will be sorted. The sorted file will be saved in
       the directory of the nc2 file. The text ``_sorted`` will be added to the 
       file name.
   * - 5.11.2
     - Empty channel attribute ``C_format`` added.
   * - 4.2.5
     - MDF Display Identifiers can be used as channel names.

:sub:`id-1494772`