Monitor - ISSN 1472-0221
The Newsletter for Data Acquisition and Control
Issue 302 June 2024
Welcome to the June issue of Monitor. I hope you find it useful. Any comments to monitor@windmillsoft.com
You can download Monitor as a pdf file from https://www.windmill.co.uk/monitor/monitor302.pdf.
Contents
* Data Acquisition Software: Features to look for in 2024
* Your DAQ questions answered
Data Acquisition Software: Features to look for in 2024
While data acquisition hardware plays a vital role in capturing data, the true power lies in the software that controls and manages the data collection.
Beyond the Hardware: The Role of Data Acquisition Software
Data acquisition software acts as the brain behind your data collection system. It goes beyond simply capturing data; it allows you to configure your hardware, manage the acquisition process and visualise the collected information in real-time.
Navigating the Evolving Landscape: 9 Must-Have Features in 2024
- Streamlined Data Acquisition: Look for software with an intuitive interface that facilitates easy setup and configuration of your data acquisition system. User-friendliness ensures efficient data capture and minimises training time.
- Versatile Signal Support: Choose software compatible with a wide range of sensors and devices you might use. This flexibility ensures adaptability to changing needs and future hardware upgrades.
- Real-Time Data Visualisation: Monitor your data acquisition process in real-time with clear and customisable process mimics. This allows for immediate feedback and adjustments as needed.
- Seamless Integration: Modern data acquisition software should seamlessly integrate with external systems like analysis tools, statistical process control, databases and cloud platforms. This facilitates efficient data transfer and centralised data management.
- Control and Automation: Automate repetitive tasks within the data acquisition process using features like triggering actions based on specific conditions or scheduling data collection intervals. Will the software be able to detect and shut down if any problems are detected?
- Communication: How does it communicate with your hardware and other systems. Will it send data, for example, to a MQTT broker for integration into the Internet of Things.
- Scalability and future-proofing: Choose software that can scale with your needs and accommodate future growth in data volume and complexity. Ensure it can adapt to changing requirements without requiring a complete overhaul.
- Data acquisition speed and accuracy: Assess the software's capability to handle your required sampling rates and ensure it provides the necessary accuracy for your measurements
- Customisation and flexibility: Consider whether the software allows for customization to meet your specific needs, such as creating custom analysis algorithms or user interfaces.
Any questions - email: monitor@windmillsoft.com
Investing in the Future
As technology advances, stay informed about emerging trends in data acquisition software, including AI integration and cloud-based solutions, to ensure you have the right tools in the ever-evolving world of data collection.
For your free copy of Windmill data acquisition software, email monitor@windmillsoft.com. Works with Microlink hardware plus instruments and devices communicating over TCP-IP, Modbus, RS485 and RS422.
Your DAQ questions answered - Upgrading Mettler Toledo system
Question
"We have been using Windmill V 7.0 on a Windows 7 Laptop and would like to upgrade the laptop we run Windmill on, However we are just wondering whether Windmill is supported on Windows 10?.
Windmill is used in conjunction with Mettler Toledo XP205 Delta range.
As far as you are aware would there be any issues with moving this software to a Windows 10/11 system?
Thanks
"
Answer
Yes, Windmill will run on Windows 10 and 11. You will need to run the installation program, which if you don't have just email monitor@windmillsoft.com for a free copy. To save entering the configuration details into the software again, copy your Windmill set up files to the new laptop. These will be in the windmill/setups/ folder, or wherever you set the "working directory"
For example:
iml.ini - this holds the configuration data you set using the ConfIML program, including which .imd file to use
*.imd - comDebug's serial settings, baud rate, parsing details etc
*.ims - the settings you specified in SetupIML eg channel names, engineering units, etc.
*.wlg - Windmill Logger's settings
