DIALOG: view live data, copy recordings and export them

Watch a REBEL's data live and copy its IVD recordings to your PC. Then export them to the format your analysis tools read, including a raw CAN trace.

Before you start

• A REBEL LT or REBEL CT with a configuration running, and its USB cable.
• DIALOG installed. What you can do depends on the version. DIALOG Configurator exports to CSV, MDF, BLF and ASC. Standard and Plus add the live data viewer, graphical analysis and MATLAB MAT and nCode S3 export. Plus adds batch processing of many files.

The videos in this guide show an earlier version of DIALOG (formerly DiaLog), so some menus look slightly different.

How recordings reach your PC

A REBEL writes each recording to its SD card as an IVD file (Influx Vehicle Data) inside a folder named after the configuration. The file name carries the configuration name, the logger's serial number and the date and time, for example Replay trace_RBLL1618_20200901_023010.IVD. Copy the files to the PC over USB or with a card reader, then export them from DIALOG.

View live data

1. Open the live data viewer. With the logger connected over USB, select the Live Data tab at the bottom of the Logger window.
2. Choose what to show. Tick the items you want to see on the oscilloscope.
3. Start the live view. Select Start logging. The selected items scroll live on the oscilloscope.

Copy recordings from a REBEL

Over USB with REBEL Explorer

1. Connect the logger. Plug the REBEL into the PC with the USB cable.
2. Open REBEL Explorer. In the Logger window, select the Rebel Explorer tab at the bottom centre of the window.
3. Find the recording. Under SD Folders, expand the configuration's folder and select the IVD file.
4. Get the files. Right-click the file and select Get File(s). The menu shows an estimate of the time it takes.
5. Save the files. Choose a folder and a name and select Save.
6. Import the files. Select Yes to import them into DIALOG. They are then ready in the Analysis window.

Use a defragmented SD card for the best results with REBEL Explorer.

From the SD card in a card reader

You can also take the SD card out of the logger and put it in the PC's card reader. Copy the IVD files from the configuration's folder, then open them in the Analysis window.

Do not format the card in Windows. Format it in the logger, with DIALOG or with DIALOG Remote, so it keeps the file system and allocation unit size the logger expects. See DIALOG Remote: install it, prepare the SD card and maintain a REBEL.

Export a recording

From the Analysis window

This is the route in DIALOG Configurator, and it works in every version that exports.

1. Open the recording. In the Analysis window, double-click the IVD file and select Yes.
2. Choose the parameters. Tick the items to export in the recording tree.
3. Choose the format. Select the export button and choose a format from the list:
   • ASAM MDF
   • Vector MDF
   • MATLAB 5.0 (three variants)
   • CSV
   • nCode
   • National Instruments TDM
   • Vector Binary (BLF)
   • A CAN trace
   • GPS data
   • A one-shot report
4. Save the file. Select OK, choose a folder and a name and select Save.

Watch: How to export data from DIALOG's Configurator version (1:02)

With the Export data window

The Export data window converts one file or many with more control over the output. It opens from the Batch Processing button. Converting many files at once is a DIALOG Plus feature.

1. Open the window. In the Analysis window, select the IVD file, then select Batch Processing.
2. Set the output on the General tab. Tick Convert files and choose the format, for example Comma delimited (CSV format) or Measurement Data Format 4.11 (ASAM MF4). Tick Convert each input file to separate output file. Select Browse to choose the output folder, or Make New Folder to create one.
3. Add the input. On the Input files tab, select Add file(s) for conversion, choose the IVD file and select Open.
4. Choose the channels. On the File channels tab, select the items.
5. Process the file. Select Process. When the conversion finishes, select Close and OK.

Exported CSV files have gaps because each CAN message arrives at its own rate. To put every channel on one fixed time grid, interpolate or resample while exporting. See DIALOG Plus: batch processing, merging and conversion scripts.

Watch: Exporting an IVD file (3:48)

Export a CAN trace

The raw trace

1. Open the recording. In the Analysis window, double-click the IVD file that holds the CAN trace log and select Yes.
2. Show the trace. Select Log all Trace at the bottom of the window.
3. Choose the format. In Settings, open the Export menu and choose a format:
   • TraceViewer data (.tvd)
   • TraceViewer text (.txt)
   • Vector ASCII (.asc)
   • Vector Binary (.blf)
   • Trace log (.log)
   • PEAK trace (.trc)
   The CSV, Excel and HTML buttons export the table as it is.
4. Save the trace. Choose a folder and a name for the trace file and select Save.

A trace with DBC signals

1. Open the signal importer. In the Log all Trace settings, select the DBC signals tab.
2. Load the DBC file. Select the add DBC button, choose the DBC file and select Open. Its messages and signals appear in the Message/Signal list.
3. Choose the signals. Select signals and use the single arrow. To take every signal, tick the DBC file name and use the double arrow.
4. Import the signals. Select Import. The decoded signals appear on the oscilloscope alongside the trace.

If DBC files are new to you, read understanding CAN DBC files.

Watch: Various methods for exporting CAN trace (3:44)

Next: DIALOG Plus: batch processing, merging and conversion scripts.