capturing streaming serial data

[labview_noob]

I have a device that collects data on a sensor and streams information on an RS232 cable to my machine.  When I use the VISA read operation, I can see data is being read, but I get a buffer overrun error since the data is constantly streaming to my machine.  I am used to doing VISA write then VISA read type programs, but never have dealt with constant streaming data.  How can I collect streaming data on the COM port?

thanks in advance.

[Meghan R]

Hello,

You may want to look into flow control.  There's a great knowlegebase, Serial Communication with Software Flow Control, that explains how to do flow control in LabVIEW.

Thanks,

Meghan
Applications Engineer

[arvin_labrat]

The easiest way to stream data is to configure your serial port outside of a while loop.

Use a "bytes at port" wired to a visa read inside the while loop.

Close the serial port on the other side of the while loop.

You should put a wait in the while loop so you don't hog your CPU.  Only needs to be a few mSec.

If you need to do any data processing you might what to use a producer - consumer design pattern.

Good Luck