How can I import data in to the digital word generator in Multisim?

[bw48]

How can I import data in to the digital word generator in Multisim?

I just  received this comment from a friend, a RADAR engineer, who has just down loaded Multisim.  He has been using HP/Agilent software.  He has a work around using a piecewise linear voltage waveform with data imported from Excel but this is not really a good solution.  It would also be helpful to import data from Mathcad or equivalent.

"I thought I was about to be impressed with MultiSim but it ended only in disappointment. There is a word generator in the simulation instrument panel which can drive the DAC with a waveform and it can have thousands of lines of values. I opened Excel, wrote the formula to generate the time and voltage points for a chirp, converted to DAC values in Hex and then went back to the word generator in MultiSim to load the values only to find that you have to enter each value manually. It doesn’t even allow you to paste in a list of values from a text file. I’m not going to type 5000 values by hand. If you get the chance to give feedback to National Instruments please ask them if the paste option can be added to the word generator. MultiSim is useful in many regards, but in this case, it left me with the impression that it is considerably limited in capability compared to what I’m used to."

[Mahmoud_W]

Hi,

You can load your data automatically in the Multisim word generator. Follow these steps:

- Save your data file (in excel .xslx ir .csv format) on your computer

- Change the extension of the file to ".dp"

- Double-click the word generator in Multisim and click on Set...

- In the Settings dialog box, click on Load and then Accept

- This will prompt you to select the .dp file you have on your computer, select it and you're good to go

However, in Multisim you have the option of creating your own custom simulation analysis and instrument.

I will try creating the instrument and send it back to you but it might take some time.

Multisim and LabVIEW are very powerful in test automation, with the custom instruments you create for Multisim you don't need to export your data file into excel from LabVIEW (or MathCAD or other tools) and then reload it into Multisim. The test procedure is automated instead.

Please check this reference design about automated simulation

https://forums.ni.com/t5/Example-Code/Automate-Circuits-Analyses-with-the-NI-LabVIEW-Multisim-API/ta...

Let me know if you have any questions.

Mahmoud W

National Instruments

[bw48]

Thank you.  I do have the latest Lab View as well and was considering doing what you suggested.  I will pass on the info you have provided.  Once again, thank you.