PEAK-System Forum

Hi,

I thought EDS and DBC files are usually provided by the manufacturer of the device, but I'm finding that is rarely the case.

Fortunately, I did find a generic EDS file for the PCAN MicroMod Digital 1 (attached extension renamed to txt), however I'm wondering how to convert that EDS to a specific DBC file format for use in CanOpen Software (Vector, CanOpenMagic, etc)? Not sure why CanOPen software doesn't use EDS.

Thanks!

Hello,

In CANopen Magic Professional and Ultimate you can assign EDS and DCF files to node IDs directly so no need to convert them to DBC. You can also generate DCF files to save node's configurations and load them later to restore that configuration. The tool can also load DBC files but this is useful for process data only.

See https://canopenmagic.com/index.php/en/versions

Regards,
Chris @EmSA

Thanks, I didn't realize there was even a 3rd file type.. DCF?! Do you have any suggestions on generating a DBC for other software that can only open DBC files?

I thought EDS is a generic device level format (ex. range of bitrates allowed in the family of devices), while DBC is just the specifics for a particular unit (ex. actual bitrate), but looking at a sample EDS and DBC file in notepad they seem world's apart.

I tried using PCAN-View to capture the MicroMod's output and exported the trc file.. but the "PEAK-Converter" application does not convert to DBC. How does one typically generate a DBC file?

EDS - CANopen Electronic Data Sheet
CANdb (*dbc) - a typical used in the automotive world CAN Data Base Format for signal description inside of CAN Frames

I tried using PCAN-View to capture the MicroMod's output and exported the trc file.. but the "PEAK-Converter" application does not convert to DBC. How does one typically generate a DBC file?

How should a Payload converter, convert to a DBC File ?!? A Trace file is a raw CAN Data capture. A DBC File is a description how the signals are placed inside the payload.
You could export your Configuration in the PCAN-MicroMod Editor (when using our Standard Firmware - not the CANopen Firmware !) to Symbol File format (which is the PEAK-System CAN Database format).
Then you could use this Symbol File in the PCAN-Explorer Analyzer, or export from the PCAN-Explorer to a DBC File.

Thanks, so if I understand correctly..

Using PCAN explorer (or the standalone PCAN-Symbol Editor) I can manually define 'Symbols' how the canbus traffic is to be decoded and plotted real-time in PCAN explorer.
(PCAN explorer can also IMPORT an existing dbc , using the CANdb Import Add-in.. this addon is also needed to EXPORT the symbol file to a dbc file)

If so, one last question, I have lots of trace files that I've already captured (using PCAN-View).. is it possible for PCAN explorer to plot these existing trc files (once of course the symbols/dbc has been defined)?

Yes, this is possible with the PCAN-Explorer Software.