PLX-DAQ is a macro that will allow serial data to be transferred into Excel spreadsheets. I don't have Excel and have been trying to get PLX-DAQ to work with OpenOffice Calc but can't seem to get it working.
Does anyone know if it has been done or can be done?
Jack
PLX-DAQ is a macro
That runs where?
jackerbes:
Does anyone know if it has been done or can be done?
A very reasonable question.......... but I don't think it has been done. Parallax Tech Support say it should be possible, as it is just a serial interface but, as far as I know, they have never tried it. I believe Windmill have a freebie interface to Open Office but I imagine it goes with their aquisition software and it might be simpler to look for a $10 copy of Office 2000 on eBay.
Well there a several/many fine free serial terminal programs that will allow one to save serial input data to a simple text file. From there it should not be hard importing the text file into openoffice I would think?
retrolefty:
Well there a several/many fine free serial terminal programs that will allow one to save serial input data to a simple text file. From there it should not be hard importing the text file into openoffice I would think?
Gee, I think you are right, but why would you do that if you can send the data dircect?
Nick_Pyner:
retrolefty:
Well there a several/many fine free serial terminal programs that will allow one to save serial input data to a simple text file. From there it should not be hard importing the text file into openoffice I would think?Gee, I think you are right, but why would you do that if you can send the data dircect?
Just a plan B suggestion in case the OP can't get PLX-DAQ to play with open office. Did I do wrong?
No. But while I think popping a few bucks for an old Excel is a real Plan A solution, I understand there are other free equivalents, and possibly even for the Open Office he already has. The difference between Plan A and Plan B is live graphs.
Thanks for the replies, folks.
I got away from using the M$ Office suite more than 20 years ago and OpenOffice (under several names) has always met all my needs. But I will get a copy of Office somewhere and use that if that is what I have to do.
Jack
But I will get a copy of Office somewhere and use that if that is what I have to do.
I just point this out as the easy and well-established path. There may be other options but I don't know anything about them. I assume you want PLX for its ability to feed live graphs in Excel, and that has to be worth a few dollars! FWIW you might try borrowing O97. I was using it up till a few weeks ago and it looks like Microsoft are no longer interested in the license code when installing.
I'll give any version of Excel I can find or buy cheaply a try, maybe someone that knows more about macros will eventually look at the PLX macro and solve the problem.
The basic issue with PLX-DAQ under OpenOffice is that when the macro runs, it starts Excel, loads a spreadsheet, then brings up an interface (seen in image) for configuring and controlling a serial port. It will start OO Calc and the spreadsheet is loaded but the interface does not come up. And the keystrokes (Ctrl-q) that can start the interface under excel closes the OO Calc app instead of starting the interface.
The PLX-DAQ macro can be seen and it through OO Calc but I can't seem to get it to do anything. I have done the basic things that need to be done, lowering the Security level to Medium and allowing macros to run.
Jack
what errors does PLXDAQ give when you use "open with" and select OpenOffice
have you tried to change the association with XLS files to OpenOffice?
jackerbes:
It will start OO Calc and the spreadsheet is loaded b
I have used PLX a lot but not for a while and I'm not really following what's going on but, if you have gotten that far, and in the light of comment from Parallax Tech Support, you might be on the verge of a result. These notes may be useful
robtillaart:
what errors does PLXDAQ give when you use "open with" and select OpenOfficehave you tried to change the association with XLS files to OpenOffice?
I get none from PLXDAQ, it opens the OO Calc application and is waiting for me to use the connection control menu that is part of PLXDAQ (but that is not visible or even running as far as I can tell) to make the connection.
I've looked at the OO Calc Macro Selector and can see some choices for PLXDAQ macros but they will not run when I choose one of them.
And the file association was already set to OO and that does not help any.
Jack
Nick_Pyner:
jackerbes:
It will start OO Calc and the spreadsheet is loaded bI have used PLX a lot but not for a while and I'm not really following what's going on but, if you have gotten that far, and in the light of comment from Parallax Tech Support, you might be on the verge of a result. These notes may be useful
I have that already, thanks. That document is a good one and I had been using it. It will be a great help when I either get this working or get a copy of Excel.
Jack
I dug through my old software archive and found a Office 2000 install CD! So I have that installed and got PLX-DAQ working.
So I guess it all just comes down to the PLX-DAQ macro not being written to use any other software but Excel. And that is understandable enough. Maybe a macro expert could fix it but that is not me. 
Thanks the the help and suggestions folks, I'll let this set for a day or so and then mark it solved.
Jack
OK, that's good.
Do you recall if you had to enter the license code when installing? I believe Microsoft no longer bother with it.
