dSPACE FAQ 027

FAQ 027

Transferring Data from Host PC to dSPACE Board

Keywords
data transfer, PC, dSPACE system
Question
I need to transfer some data from my PC to the program running on my dSPACE system. The realtime program must not be interrupted by the data transfer. What methods can I use?
Answer
There are basically three different ways of transferring parameters from the host PC to the real-time
application running on the dSPACE board.
ControlDesk
If the transfer parameter is not time-critical and there is not much data to transfer, ControlDesk is the
easiest solution. When ControlDesk is in Animation mode, parameters can be entered by using
various sorts of input controls. The slider control, for example, allows data transfer from and to the
real-time program using the PC mouse. With a numeric input, parameters can be entered via
keyboard. ControlDesk also provides the Parameter Editor, with which sets of parameters can be
written from a parameter (PAR) file to the real-time application. ControlDesk Automation can be used
to automate ControlDesk via Python scripts. For example, it provides several Python modules for

accessing MATLAB MAT files and automatically writing data to the real-time application.

MLIB
If you need to transfer more than just a couple of values, MLIB might prove useful. MLIB, the
MATLAB-dSPACE Interface Library, allows access to the real-time program from the MATLAB
workspace. MLIB functions can be called from the MATLAB Command Window or MATLAB M files.
MLIB functions are suited to modify parameters online, but also allow you to send sequences of test
data to real-time applications.
For further Information please refer to the dSPACE HelpDesk at Experiment and Test > Interface
Libraries > MLIB/MTRACE MATLAB-dSPACE Interface Libraries

CLIB
A third possibility is CLIB. CLIB provides C libraries for communication between the PC and the realtime processor. This set of C functions allows you to write your own programs for the host PC. CLIB
gives access to various processor control functions and to the processor memory, i.e., you can write
parameters directly to the memory of the real-time target. An additional C compiler is required for
CLIB.
For further Information please refer to the dSPACE HelpDesk at Experiment and Test > Interface
Libraries > CLIB C Interface Library

Transferring Data from Host PC to dSPACE Board

FAQ Version: 2 / 2010-12-29
Page 1

dSPACE FAQ 027

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D-33102 Paderborn
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++49 5251 1638-941
mailto:support@dspace.de
http://www.dspace.com/support

dSPACE recommends that you use the support request form on the internet to contact
dSPACE support.
It is available under
http://www.dspace.com/goto?supportrequest
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dSPACE strongly recommends that you download and install the most recent patches for your
current dSPACE installation. Visit http://www.dspace.com/goto?patches for software updates
and patches.
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reserved. Neither the documentation nor software may be copied, photocopied, reproduced,
translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable form, in whole or in part,
without the prior written consent of dSPACE GmbH.
Copyright 2010 by:
dSPACE GmbH
Rathenaustr. 26
D-33102 Paderborn
Germany
This publication and the contents hereof are subject to change without notice.
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Transferring Data from Host PC to dSPACE Board

FAQ Version: 2 / 2010-12-29
Page 2