Are Storage VIs generally useful?

[RonB]

I'm configuring a test system that will store low-speed data to disk for several minutes at a time. By low-speed I mean 600 Samples/sec max. I'm evaluating several file formats for size, speed, and ease of development. The format needs to supported for many years.

LabVIEW 7.1 introduces Storage VIs, which are intended to be used for data transfer to DIAdem. I have evaluated these VIs and the file format for my application, which currently does not use DIAdem. Here's what I found:

:thumbup:

The VIs are very easy to use and include all the features I need.

The VIs are fast enough. In my tests I was streaming at about 25 KSamples/sec.

The data file (.tdm) is binary and very compact.

:question:

The Header file (.tdx) is XML. I assume that, because this is DIAdem's native format, it will be supported for some time.

Has anyone else used these VIs? Is anyone considering them?

Any reason I should not use them?

[FLX]

National Instruments introduted this fromat as standard format for all NI Software.

It was first used in DIAdem but the api is open for any other development enviroment e.g. LV, VB or VC.

I do not see a reason you should not use this storage format.

[wangus]

I noticed that you were mentioning something about test systems and gathering test data with .TDM files. I saw this document on the NI webpage that talks about TDM and data management that you might find useful:

Self Configuring Data Management System Based on LabVIEW and DIAdem

Hope this gives you some more insight on the benefits of TDM!