Updates and Changes for FlexLogger Extended Support Versions

Browse updates and changes made in FlexLogger versions on extended support.

Note If you cannot find changes for your version, it might be a more recent version, documented as a new feature. Or, your version might not have included user-facing updates. You can find more information about non-visible changes, such as bug fixes, compatibility updates, and stability adjustments or maintenance adjustments, in the product Release Notes, available on ni.com.

FlexLogger 2024 Q3 New Features and Changes

  • Support for LabVIEW 2024 in the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 2024 Q3.
  • Use the Min-Max plug-in to calculate the minimum or maximum value for a group of channels. NI created the Min-Max plug-in using the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit. The Min-Max plug-in installs with FlexLogger.

    Add the plug-in to your Channel Specification by selecting Add channels » Plug-in » Min-Max. Then, select the calculation type and the channels.

FlexLogger 2024 Q2 New Features and Changes

  • Discover which FlexLogger edition is right for you.
    • Use FlexLogger Lite, the free edition of FlexLogger, for your basic data logging applications.
    • Try a free trial of FlexLogger for advanced data logging applications.
    • Buy a complete FlexLogger license for your advanced data logging applications.
  • Reduce disk space when logging by configuring your project to log at a lower rate. Use the Logging Specification to set trigger conditions and decrease the logging rate outside of events of interest.
  • Define how you want to retain the SystemLink tags you publish from FlexLogger.

FlexLogger 2023 Q4 New Features and Changes

  • Install with less effort. FlexLogger offers streamlined installation so you do not have to make decisions about which additional software to install along with FlexLogger. You can still choose what to install by enabling Customize installation in NI Package manager.
  • No hardware? No problem. Quickly add a simulated USB data acquisition device (DAQ) from FlexLogger so you can configure your project without hardware. Refer to How FlexLogger Connects to Your Hardware for more information.
  • FlexLogger loads your projects faster. Notice up to 60% faster load times for high-channel-count projects that use formulas extensively.
  • Trigger an event with the click of a button. Refer to Initiating an Action with a Button for more information.
  • Define how FlexLogger displays the date and time on axes for time-series graphs, including the number of significant figures, so you can capture the precision of your time-series data. In your Screen document, click the time axis and modify the Display format settings in the Item configuration pane.
  • FlexLogger preserves the layout of your Channel Specification so you see only the channels you want when you reopen a saved project.
  • FlexLogger loads frequently viewed Channel Specification sections faster.
  • Map multiple channels to a Frequency Spectrum graph. Refer to Visualizing Live Data with Indicators and Graphs for more information.
  • More intuitive timing when logging your data. The toolbar timer and time-based triggers start when you click RUN.
  • Add an Integral channel to your Channel Specification to calculate additional physical parameters for your system. For example, integrate your accelerometer data to get velocity and integrate velocity to get displacement over time.
  • Support for USB-6008 and USB-6009 low-cost, multifunction DAQ devices. Refer to Supported Hardware for more information.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically get and set trigger settings for your project.

FlexLogger 2023 Q3 New Features and Changes

  • FlexLogger now provides averaging on the undecimated data for high-speed graphs at any zoom level.
  • FlexLogger no longer supports publishing or consuming data locally using the NI Web Server Configuration. Instead, publish FlexLogger data to LabVIEW using a remote SystemLink server. You can also automate FlexLogger using the FlexLogger Python API or design custom plug-ins for FlexLogger using the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit.
  • Use the IEEE 1588 protocol to synchronize your time-sensitive networking (TSN)–enabled CompactDAQ chassis. In FlexLogger, navigate to File » Preferences » General, check Enable multi-chassis and network synchronization, and select 1588.
  • See a table with statistical information for all channels on a graph. On your Screen document, click a graph to open the Item configuration pane located on the right side of the window. In the Parts section, enable Statistics legend.
  • Zoom in on all graphs simultaneously to get a closer look at your data. On your Screen document, click Pause all graphs . Then, click Synchronize zoom of paused graphs and zoom in on one graph. FlexLogger zooms in on the same interval of time on all graphs.
  • Display strings published by plug-in channels you created with the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit and added to FlexLogger. In your FlexLogger Screen document, add a Text Box Indicator from the Text menu. Map the indicator to the plug-in string channel you want to see strings from.
  • Support for LabVIEW 2023 in the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.7.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically register and handle alarms, log file events, and test session events. Log file events include creating and completing a log file and test session events include starting and stopping a test.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically get the name of your FlexLogger project.

FlexLogger 2023 Q2 New Features and Changes

  • Collect more accurate thermocouple measurements by using a sensor as your cold junction compensation (CJC) source instead of a constant value. In the thermocouple channel configuration dialog, set the CJC source to Sensor and map to another RTD or thermocouple channel in the same chassis to use as the CJC source.
  • Synchronize digital lines in your 62xx multifunction I/O device with analog channels configured on the same device.
  • Synchronize the onboard counters in your 62xx and 63xx multifunction I/O devices with analog channels configured on the same device.
  • Configure FlexLogger to retry publishing files to SystemLink after restoring a lost connection.
  • Send strings from third party devices to FlexLogger using the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.6.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically update the log file description and add or modify several test properties at once in your Logging Specification document.
  • Halt or resume all graphs on your Screen document simultaneously by toggling Pause all graphs .
  • Avoid manual data entry when specifying multiple scaling factors for your channel. In the channel configuration, select Table as the scaling type, copy two columns of space or tab separated values, and paste the values into the table.
  • See the average value for a segment of data on a graph. In your Screen document, hover over the data to see statistical information.
  • Configure your RMS and Mean channels to average all the data you collected for the channel since starting the test or opening a project.
  • (Preview Feature) Reduce disk space when logging in FlexLogger by configuring your project to log at a low-fidelity rate. Use the Logging Specification to set trigger conditions and enable low-fidelity logging.

FlexLogger 2023 Q1 New Features and Changes

  • Support all 62xx multifunction I/O data acquisition devices: PCI, PCI Express (PCIe), PXI, PXI Express (PXIe), and USB. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Support for PCIe 63xx multifunction I/O data acquisition devices. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically configure the data acquisition rate of your channels.
  • Use the FlexLogger Python API to programmatically save your FlexLogger projects.
  • Upload data files you renamed in FlexLogger to SystemLink so you can keep track of project files across systems. Rename a data file in the FlexLogger Data tab. If you already published the file to SystemLink, FlexLogger launches the Rename dialog. Select Rename and upload file to upload the renamed file to SystemLink.
  • Support for LabVIEW 2022 in the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.5.

FlexLogger 2022 Q4 New Features and Changes

  • Back up your FlexLogger data files to SystemLink Server or SystemLink Cloud without publishing test data as tags. Track the progress of your backup file uploads in the FlexLogger Data tab.
  • See the connection status between FlexLogger and SystemLink on the toolbar of your Channel Specification.
  • Show only configured channels so you can see your whole test system. In the Channel Specification, click Show configured channels . FlexLogger hides all unconfigured channels and highlights the button to indicate that you have enabled the filter.
  • Copy and paste formula-based calculated channels. Add and configure an arithmetic or Boolean formula channel in your Channel Specification. Right-click the channel to copy it. Paste the channel into an unconfigured or configured channel of the same type.

FlexLogger 2022 Q2 New Features and Changes

  • Test ECUs using A2L databases that rely on the CAN Calibration Protocol (CCP).
  • Set XNET output values outside of the minimum and maximum limits configured in your database so you can test the robustness of your ECUs.
  • Deactivate logging on specific channels. In the Channel Specification, hover over a channel and click Disable logging (). FlexLogger will no longer bold this channel in the display.
  • Scale the electrical values of a device to the physical units of a sensor using value-dependent scaling factors. Select Table as the scaling type and specify multiple electrical values and their corresponding physical values.

FlexLogger 2021 R4 New Features and Changes

  • Support for PXIe-1090.
  • Support for low-cost USB DAQ devices. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Increase measurement accuracy by compensating for internal offsets with the auto zero setting. In your Channel Specification, click the drop-down menu ( ) for your module and select Auto Zero to configure the setting. Refer to Supported Hardware to learn which devices support auto zero.
  • Stop all signals and measurements on a CAN/LIN port so it can be used by other software. In your Channel Specification, check Disable for the port you want to disable. FlexLogger closes all CAN/LIN connections.
  • (Preview Feature) Test ECUs using A2L databases that rely on the CAN Calibration Protocol (CCP). In your Channel Specification, click Add measurements for the port you want to configure and specify the protocol.

FlexLogger 2021 R3 New Features and Changes

  • Support for PXI and PXIe Digital I/O Modules. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Better performance for large systems, including faster response times for viewing live data.
  • Higher maximum data throughput for high speed systems.
  • Locate FlexLogger project files and read elapsed test times with the Python-based FlexLogger Automation API.
  • Log the synchronization status of devices synchronized across an Ethernet network.

FlexLogger 2021 R2 New Features and Changes

  • Support for PXIe-6738 and PXIe-6739 Analog Output Modules. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Support for NI-9326 C-Series Frequency Input Module.
  • Drive CAN/LIN output signals non-deterministically by mapping the output to another channel. Refer to Adding Signals to Your CAN/LIN Module Channel Specification for more information.
  • Lock a configured project to prevent changes.
  • Pause a test to suspend data logging, triggers, and time-based events. Refer to Running a Test for more information.
  • Back up your data log files by saving them to an additional location. Refer to Configuring a Log File for more information.

FlexLogger 2021 R1 New Features and Changes

  • Support for USB X Series devices. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Support for PXIe X Series counters.
  • Drive DAQ output signals non-deterministically by mapping to another channel.
  • Use test properties as placeholders in file names and locations.
  • Automate FlexLogger with the Python-based FlexLogger Automation API.
  • Onboard counter support for CompactDAQ chassis.
  • Analyze logged data with the TDMS viewer using built-in analysis functions, including arithmetic and fast Fourier transform (FFT) analyses.

FlexLogger 2020 R4 New Features and Changes

  • Support for PXIe X Series devices. Refer Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Multi-PXIe chassis synchronization support using the high-density trigger ports. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Create variable channels to act as static integer values.
  • Use anti-aliased downsampling to acquire from DSA modules at 100 Hz.
  • Use Python to interact with FlexLogger (compatible with 2020 R3 and 2020 R4). Refer to Exchanging Data with Python for more information.
  • (Preview Feature) Onboard counter support for CompactDAQ chassis.
  • (Preview Feature) Publish tags and files to SystemLink Cloud.

FlexLogger 2020 R3 New Features and Changes

  • Better shunt calibration feedback, including calculated values displayed in channel details and error messaging.
  • Scan for TEDS sensors at the project level.
  • Support for resistance measurements. Refer to Supported Hardware for specific model support information.
  • Support for LabVIEW 2020 in the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.3.
  • (Preview Feature) Publish tags and files to a connected SystemLink Server. This preview feature requires a separate license for SystemLink Server.

FlexLogger 2020 R2 New Features and Changes

  • Configure multiple I/O channels simultaneously, including alarm configuration.
  • Apply shunt calibration to multiple channels simultaneously.
  • Added read-only channel support for TEDS sensors.
  • Alarm and event information logged to test TDMS file.
  • Support for digital input plug-in channels in the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.2.

FlexLogger 2020 R1 New Features and Changes

  • Added PXI Express support for SC Express, sound and vibration, and automotive bus modules. Refer to the Supported Hardware section for specific model information.
  • Added hardware support for NI 9262
  • Added support for LVDT/RVDT sensors
  • XY graph type added to Screens
  • Event triggering on test stop

FlexLogger 2019 R4 New Features and Changes

  • Added hardware support for:
    • NI 9252
    • NI 9253
  • Apply zero and null offset calibration to multiple channels simultaneously
  • Export alarm history to CSV file format
  • Save project as support for existing projects
  • Event triggered on test time elapsed
  • Toast notification support for channel alarms
  • Integrated system health metric reporting
  • Digital input support in arithmetic and Boolean formulas
  • Calculation formula support for logarithm functions, ? : operator, and e, true, and false constants
  • Configurable sample rate for CAN/LIN
  • Support for custom analysis plug-ins created with the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.1

FlexLogger 2019 R3 New Features and Changes

  • Added hardware support for the FD-11605
  • Alarms for input channels, including the following features:
    • Alarm history pane
    • Event triggering from alarms
  • Reset values on output channels
  • Additional measurement types for counter input modules:
    • Angular position
    • Linear position
    • Pulse
  • Hardware filter support for FieldDAQ
  • Support for custom I/O plug-ins created with the FlexLogger Plug-in Development Kit 1.0
  • Boolean logic for analog channels
  • Digital input event triggering
  • Output support for LIN
  • LIN master support
  • Offline FlexLogger manual access

FlexLogger 2019 R2 New Features and Changes

  • Added hardware support for:
    • FD-11634
    • NI 9866
    • USB-8506
  • Output support for CAN
  • Input support for LIN
  • Capability to add timestamped notes during test
  • Lowpass and highpass Butterworth filter channels added to Channel Specification
  • TSN synchronization feedback
  • No limits on Slow/Medium/Fast/Digital sample rate configuration
  • System memory monitoring and dynamic visualization settings
  • Pull-up resistor support and threshold voltage support for the NI 9361
  • Powered sensor support for the FD-11601

FlexLogger 2019 R1 New Features and Changes

  • Added hardware support for:
    • NI 9231
    • FD-11601
    • FD-11614
  • Enhanced system visualization in Channel Specification
  • RMS and Mean averaging of channels added to Channel Specification
  • Screen visualization shows minimum and maximum data values in visible range
Note The FlexLogger Readme included on the installer incorrectly lists support for CAN output. CAN output is not supported in FlexLogger 2019 R1

FlexLogger 2018 R4 New Features and Changes

  • Static-level output, including added hardware support for:
    • C Series Voltage Output Modules
    • C Series Current Output Modules
    • C Series Digital Modules
    • C Series User Interface Module
  • Project metadata support
  • Support for control of output channel set points through NI Skyline Data Services