How to plot data from a binary .FLD file.

I'm working with data in a .FLD file, which I believe is binary. I need to input the file into Matlab and use it to create a graph that we can zoom in to certain points and look at the data closer (the files are huge...).

I haven't used Matlab since college, so I'm pretty rusty, but I don't think we imported binary files into Matlab for any class projects or homework assignments. When I input the files, I just got a bunch of letters--not sure how/if I can translate that jibberish into values...

Might be a super simple solution--I'm hoping it is! Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

[José-Luis]

All files are binary. Text files are easily understandable by humans after your favorite text editor transforms the ones and zeros into characters for your viewing pleasure.

You need to know how your binary data is organized, in order to easily read it. For that you could either look for a white paper, ask the person who generated the file, or look at the code of the program that generated the file.

Otherwise you are just shooting in the dark and the chances of correctly reading the file are slim.

[Kami]

I guess maybe a better question to ask would be: has anybody out there ever input an .FLD file into Matlab and plotted the data? Like I said, probably a super simple answer, I just don't have it...

[José-Luis]

If it's a popular file format, it might be part of Matlab already (e.g. netcdf). If it has not grabbed the Mathwork's attention, then somebody might have already posted a solution to your problem in the file exchange. If it is an obscure file format then you might have to do the legwork yourself.

I, for one, have never heard of .fld and a quick google search did not help me. What program generated the file?

[Kami]

It's a data file created by a Yokogawa oscilloscope.

[José-Luis]

I think I'll go with obscure.

Answer 2

[Alan]

The following link provides a short description of the contents of the file, which in theory, you could use to make a program to read it into MATLAB. Alternately, the same page provides a link to an Excel Spreadsheet Macro that will allow you to import it into Excel. You can then save as an excel or csv file which you can import into MATLAB.

http://tmi.yokogawa.com/us/service-support/faqs/xviewer-fld-floating-data-format-information/

Note: I have not personally tried the Macro, and I don't know if the macro accounts for the row limit in Excel - that is, if it:

1. Crashes on large files

2. Cuts off the data when it reaches the last row, or

3. Creates additional sheets if needed