Windmill has launched software designed to provide easy data logging and control with Excel.
Windmill Real Time Data allows an Excel spreadsheet to collect readings from sensors and instruments over USB, Internet, Ethernet, Modbus, RS-485, RS-422, RS-232 and TCP-IP.
It also enables users to control devices and output channels from Excel.
The software allows Excel to act when data readings cross an alarm threshold: automatically switching equipment on for example.
Users can also choose how often to read data from devices and how often to update the data in Excel.
The ability to set differing rates for reading and updating data is useful, for example, in showing average readings over time. All readings are timestamped, with the time each reading was taken recorded in an adjacent column.
The Windmill Real Time Data software is claimed to makes data collection with Excel both easy and robust. Once the software is installed, users simply enter a formula in a cell - or a line in a macro - and Excel turns into a data logger.
The software runs under Windows 8 and earlier versions of Windows. It is available for £100, or £50 for existing users of Windmill. The price includes technical support for life.
