PCAN Explorer - CAN Bus Analyser and Exerciser

The PCAN-Explorer program provides a flexible Windows program for showing what is happening on the CAN bus  and for controlling and interacting with CAN systems.  It can be used for debugging the system or a PC program driving it.  Explorer has a script language that makes it ideal for testing CAN units and for simple control and data acquisition.  Its capabilities can be extended with PEAK supplied options or user produced add-ins.

Performance characteristics

• Shows all received messages in a receiving list containing ID, length and data bytes.
• Indication is given of received remote-frames, number and receiving interval.
• Any number of messages can be put into a transmit list to be sent at fixed intervals, manually , from function keys or as the answer to a remote-frame request.
• Transmit lists can be saved and restored to simplify setting up particular test configurations.
• Errors on the CAN-bus and of the controller are indicated.
• Each CAN message ID can be given a unique name (eg. speed) which is then used in place of the ID when messages are logged making complex systems easy to debug.
• When displayed the data can be split up and shown in easily read forms......
             - bits can be translated to descriptive states ie. SW1 = ON or SW1 = OFF
             - Integer values can be shown in decimal or hex
             - Floating point values can be scaled and an offset added before they are displayed
• An extension of message interpretation within data bytes uses part of the data to signal which of a number of different message formats is in use and hence the meaning of the following data.
• Wide range of data types, including float IEEE754, option to select byte-sequence according to INTEL- and MOTOROLA-format
• An extensive Visual Basic Script Macro language can be used to test or simulate CAN drivers. 
• Add-ins ( written in C++, VB or Borland) allow the users to automate tasks in PCAN Explorer by adding commands to perform these tasks, by adding toolbar buttons to carry out these commands, and by responding to PCAN Explorer events.
• The latest release is Explorer v5 works with Windows 2K/XP/Vista/W7 and all PEAK CAN interfaces (But not with Lawicel interfaces)

Data logger functions 

Variable buffer size Option of linear or ring buffer Able to log errors Flexible facilities to save logged data in text form compatible with EXCEL User selection of logging all messages, a filtered subset or by specifying an unlimited number of individual messages.  Up to four messages can be collected and their data displayed as a trace or strip chart like display.

Explorer Add-ins  These optional functions can be used to enhance Explorer's capabilities in particular areas. CANdb Import: Enables openCANdb descriptions to be imported and exported. Enhanced Plotter: More powerful than the 4 channel plotter included with Explorer, this module allows unlimited numbers of channels and Y axis as well as much greater control of scales and layout.  X and Y axis zooming is possible even while collecting data.  Multiple cursors may be defined to allow complex relationships to be measured.

Explorer as a Debugging Tool

You can of course use Explorer running on a lap-top with a CAN interface to non-intrusively view the events on the CAN bus.  If you are developing a CAN C application that is running on a PC, you do not need to buy a second CAN interface in order to use Explorer to test the application.  It can run on the same PC and the PEAK drivers will pass the data to Explorer as well as to and from your application.

Trace & Re-play your Messages

The PCAN-Trace program can be used on its own to record and log CAN messages but its major attribute is that it can then play them back so you can repeat the sequence of messages recorded in the field, later in the Lab, in real-time.  Breakpoints can be added and if required you can single step through the data.  Once all the data is re-played you can set it to stop or to repeat continuously.  The data record format is compatible with Explorer and is text based so you can edit both messages and scheduled times as you wish.