What is DAQ Software?

First, DAQ is an abbreviation for data acquisition. DAQ software is specialized software that has been developed specifically for use with data acquisition boards, cards and systems. This software can range from simple software used for one application such as data logging, or it can be extremely robust, offering a wide range of uses for measurement and control and laboratory applications.

DAQ software in conjunction with a personal computer is what controls a data acquisition board's functions.

Simple Functions:
The software is used to control basic tasks such as sending a convert command to an analog-to-digital converter, starting or stopping a counter/clock, clear or reset a bank of digital I/O lines, and more.

High Level Functions:
More elaborate functions provided by DAQ software would include, but not be limited to: acquiring, converting to engineering units, and displaying data graphically on a PC monitor; analyzing a complex analog input signal, providing linearization and cold-junction compensation calculations for various types of thermocouple signals; or simultaneously sampling multiple channels of analog input data, comparing them, and plotting them in a three-dimensional presentation.

High-Level Mathematical Functions:
FFT and frequency analysis, signal generation, mathematics, curve fitting and interpolation, along with time and frequency domain analysis, allow users to derive meaningful information from data.

Application Development:
Whether you are taking temperature measurements with an A/D board, analyzing signals using a stand-alone oscilloscope board, or measuring pressure with a sophisticated signal conditioner; using specialized application development DAQ software with the appropriate driver is ideal for your application. From data acquisition to instrument control, and image acquisition to motion control, application development software provides the tools to rapidly develop your acquisition system.

Measurement Computing Corporation offers the largest selection of PC-based data acquisition and measurement products. Shop our online catalog by selecting a category above. From PCI, USB, PC/104, ISA, and PCMCIA bus to RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, and GPIB interfaces; Measurement Computing has everything you need for your PC-based data acquisition and control applications.