Real-time data acquisition and visualization

 1. PLX-DAQ

Download: https://www.parallax.com/downloads/plx-daq   

Hints (from Nick Landrigan)

1. Baud Rate needs to be set to the same as what is being used in the Arduino code. (9600)

2. Comm port needs to be set up to the same port as what is used to upload to the Arduino.

3. Serial monitor cannot be open when trying to collect data in Excel. An error will pop up and say the comm port is in use.

4. Program must be done downloading to the Arduino before connecting PLX-DAQ or there will be a connection error and it won't work. Same error as 3.

2. Excel Add-in

Hints (from Graham Ching): 

Go to File -> Options -> Add-ins, and select ‘Manage COM Add-ins’ from the drop-down box at the bottom. Then press ‘Go’, and select ‘Microsoft Data Streamer for Excel’ and press OK. A Data Streamer tab will appear at the top of Excel. From that tab, you can click ‘Connect a Device’ and select your Arduino. There are buttons to Start, Stop, or Record the data from the Arduino. It will read anything that the Arduino prints to the serial monitor. (Note: The serial monitor cannot be open at the same time for this to work).

Here is a link with more information, as well as how to create a chart to plot the real-time data points:

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/HackingSTEM/stream-data-from-arduino-into-excel-f1bede