MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (2024)

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (1)

Need to convert your MF4 CAN/LIN data to other formats?

The CANedge records rawCAN/LINdata to an SD card in the popular ASAM MDF4 format.

The simple-to-use MF4 converters let you convert your log files to ASC, CSV or TRC -making it easy to analyze your raw CAN/LIN data ine.g.Vector/PEAK software.

Learn more below - and try the converters yourself!

Tip: See our MF4 decodersif you need to DBC decode your data.

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (2)

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (3)INTEROPERABLE

Convert your MF4 files to use your existing favorite CAN tools

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (4)DRAG & DROP

Drag & drop files/folders onto the converter to process them

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (5)AUTOMATE

Optionally use via the command line or in scripts for automation

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (6)ONE-STEP

Decompression and/or decryption can be done during conversion

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (7)WINDOWS/LINUX

Converters can be used on both Windows and Linux operating systems

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (8)100% FREE

The converters are 100% free and can be integrated into your own solutions


The ASAM MDF (Measurement Data Format) is a popular, open and standardized format for storing bus data - e.g.from CAN bus, J1939, OBD2, CAN FD (FlexibleData-rate),LIN bus, Ethernet and more.

The CANedge series records raw CAN/LIN data in the latest standardized version, MDF4 (*.MF4). The log fileformatis ideally suited for pro specs CAN logging at high bus loads and enables both lossless recording and 100%powersafety. Further, the CANedge supports embedded encryption and compression of the log file data (both casesnatively supported by the MDF4 converters as well).

The raw MF4 data from the CANedge can be loaded natively in the open source asammdf GUI/API - or it can beconverted to other file formats via the MDF4 converters outlined in this article.

To learn more about the MDF4 file format, see our MF4 intro.


You can find a full list of the MF4 converters in the documentation.

The list of supported formats include the below:

  • Finalized & sorted MF4 (used in e.g. Vector tools, MATLAB's VehicleNetwork Toolbox, nCode and more)
  • Vector ASC (used in e.g. CANalyzer, CANape, CANoe and other Vectortools)
  • Standard CSV (used in e.g. Excel, pandas, ...)
  • PEAK TRC (used in e.g. PCAN Explorer and other PEAK tools)

FUNCTIONALITY

CONVERT FOLDERS

USE VIA CLI

AUTOMATE VIA SCRIPTS

USE WITH S3

DECOMPRESS/DECRYPT

INTEGRATION EXAMPLES

VECTOR

PEAK

EXCEL

MATLAB

Convert raw MDF4 data via drag & drop

The simple-to-use MDF4 converters let you drag & drop raw CANedge log files to create a copy in theconverter format - incl. CSV, ASC (Vector) and TRC (PEAK).

Batch convert (nested) folders

You can also drag & drop entire folders of MDF4 log files onto a converter to batch process thefiles.This works also for nested folders with e.g. hundreds of log files (1 GB in < 2 min).

Convert data via the command line interface

The converter executables can be used from the command line, letting you control input fields andoptionslike verbosity, target output path, error handling and more.

Automate conversion via scripts

The converters are simply executables and can be called from any programming language - e.g. asPythonsubprocesses. See our github APIlibraryfor automation examples.

import subprocess

subprocess.run(["mdf2csv.exe", "-i", "input", "-O", "output"])

Easily use on mounted S3 drives

The CANedge2/CANedge3 upload data to your own S3 server. You can mountyour S3 bucket and use the MF4 converters as if files were storedlocally. Or use in AWS Lambda for full automation.

Easily decompress and/or decrypt your raw data

The CANedge supports embedded compression and encryption of log files on the SD card. Here, the MDF4converters provide an easy solution for decompression and decryption.

Load raw CAN/LIN data in Vector software

You can convert your raw MF4 data to 'finalized' MF4 files and load them in Vector software likeCANalyzer (assuming v14+). For older Vector tools, you can use the ASC format.

Load raw CAN/LIN data in PEAK software

If you wish to work with your log files in e.g. PEAK's PCAN-Explorer, simply convert your MF4 filestoTRC files via the mdf2peak converter.

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (9)

Load raw CAN/LIN data in Excel for quick analysis

Converting your MF4 files to CSV enables quick loading of the raw CAN/LIN data in Excel - ideal forquickad hoc analysis.

Create MATLAB datastores with finalized MF4

MATLAB's Vehicle Network Toolbox lets you load CANedge log files natively. Further, by 'finalizing'themvia our converters, you can create flexible 'datastores' based on multiple MF4 files.

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (10)

Want to try this yourself? Download the converters and MF4 sample databelow:

DownloadconvertersDownload MDF4data

Vehicle issue diagnostics in Vector CANalyzer

Want to use a Vector tool to process your CAN data?

The CANedge lets you record raw CAN/LIN data to an SD card for post analysis in your favorite tools. Inorderto use the log files in Vector tools like CANalyzer, you can use the 'mdf2finalized' converter tofinalizethe MF4 log files. Doing so lets you directly load the log files in Vector tools (from v14 SP2). Forolderversion of Vector's tools, you can alternatively use our 'mdf2asc' executable to convert the MF4files to Vector ASC for use in CANalyzer, CANape and other tools.

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (11)

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (12)

Analyze fleet performance in MATLAB

Need to process terabytes of data from your server?

The CANedge3lets you record raw CAN data to an SD card and auto-push it to your own S3 server via 3G/4G. Thismakes it ideal for large-scale data collection, e.g. for OEM prototype field tests. Uploaded MF4 logfilescan be loaded natively in MATLAB via the VehicleNetwork Toolbox - or they can be pre-finalized for faster and more scalableprocessing using our MF4 converters.

Process CSV files in custom scripts

Process your raw CAN data in a basic CSV format

The 'mdf2csv' converter lets you quickly perform MDF to CSV conversion, which makes it easy to load ine.g.custom Python scripts or e.g. Excel.

MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (13)

FAQ


The raw MD4 (MF4) log files from the CANedge can be loaded natively in e.g. the free open source asammdf GUI/API, our MF4converters, our MF4 decoders and MATLAB's Vehicle Network Toolbox.

Many other tools also support the MF4 file format, thoughthestandard is in some cases implemented to only a limited extent. MATLAB's Vehicle Network Toolbox for examplelets you load directly the raw MF4 files from the CANedge - but in order to use the files in 'datastores',theyneed to first be finalized and sorted via our mdf2finalized converter. Similarly, CANalyzer requires MF4filestobe finalized and sorted,which means you can load MF4 files in CANalyzer after using the mdf2finalized converter as well.


The MF4 converters do not perform DBC decoding of the data - the output remains raw CAN/LIN frames, but nowin adifferent file format. This makes them useful when you specifically wish to work with the raw data in othersoftware/API tools.

If you wish to DBC decode yourrawCAN/LIN data, you can use one of the below options:

  • asammdf GUI: This lets youloadMF4 log files natively and DBC decode them for e.g. visualization
  • MF4 decoders: These are similar to the MF4 converters, but output DBC decoded CSV or Parquet files
  • Python/MATLAB: You can use Python, MATLAB or other programming tools to DBC decode your CANedge data
  • Other software: If you load your raw log files in e.g. Vector/PEAK tools, you can perform the DBCdecodingthere

We provide two types of MF4 executables for use with the CANedge: The MF4 converters and MF4 decoders.

The MF4 converters let you convert the MDF log files to other formats like Vector ASC, PEAKTRCand CSV. Theseconverters do not perform any form of DBC decoding of the raw CAN/LIN data - they only change the fileformat.

The MF4 decoders are very similar in functionality as the MF4 converters. However, theseexcecutables DBC decodethe log files to physical values, outputting them as either CSV or Parquet files. When using the MF4decoders,you provide your DBC file(s) to enable the decoding. These executables are ideal if your goal is to analysethehuman-readable form of the data and/or e.g. create 'data lakes' for analysing/visualizing the data at scale.


No, you simply downloadtheconverter executables - no installation required.

Need an interoperable CAN logger?

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MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC (2024)
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