SystemLink Data Preparation Procedure Does Not Add Custom Properties

Issue Details

• I need to create a Data Preparation Procedure (DPP) to add custom properties to my file/group/channel. When I enable the Statistics tab and run my DPP, the custom statistics are never added. Why is this?
• I want to include custom properties in my data file. I have created a Validation and Verification (V&V) script to programmatically add properties, but when I run my DPP, the properties do not get populated. If I run the same code from a standard Visual Basic/Python script in DIAdem, it works. 
• I want to add custom properties, like statistical minimum and maximum, to my channels so that they can be searched in the SystemLink Data Navigation page. However, my DataFinder does not index my custom properties. What's causing this?

Solution

Custom properties can be added to data files as long as the DataPlugin supports this operation. There is no blanket rule that can be applied to pre-determine whether a DataPlugin supports custom properties, but the following considerations can help:
 

• Read-only DataPlugins written in Visual Basic Script (VBS) usually support custom properties.
• Read-write DataPlugins written in C++ that call external libraries or DLLs not created by NI are more constrained and may not support custom properties.

If your Data Preparation Procedure (DPP) does not add custom properties to your file as expected, try changing the output file type to TDM or TDMS, since these formats support custom properties. To change the output file type:
 

1. From the Data Preparation Procedure window in DIAdem, select the Convert File tab.
2. In the Save with DataPlugin drop-down menu, select National Instruments TDM Files (.TDM) or National Instruments TDM Streaming (*.TDMS).
3. Ensure that you have configured the DPP to add custom properties (either in the Statistics tab or with a V&V script), and then run the DPP.
   • If you see the custom properties, this indicates that the DataPlugin used originally does not support custom properties.
   • If the custom properties are still not visible, contact NI Support.

To search for custom properties in the SystemLink Data Navigation page, refer to Making Custom Properties Searchable.

Additional Information

Some DataPlugins that do not support custom properties are:

• MDF3 DataPlugin.
• WAV DataPlugin.
• MATLAB DataPlugin.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list.