Utilities: File Conversions

Vehicle Spy contains a few tools for converting file formats. To use them, select Tools -> Utilities -> File Conversions then select the conversion you want to perform (Figure 1). A window will pop up asking for a Vehicle Spy buffer file (CSV or VSB). Find the file and click Open. Another window will open for saving the converted file. Give the file a name and click Save.

Figure 1: Data file converters are found on the Tools : Utilities : File Conversions menu.

Note that none of these file converters will change the original file. All of these converters work with a copy of the original file and leave the original untouched.

Table 1: File Conversion Selections

File Conversion Selection	Description
Text Bus Capture to Signal Log (.csv->.csv)	Converts a Vehicle Spy message+signal buffer file into a signal-only log file. For example, use Messages view "Save" (with Save Signals enabled!) to capture a message+signal CSV file. Use this conversion utility on that file and it becomes a CSV log file with only signal values in it, just like Logging view would generate.
Binary Bus Capture to Text Bus Capture (.vsb->.csv)	Converts a Vehicle Spy binary buffer file into a Vehicle Spy CSV buffer file. (no signals) For example, this can convert a VSB file captured from standalone logging into a CSV file for use in other programs.
Bus Capture to Vector Bus Capture (.csv/.vsb->.asc)	Converts a Vehicle Spy message buffer file into a Vector? log file.
Bus Capture to OptoLyzer Bus Capture (.csv/.vsb->.img)	Converts a Vehicle Spy message buffer file into an OptoLyzer? bus capture (img) file.
Bus Capture to Vector BLF Bus Capture (.csv/.vsb->.blf)	Converts a Vehicle Spy message buffer file into a Vector? bus capture (blf) file.

Though it is not on the File Conversions menu, the CSV2KML converter takes GPS position information from a Vehicle Spy log file and converts it into a KML file for Google Earth. The various file converters are necessary because Vehicle Spy can save buffer files in three formats. Each file format has these unique qualities that are useful in different situations:

Bus Capture CSV buffer file

• always has message data

• can include OR not include decoded signal data as set by the user (database might be required)

• readable by many applications

• larger size than Signal Log or VSB files

Signal Log CSV file

• never has message data

• always has decoded signal data (database not required)

• readable by many applications

• basic table of signals vs time

Bus Capture VSB (binary) buffer file

• always has message data

• never has decoded signal data (database required)

• readable only by Vehicle Spy

• smaller size than CSV files