MF4 Converters - Easily Convert MF4 to CSV, ASC, TRC, ...
Need to convert your MF4 CAN data to other formats?
The CANedge records raw CAN/LIN data to an SD card in the popular ASAM MDF4 format.
To ensure interoperability across CAN tools, our simple-to-use MF4 converters let you convert data easily to e.g. CSV, TRC, ASC and other popular file formats.
Learn more below - and try the converters yourself!
INTEROPERABLE
Convert your MF4 files to use your existing favorite CAN tools
DRAG & DROP
Drag & drop files/folders onto the converter to process them
AUTOMATE
Optionally use via the command line or in scripts for automation
ONE-STEP
Decompression and/or decryption can be done during conversion
WINDOWS/LINUX
Converters can be used on both Windows and Linux operating systems
OPEN SOURCE
Free and open source - letting you build custom converters
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 (Flexible Data-rate), LIN bus, Ethernet and more.
The CANedge series records raw CAN/LIN data in the latest standardized version, MDF4 (*.MF4). The log file format is ideally suited for pro specs CAN logging at high bus loads and enables both lossless recording and 100% power safety. Further, the CANedge supports embedded encryption and compression of the log file data (both cases natively 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 be converted 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 supported MF4 file converters in the CANedge Intro docs.
The list of supported formats include the below:
- Vector ASC (used in e.g. CANalyzer, CANape, CANoe and other Vector tools)
- Finalized & sorted MF4 (used in e.g. MATLAB Vehicle Network Toolbox)
- Standard CSV (used in e.g. Excel, pandas, ...)
- PEAK TRC (used in e.g. PCAN Explorer and other PEAK tools)
- Wireshark PCAP (used in e.g. Wireshark)
- CLX000 TXT (used in e.g. the CLX000 software CANvas)
- socketCAN LOG (used in e.g. tool supporting socketCAN)
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 the converter format - incl. CSV, ASC (Vector), TRC (PEAK), TXT (CLX000) and more.
Batch convert (nested) folders
You can also drag & drop entire folders of MDF4 log files onto a converter to batch process the files. 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 and options like verbosity, target output path, error handling and more.
Easily decompress and/or decrypt your raw data
The CANedge supports embedded compression and encryption of log files on the SD card. Here, the MDF4 converters provide an easy solution for decompression and decryption.
Automate conversion via scripts
The converters are simply executables and can be called from any programming language - e.g. as Python subprocesses. See our github API library for automation examples.
import subprocess
subprocess.run(["mdf2csv.exe", "-i", "input", "-O", "output"])
Easily use on mounted S3 drives
The CANedge2 uploads data to your own S3 server. You can easily mount your S3 server as a local drive - and directly use the MF4 converters as if files were stored locally.
Modify source code and build custom converters
The MDF4 converters are 100% free and open source, letting you do custom builds for e.g. specific file formats or use cases. See our MF4 converter docs for details.
Want to try the converters yourself? Download the converters and MDF4 sample data below:
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. In order to use the log files in Vector tools like CANalyzer, you can use the 'mdf2finalized' converter to finalize the MF4 log files. Doing so lets you directly load the log files in Vector tools (from v14 SP2).
For older version of Vector's tools, you can alternatively use our 'mdf2asc' executable to convert the MF4 files to Vector ASC for use in CANalyzer, CANape and other tools.
Analyze fleet performance in MATLAB
Need to process terabytes of data from your server?
The CANedge2 lets you record raw CAN data to an SD card and auto-push it to your own S3 server via WiFi. This makes it ideal for large-scale data collection, e.g. for OEM prototype field tests. The 'mdf2finalized' converter can be used to finalize incoming files, letting you load the data natively via MATLAB's Vehicle Network Toolbox - and easily handle terabytes of MDF4 data directly from your S3 server.
Note: As of MATLAB 2021b, you can directly load the CANedge MF4 files in the Vehicle Network Toolbox.
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 in e.g. custom Python scripts or process via quick ad hoc analyses in e.g. Excel.
FAQ
Converting 1 GB of raw MF4 data takes 1-2 minutes for most converters.
The raw MD4 (MF4) log files from the CANedge can be loaded natively in e.g. the free open source asammdf GUI/API.
Many other tools also support the MF4 file format, though the standard is in some cases implemented to only a limited extent. To use MF4 files in MATLAB, for example, the files need to be finalized first (using the mdf2finalized converter). Similarly, CANalyzer requires MF4 files to be finalized and sorted, which means you can load MF4 files in CANalyzer after using the mdf2finalized converter as well. However, CANalyzer also requires that extended CAN IDs follow a specific syntax, hence the ASC format (via the mdf2asc converter) is generally recommended if you wish to use Vector tools.
For DBC decoding, plots and general analysis, we recommend to use the asammdf GUI/API - which natively loads raw MDF4 data from the CANedge. The asammdf tool enables DBC conversion (incl. OBD2, J1939, CANopen, NMEA 2000, LIN bus ...) and built-in graphical plot functionality. It also provides a range of output formats that you can export to, incl. MAT, CSV, HDF5, pandas and more.
Learn more about asammdfThe MDF4 converters are primarily intended as simple-to-use gateways for using the raw CAN/LIN data in various popular existing CAN bus software tools - many of which support DBC conversion, plots etc. The MDF4 converters do not directly support DBC conversion at this stage, though this may change.
No, you simply download the converter executables - no installation required.
Many of our users have transitioned from the CLX000 to the CANedge series. In many cases, existing scripts use the CLX000 log file format (TXT). To help smoothen the transition, you can use the 'mdf2clx000' converter to easily convert raw MDF4 log files from the CANedge to the CLX000 log file format. Using an INI config file, you can specify the exact structure you had for your CLX000 log file format to ensure that the output suits your needs.
Yes, like any open source project you can propose new features and contribute to improving the source code. If a new feature is developed that we believe will benefit all users, we may merge it into the master project.
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