Load .dbc Files and Create Messages

Vector CAN Database Support

Vehicle Network Toolbox™ allows you to use a Vector CAN database. The database .dbc file contains definitions of CAN messages and signals. Using the information defined in the database file, you can look up message and signal information, and build messages. You can also represent message and signal information in engineering units so that you do not need to manipulate raw data bytes.

Load the CAN Database

To use a CAN database file, load the database into your MATLAB^® session. At the MATLAB command prompt, type:

db = canDatabase('filename.dbc')

Here db is a variable you chose for your database handle and filename.dbc is the actual file name of your CAN database. If your CAN database is not in the current working directory, type the path to the database:

db = canDatabase('path\filename.dbc')

Tip

CAN database file names containing non-alphanumeric characters such as equal signs, ampersands, and so forth are incompatible with Vehicle Network Toolbox. You can use periods in your database name. Rename any CAN database files with non-alphanumeric characters before you use them.

This command returns a database object that you can use to create and interpret CAN messages using information stored in the database. Refer to the canDatabase function for more information.

Create a CAN Message

This example shows you how to create a message using a database constructed specifically for this example. You can access this database in the Toolbox > VNT > VNTDemos subfolder in your MATLAB installation folder. This database has a message, EngineMsg. To try this example, create messages and signals using definitions in your own database.

1. Create the CAN database object.

   cd ([matlabroot '\examples\vnt'])
   d = canDatabase('demoVNT_CANdbFiles.dbc');

2. Create a CAN message using the message name in the database.

   message = canMessage(d,'EngineMsg');

Access Signals in the Constructed CAN Message

You can access the two signals defined for the message you created in the example database, message. You can also change the values for some signals.

1. To display signals in your message, type:

   sig = message.Signals

   sig = 
   
     struct with fields:
   
       VehicleSpeed: 0
          EngineRPM: 250

2. Change the value of the EngineRPM signal:

   message.Signals.EngineRPM = 300;

3. Reassign the signals and display them again to see the change.

   sig = message.Signals

   sig = 
   
     struct with fields:
   
       VehicleSpeed: 0
          EngineRPM: 300

Add a Database to a CAN Channel

To add a database to the CAN channel canch, type:

canch.Database = canDatabase('Mux.dbc')

For more information, see the Database property.

Update Database Information

When you make changes to a database file:

1. Reload the database file into your MATLAB session using the canDatabase function.

2. Reattach the database to messages using the attachDatabase function.

Create and Process Messages Using Database Definitions

This example shows you how to create, receive and process messages using information stored in CAN database files. This example uses the CAN database file, demoVNT_CANdbFiles.dbc.

Open the Database File

Open the database file and examine the Messages property to see the names of all message defined in this database.

db = canDatabase('demoVNT_CANdbFiles.dbc')
db.Messages

db = 

  Database with properties:

             Name: 'demoVNT_CANdbFiles'
             Path: '/tmp/Bdoc19b_1305395_199100/tp21cea535/ex80654288/demoVNT_CANdbFiles.dbc'
            Nodes: {}
         NodeInfo: [0x0 struct]
         Messages: {5x1 cell}
      MessageInfo: [5x1 struct]
       Attributes: {}
    AttributeInfo: [0x0 struct]
         UserData: []


ans =

  5x1 cell array

    {'DoorControlMsg'   }
    {'EngineMsg'        }
    {'SunroofControlMsg'}
    {'TransmissionMsg'  }
    {'WindowControlMsg' }

View Message Information

Use messageInfo to view message information, including the identifier, data length, and a signal list.

messageInfo(db, 'EngineMsg')

ans = 

  struct with fields:

             Name: 'EngineMsg'
     ProtocolMode: 'CAN'
          Comment: ''
               ID: 100
         Extended: 0
            J1939: []
           Length: 8
              DLC: 8
              BRS: 0
          Signals: {2x1 cell}
       SignalInfo: [2x1 struct]
          TxNodes: {0x1 cell}
       Attributes: {}
    AttributeInfo: [0x0 struct]

You can also query for information on all messages at once.

messageInfo(db)

ans = 

  5x1 struct array with fields:

    Name
    ProtocolMode
    Comment
    ID
    Extended
    J1939
    Length
    DLC
    BRS
    Signals
    SignalInfo
    TxNodes
    Attributes
    AttributeInfo

View Signal Information

Use signalInfo to view signal definition information, including type, byte ordering, size, and scaling values that translate raw signals to physical values.

signalInfo(db, 'EngineMsg', 'EngineRPM')

ans = 

  struct with fields:

             Name: 'EngineRPM'
          Comment: ''
         StartBit: 0
       SignalSize: 32
        ByteOrder: 'LittleEndian'
           Signed: 0
        ValueType: 'Integer'
            Class: 'uint32'
           Factor: 0.1000
           Offset: 250
          Minimum: 250
          Maximum: 9500
            Units: 'rpm'
       ValueTable: [0x1 struct]
      Multiplexor: 0
      Multiplexed: 0
    MultiplexMode: 0
          RxNodes: {0x1 cell}
       Attributes: {}
    AttributeInfo: [0x0 struct]

You can also query for information on all signals in the message at once.

signalInfo(db, 'EngineMsg')

ans = 

  2x1 struct array with fields:

    Name
    Comment
    StartBit
    SignalSize
    ByteOrder
    Signed
    ValueType
    Class
    Factor
    Offset
    Minimum
    Maximum
    Units
    ValueTable
    Multiplexor
    Multiplexed
    MultiplexMode
    RxNodes
    Attributes
    AttributeInfo

Create a Message Using Database Definitions

Specify the name of the message when you create a new message to have the database definition applied. CAN signals in this messages are represented in engineering units in addition to the raw data bytes.

msgEngineInfo = canMessage(db, 'EngineMsg')

msgEngineInfo = 

  Message with properties:

   Message Identification
    ProtocolMode: 'CAN'
              ID: 100
        Extended: 0
            Name: 'EngineMsg'

   Data Details
       Timestamp: 0
            Data: [0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0]
         Signals: [1x1 struct]
          Length: 8

   Protocol Flags
           Error: 0
          Remote: 0

   Other Information
        Database: [1x1 can.Database]
        UserData: []

View Signal Information

Use the Signals property to see signal values for this message. You can directly write to and read from these signals to pack or unpack data from the message.

msgEngineInfo.Signals

ans = 

  struct with fields:

    VehicleSpeed: 0
       EngineRPM: 250

Change Signal Information

Write directly to the signal to change a value and read its current value back.

msgEngineInfo.Signals.EngineRPM = 5500.25
msgEngineInfo.Signals

msgEngineInfo = 

  Message with properties:

   Message Identification
    ProtocolMode: 'CAN'
              ID: 100
        Extended: 0
            Name: 'EngineMsg'

   Data Details
       Timestamp: 0
            Data: [23 205 0 0 0 0 0 0]
         Signals: [1x1 struct]
          Length: 8

   Protocol Flags
           Error: 0
          Remote: 0

   Other Information
        Database: [1x1 can.Database]
        UserData: []


ans = 

  struct with fields:

    VehicleSpeed: 0
       EngineRPM: 5.5003e+03

When you write directly to the signal, the value is translated, scaled, and packed into the message data using the database definition.

msgEngineInfo.Signals.VehicleSpeed = 70.81
msgEngineInfo.Signals

msgEngineInfo = 

  Message with properties:

   Message Identification
    ProtocolMode: 'CAN'
              ID: 100
        Extended: 0
            Name: 'EngineMsg'

   Data Details
       Timestamp: 0
            Data: [23 205 0 0 71 0 0 0]
         Signals: [1x1 struct]
          Length: 8

   Protocol Flags
           Error: 0
          Remote: 0

   Other Information
        Database: [1x1 can.Database]
        UserData: []


ans = 

  struct with fields:

    VehicleSpeed: 71
       EngineRPM: 5.5003e+03

Receive Messages with Database Information

Attach a database to a CAN channel that receives messages to apply database definitions to incoming messages automatically. The database decodes only messages that are defined. All other messages are received in their raw form.

rxCh = canChannel('MathWorks', 'Virtual 1', 2);
rxCh.Database = db

rxCh = 

  Channel with properties:

   Device Information
            DeviceVendor: 'MathWorks'
                  Device: 'Virtual 1'
      DeviceChannelIndex: 2
      DeviceSerialNumber: 0
            ProtocolMode: 'CAN'

   Status Information
                 Running: 0
       MessagesAvailable: 0
        MessagesReceived: 0
     MessagesTransmitted: 0
    InitializationAccess: 1
        InitialTimestamp: [0x0 datetime]
           FilterHistory: 'Standard ID Filter: Allow All | Extended ID Filter: Allow All'

   Channel Information
               BusStatus: 'N/A'
              SilentMode: 0
         TransceiverName: 'N/A'
        TransceiverState: 'N/A'
       ReceiveErrorCount: 0
      TransmitErrorCount: 0
                BusSpeed: 500000
                     SJW: []
                   TSEG1: []
                   TSEG2: []
            NumOfSamples: []

   Other Information
                Database: [1x1 can.Database]
                UserData: []

Receive Messages

Start the channel, generate some message traffic and receive messages with physical message decoding.

start(rxCh);
generateMsgsDb();
rxMsg = receive(rxCh, Inf, 'OutputFormat', 'timetable');
rxMsg(1:15, :)

ans =

  15x8 timetable

        Time         ID     Extended            Name                Data        Length      Signals       Error    Remote
    _____________    ___    ________    _____________________    ___________    ______    ____________    _____    ______

    0.0030387 sec    100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.0030463 sec    200     false      {'TransmissionMsg'  }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.0030524 sec    400     false      {'DoorControlMsg'   }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.0030568 sec    600     false      {'WindowControlMsg' }    {1x4 uint8}      4       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.0030584 sec    800     false      {'SunroofControlMsg'}    {1x2 uint8}      2       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.027982 sec     100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.05303 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.053032 sec     200     false      {'TransmissionMsg'  }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.078024 sec     100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.103 sec        100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.103 sec        200     false      {'TransmissionMsg'  }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.12799 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.12799 sec      400     false      {'DoorControlMsg'   }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.15299 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'        }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.15299 sec      200     false      {'TransmissionMsg'  }    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 

Stop the channel and clear it from the workspace.

stop(rxCh);
clear rxCh

Examine a Received Message

Inspect a received message to see the applied database decoding.

rxMsg(10, :)
rxMsg.Signals{10}

ans =

  1x8 timetable

      Time       ID     Extended        Name            Data        Length      Signals       Error    Remote
    _________    ___    ________    _____________    ___________    ______    ____________    _____    ______

    0.103 sec    100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 


ans = 

  struct with fields:

    VehicleSpeed: 50
       EngineRPM: 3.5696e+03

Extract All Instances of a Specified Message

Use MATLAB notation to extract all instances of a specified message by name.

allMsgEngine = rxMsg(strcmpi('EngineMsg', rxMsg.Name), :);
allMsgEngine(1:15, :)

ans =

  15x8 timetable

        Time         ID     Extended        Name            Data        Length      Signals       Error    Remote
    _____________    ___    ________    _____________    ___________    ______    ____________    _____    ______

    0.0030387 sec    100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.027982 sec     100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.05303 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.078024 sec     100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.103 sec        100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.12799 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.15299 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.17799 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.20302 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.22805 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.25305 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.27806 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.30299 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.32805 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 
    0.35299 sec      100     false      {'EngineMsg'}    {1x8 uint8}      8       {1x1 struct}    false    false 

Plot Physical Signal Values

Plot the values of database decoded signals over time. Reference the message timestamps and the signal values in variables.

signalTimetable = canSignalTimetable(rxMsg, 'EngineMsg');
signalTimetable(1:15, :)
plot(signalTimetable.Time, signalTimetable.VehicleSpeed)
title('Vehicle Speed from EngineMsg', 'FontWeight', 'bold')
xlabel('Timestamp')
ylabel('Vehicle Speed')

ans =

  15x2 timetable

        Time         VehicleSpeed    EngineRPM
    _____________    ____________    _________

    0.0030387 sec          0             250  
    0.027982 sec          50          3569.6  
    0.05303 sec           50          3569.6  
    0.078024 sec          50          3569.6  
    0.103 sec             50          3569.6  
    0.12799 sec           50          3569.6  
    0.15299 sec           55          3621.3  
    0.17799 sec           55          3621.3  
    0.20302 sec           55          3621.3  
    0.22805 sec           55          3621.3  
    0.25305 sec           55          3663.9  
    0.27806 sec           55          3663.9  
    0.30299 sec           55          3663.9  
    0.32805 sec           55          3663.9  
    0.35299 sec           54          3598.1  

Related Topics

• View Message Information in a CAN Database
• View Signal Information in a CAN Message
• Attach a CAN Database to Existing Messages

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