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Read Data from MDF Files

This example shows you how to read channel data from an MDF file.

View File Details

View metadata of an MDF file using mdfInfo by specifying the file name.

fileInfo = mdfInfo("VehicleData.mf4")
fileInfo = 
  MDFInfo with properties:

   File Details
                  Name: "VehicleData.mf4"
                  Path: "/tmp/Bdoc24a_2528353_1101874/tp8faccd1d/vnt-ex94427230/VehicleData.mf4"
                Author: ""
            Department: ""
               Project: ""
               Subject: ""
               Comment: "Example file demonstrating workflows of writing to MDF files."
               Version: "4.10"
      InitialTimestamp: 2022-01-20 01:22:34.000000000

   Creator Details
     ProgramIdentifier: "MATLAB"
     CreatorVendorName: "The MathWorks, Inc."
       CreatorToolName: "MATLAB"
    CreatorToolVersion: "9.12.0.1846952 (R2022a) Prerelease Update 1"
       CreatorUserName: ""
        CreatorComment: ""

   File Contents
            Attachment: [1x7 table]
     ChannelGroupCount: 2

Read All Data from MDF File

The easiest way to read all data from an MDF file is to call the mdfRead function with just the file name. Each timetable represents data read from the corresponding channel group.

dataAll = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4")
dataAll=2×1 cell array
    {  751x8 timetable}
    {92033x2 timetable}

dataAll{1}
ans=751×8 timetable
      time      EngineRPM    Brake    Throttle    Gear    ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque    TransmissionRPM    VehicleSpeed
    ________    _________    _____    ________    ____    ______________    ____________    _______________    ____________

    0 sec          1000        0           60      1          52.919           282.65                0              0      
    0.04 sec     1383.3        0       59.946      1           101.4           532.63           13.593              0      
    0.08 sec     1685.4        0       59.893      1          150.76           776.41           35.847              0      
    0.12 sec     1907.2        0       59.839      1          193.42           973.15           65.768              0      
    0.16 sec       2062        0       59.785      1          227.02           1117.6           101.53              0      
    0.2 sec      2161.2        0       59.732      1          251.11           1212.8           141.45              0      
    0.24 sec     2221.4        0       59.678      1          267.24           1264.3           183.86              0      
    0.28 sec     2257.2        0       59.624      1          276.35           1271.2           227.25              0      
    0.32 sec     2278.7        0        59.57      1          281.99           1259.5           270.52              0      
    0.36 sec     2292.4        0       59.517      1          283.39             1229           313.08              0      
    0.4 sec      2305.1        0       59.463      1          283.29           1193.4           354.43              0      
    0.44 sec     2317.4        0       59.409      1          282.91           1156.6           394.58              0      
    0.48 sec     2330.5        0       59.356      1          281.84           1112.8           433.27              0      
    0.52 sec     2344.5        0       59.302      1          281.19           1073.1           470.53              0      
    0.56 sec     2359.1        0       59.248      1          279.77           1032.9           506.43              0      
    0.6 sec      2376.4        0       59.195      1          277.89           993.97           540.92              0      
      ⋮

dataAll{2}
ans=92033×2 timetable
         time         AirFlow    FuelRate
    ______________    _______    ________

    0 sec             17.294       1.209 
    0.00056199 sec    17.263       1.209 
    0.0033719 sec     17.112       1.209 
    0.01 sec          16.776      1.1729 
    0.02 sec          16.316      1.1409 
    0.03 sec          15.907      1.1124 
    0.04 sec          15.546      1.0873 
    0.05 sec          15.228      1.0652 
    0.055328 sec      15.075      1.0652 
    0.055328 sec      15.075      1.0652 
    0.055328 sec      15.075      1.0652 
    0.06 sec          14.949      1.0458 
    0.064672 sec      14.832      1.0458 
    0.07 sec          14.707      1.0289 
    0.08 sec          14.497      1.0143 
    0.09 sec          14.317      1.0019 
      ⋮

Read Data from Selected Channel Groups

To read data only from selected channel groups, specify option GroupNumber to be the targeted channel group numbers. Read data from channel group 1 only.

dataChanGrp1 = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", GroupNumber=1)
dataChanGrp1 = 1x1 cell array
    {751x8 timetable}

dataChanGrp1{1}
ans=751×8 timetable
      time      EngineRPM    Brake    Throttle    Gear    ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque    TransmissionRPM    VehicleSpeed
    ________    _________    _____    ________    ____    ______________    ____________    _______________    ____________

    0 sec          1000        0           60      1          52.919           282.65                0              0      
    0.04 sec     1383.3        0       59.946      1           101.4           532.63           13.593              0      
    0.08 sec     1685.4        0       59.893      1          150.76           776.41           35.847              0      
    0.12 sec     1907.2        0       59.839      1          193.42           973.15           65.768              0      
    0.16 sec       2062        0       59.785      1          227.02           1117.6           101.53              0      
    0.2 sec      2161.2        0       59.732      1          251.11           1212.8           141.45              0      
    0.24 sec     2221.4        0       59.678      1          267.24           1264.3           183.86              0      
    0.28 sec     2257.2        0       59.624      1          276.35           1271.2           227.25              0      
    0.32 sec     2278.7        0        59.57      1          281.99           1259.5           270.52              0      
    0.36 sec     2292.4        0       59.517      1          283.39             1229           313.08              0      
    0.4 sec      2305.1        0       59.463      1          283.29           1193.4           354.43              0      
    0.44 sec     2317.4        0       59.409      1          282.91           1156.6           394.58              0      
    0.48 sec     2330.5        0       59.356      1          281.84           1112.8           433.27              0      
    0.52 sec     2344.5        0       59.302      1          281.19           1073.1           470.53              0      
    0.56 sec     2359.1        0       59.248      1          279.77           1032.9           506.43              0      
    0.6 sec      2376.4        0       59.195      1          277.89           993.97           540.92              0      
      ⋮

Read Data from Channels Matching Specified Names

To read data from exactly known channel names, specify option Channel to be the exact channel names. Read data from channels named "Brake", "Throttle" and "FuelRate".

dataChanExact = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", Channel=["Brake", "Throttle", "FuelRate"])
dataChanExact=2×1 cell array
    {  751x2 timetable}
    {92033x1 timetable}

Note that data are returned in two timetables. This is because channels "Brake" and "Throttle" are present in channel group 1, while channel "FuelRate" is present in channel group 2.

dataChanExact{1}
ans=751×2 timetable
      time      Brake    Throttle
    ________    _____    ________

    0 sec         0           60 
    0.04 sec      0       59.946 
    0.08 sec      0       59.893 
    0.12 sec      0       59.839 
    0.16 sec      0       59.785 
    0.2 sec       0       59.732 
    0.24 sec      0       59.678 
    0.28 sec      0       59.624 
    0.32 sec      0        59.57 
    0.36 sec      0       59.517 
    0.4 sec       0       59.463 
    0.44 sec      0       59.409 
    0.48 sec      0       59.356 
    0.52 sec      0       59.302 
    0.56 sec      0       59.248 
    0.6 sec       0       59.195 
      ⋮

dataChanExact{2}
ans=92033×1 timetable
         time         FuelRate
    ______________    ________

    0 sec               1.209 
    0.00056199 sec      1.209 
    0.0033719 sec       1.209 
    0.01 sec           1.1729 
    0.02 sec           1.1409 
    0.03 sec           1.1124 
    0.04 sec           1.0873 
    0.05 sec           1.0652 
    0.055328 sec       1.0652 
    0.055328 sec       1.0652 
    0.055328 sec       1.0652 
    0.06 sec           1.0458 
    0.064672 sec       1.0458 
    0.07 sec           1.0289 
    0.08 sec           1.0143 
    0.09 sec           1.0019 
      ⋮

To read data from partially known channel names, specify option Channel using wildcard characters. Read data from channels whose name contains substring "Torque".

dataChanWildcard = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", Channel="*Torque*")
dataChanWildcard=2×1 cell array
    {751x2 timetable}
    {  0x0 timetable}

Note that the timetable at index 2 is empty. This is because all channels matching "*Torque*" are present in channel group 1.

dataChanWildcard{1}
ans=751×2 timetable
      time      ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque
    ________    ______________    ____________

    0 sec           52.919           282.65   
    0.04 sec         101.4           532.63   
    0.08 sec        150.76           776.41   
    0.12 sec        193.42           973.15   
    0.16 sec        227.02           1117.6   
    0.2 sec         251.11           1212.8   
    0.24 sec        267.24           1264.3   
    0.28 sec        276.35           1271.2   
    0.32 sec        281.99           1259.5   
    0.36 sec        283.39             1229   
    0.4 sec         283.29           1193.4   
    0.44 sec        282.91           1156.6   
    0.48 sec        281.84           1112.8   
    0.52 sec        281.19           1073.1   
    0.56 sec        279.77           1032.9   
    0.6 sec         277.89           993.97   
      ⋮

Read Data from Channels Using Table

You can use mdfChannelInfo to filter for channels to target, and then use the obtained table in mdfRead to only read from the listed channels.

First, find channel names matching "*RPM" or "AirFlow" using mdfChannelInfo.

chanInfo = mdfChannelInfo("VehicleData.mf4", Channel=["*RPM", "AirFlow"])
chanInfo=3×13 table
          Name           GroupNumber    GroupNumSamples    GroupAcquisitionName                                   GroupComment                                    GroupSourceName    GroupSourcePath    DisplayName    Unit      Comment      ExtendedNamePrefix    SourceName     SourcePath 
    _________________    ___________    _______________    ____________________    ___________________________________________________________________________    _______________    _______________    ___________    ____    ___________    __________________    ___________    ___________

    "AirFlow"                 2              92033             <undefined>         Simulation of engine gas dynamics.                                               <undefined>        <undefined>          ""         g/s     <undefined>       <undefined>        <undefined>    <undefined>
    "EngineRPM"               1                751             <undefined>         Simulation of an automatic transmission controller during passing maneuver.      <undefined>        <undefined>          ""         rpm     <undefined>       <undefined>        <undefined>    <undefined>
    "TransmissionRPM"         1                751             <undefined>         Simulation of an automatic transmission controller during passing maneuver.      <undefined>        <undefined>          ""         rpm     <undefined>       <undefined>        <undefined>    <undefined>

Use the mdfRead function by specifying optional argument Channel as the table returned by mdfChannelInfo. This reads data from the three channels listed in the chanInfo table in one go.

dataChanTable = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", Channel=chanInfo)
dataChanTable=2×1 cell array
    {  751x2 timetable}
    {92033x1 timetable}

dataChanTable{1}
ans=751×2 timetable
      time      EngineRPM    TransmissionRPM
    ________    _________    _______________

    0 sec          1000               0     
    0.04 sec     1383.3          13.593     
    0.08 sec     1685.4          35.847     
    0.12 sec     1907.2          65.768     
    0.16 sec       2062          101.53     
    0.2 sec      2161.2          141.45     
    0.24 sec     2221.4          183.86     
    0.28 sec     2257.2          227.25     
    0.32 sec     2278.7          270.52     
    0.36 sec     2292.4          313.08     
    0.4 sec      2305.1          354.43     
    0.44 sec     2317.4          394.58     
    0.48 sec     2330.5          433.27     
    0.52 sec     2344.5          470.53     
    0.56 sec     2359.1          506.43     
    0.6 sec      2376.4          540.92     
      ⋮

dataChanTable{2}
ans=92033×1 timetable
         time         AirFlow
    ______________    _______

    0 sec             17.294 
    0.00056199 sec    17.263 
    0.0033719 sec     17.112 
    0.01 sec          16.776 
    0.02 sec          16.316 
    0.03 sec          15.907 
    0.04 sec          15.546 
    0.05 sec          15.228 
    0.055328 sec      15.075 
    0.055328 sec      15.075 
    0.055328 sec      15.075 
    0.06 sec          14.949 
    0.064672 sec      14.832 
    0.07 sec          14.707 
    0.08 sec          14.497 
    0.09 sec          14.317 
      ⋮

Read Data Within Index Range

To read only a subset of data within a specified index range, specify option IndexRange to provide the start and end index. Read data from both channel groups between index 101 and 105.

dataByIndex = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", IndexRange=[101, 105])
dataByIndex=2×1 cell array
    {5x8 timetable}
    {5x2 timetable}

dataByIndex{1}
ans=5×8 timetable
      time      EngineRPM    Brake    Throttle    Gear    ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque    TransmissionRPM    VehicleSpeed
    ________    _________    _____    ________    ____    ______________    ____________    _______________    ____________

    4 sec        3138.5        0       54.631      2          235.21           340.98           1964.5              0      
    4.04 sec     3151.6        0       54.577      2          234.57           340.09           1975.5              0      
    4.08 sec     3164.6        0       54.523      2          233.93            339.2           1986.3              0      
    4.12 sec     3177.6        0        54.47      2          233.29           338.31           1997.2              0      
    4.16 sec     3190.4        0       54.416      2          232.65           337.43             2008              0      

dataByIndex{2}
ans=5×2 timetable
      time      AirFlow    FuelRate
    ________    _______    ________

    0.89 sec    19.421      1.3439 
    0.9 sec     19.492      1.3486 
    0.91 sec    19.562      1.3532 
    0.92 sec    19.631      1.3577 
    0.93 sec    19.699      1.3622 

Read Data Within Time Range

To read only a subset of data within a specified time range, specify option TimeRange to provide the start and end time. Read data from both channel groups between 1.5 seconds and 2 seconds.

dataByTime = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", TimeRange=seconds([1.5, 2]))
dataByTime=2×1 cell array
    {13x8 timetable}
    {51x2 timetable}

dataByTime{1}
ans=13×8 timetable
      time      EngineRPM    Brake    Throttle    Gear    ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque    TransmissionRPM    VehicleSpeed
    ________    _________    _____    ________    ____    ______________    ____________    _______________    ____________

    1.52 sec       2969        0        57.96      1          240.51           574.51           1106.7              0      
    1.56 sec     3006.7        0       57.906      1           238.7            570.4           1125.9              0      
    1.6 sec      3044.4        0       57.852      1          237.26            567.2           1144.9              0      
    1.64 sec     3082.4        0       57.799      1          235.33           562.79           1163.8              0      
    1.68 sec     3120.3        0       57.745      1          233.87           559.47           1182.6              0      
    1.72 sec     3157.9        0       57.691      1          232.51            556.4           1201.3              0      
    1.76 sec       3195        0       57.638      1          231.18           553.41           1219.9              0      
    1.8 sec        3232        0       57.584      2          510.18           1093.3           1238.3              0      
    1.84 sec     2899.9        0        57.53      2          384.51            755.8           1268.9              0      
    1.88 sec     2742.1        0       57.477      2          327.29           607.68           1291.4              0      
    1.92 sec     2665.8        0       57.423      2             299           534.91           1310.4              0      
    1.96 sec     2631.3        0       57.369      2          284.28           496.35           1327.5              0      
    2 sec        2617.6        0       57.315      2          276.76           475.14           1343.7              0      

dataByTime{2}
ans=51×2 timetable
      time      AirFlow    FuelRate
    ________    _______    ________

    1.5 sec     22.414      1.5385 
    1.51 sec    22.446      1.5405 
    1.52 sec    22.477      1.5425 
    1.53 sec    22.508      1.5445 
    1.54 sec    22.539      1.5464 
    1.55 sec    22.569      1.5484 
    1.56 sec    22.598      1.5502 
    1.57 sec    22.628      1.5521 
    1.58 sec    22.656       1.554 
    1.59 sec    22.685      1.5558 
    1.6 sec     22.713      1.5576 
    1.61 sec    22.741      1.5593 
    1.62 sec    22.768      1.5611 
    1.63 sec    22.795      1.5628 
    1.64 sec    22.822      1.5645 
    1.65 sec    22.849      1.5662 
      ⋮

Read Data with Absolute Timestamps

To return absolute timestamps in datetime that takes into account the initial timestamp of the MDF file, specify option AbsoluteTime as true when calling mdfRead.

dataAbsTime = mdfRead("VehicleData.mf4", AbsoluteTime=true)
dataAbsTime=2×1 cell array
    {  751x8 timetable}
    {92033x2 timetable}

dataAbsTime{1}
ans=751×8 timetable
                time                 EngineRPM    Brake    Throttle    Gear    ImpellerTorque    OutputTorque    TransmissionRPM    VehicleSpeed
    _____________________________    _________    _____    ________    ____    ______________    ____________    _______________    ____________

    2022-01-20 01:22:34.000000000       1000        0           60      1          52.919           282.65                0              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.040000000     1383.3        0       59.946      1           101.4           532.63           13.593              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.080000000     1685.4        0       59.893      1          150.76           776.41           35.847              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.120000000     1907.2        0       59.839      1          193.42           973.15           65.768              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.160000000       2062        0       59.785      1          227.02           1117.6           101.53              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.200000000     2161.2        0       59.732      1          251.11           1212.8           141.45              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.240000000     2221.4        0       59.678      1          267.24           1264.3           183.86              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.280000000     2257.2        0       59.624      1          276.35           1271.2           227.25              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.320000000     2278.7        0        59.57      1          281.99           1259.5           270.52              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.360000000     2292.4        0       59.517      1          283.39             1229           313.08              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.400000000     2305.1        0       59.463      1          283.29           1193.4           354.43              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.440000000     2317.4        0       59.409      1          282.91           1156.6           394.58              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.480000000     2330.5        0       59.356      1          281.84           1112.8           433.27              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.520000000     2344.5        0       59.302      1          281.19           1073.1           470.53              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.560000000     2359.1        0       59.248      1          279.77           1032.9           506.43              0      
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.600000000     2376.4        0       59.195      1          277.89           993.97           540.92              0      
      ⋮

dataAbsTime{2}
ans=92033×2 timetable
                time                 AirFlow    FuelRate
    _____________________________    _______    ________

    2022-01-20 01:22:34.000000000    17.294       1.209 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.000561989    17.263       1.209 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.003371932    17.112       1.209 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.010000000    16.776      1.1729 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.020000000    16.316      1.1409 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.030000000    15.907      1.1124 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.040000000    15.546      1.0873 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.050000000    15.228      1.0652 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.055327997    15.075      1.0652 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.055327997    15.075      1.0652 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.055327997    15.075      1.0652 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.060000000    14.949      1.0458 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.064672003    14.832      1.0458 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.070000000    14.707      1.0289 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.080000000    14.497      1.0143 
    2022-01-20 01:22:34.090000000    14.317      1.0019 
      ⋮