I'm trying to figure out using a DT80 to write fixed format files on a USB drive and came across the following in the DT80 forum "The DT80 uses a binary file for data storage". This format gives us tighter control over data storage allowing faster card access and pre-allocation of files.

DT800 will go over to this format when V5 firmware is released next year. This was posted in 2005, but the DT800 I received weeks ago can write ASCII text to its PCMCIA slot card.

Perhaps the 800 writes text.dxd files and DT80 writes binary dBd files? Did the format change quoted above from the DT80 forum not happen yet? I'm not finding binary storage files described in the 800 manual.

I'm about to demonstrate DT800 usage to a large group of potential users and wanted to show them you write this program on a card at your desk, plug it in to the DT800 on the plant floor, the DT800 runs, you pull the card and have your data as a text file.

It all works with the DT80 except the data aren't text at the end. Will this work and continue to work with the DT800?

DT800 remains text only.

My guess is that DT800 will stay as is including maintaining the text data format for storage. Doesn't appear to make a whole lot of sense to radically change the data format on a product that has been out for about 7-8 years and could be considered 'mature'.

Agree the whole 'text in - text out' deal has some advantages. Keep agitating dataTaker to give more control of data formats to the user.