Export Hour Meter Data to Use on Your Own Database
After installing the IoTMeter on your equipment and configuring the software, the Linortek IoTMeter will record the equipment’s run time hours. You can monitor the real time data either from the built-in webpage or the HourCollector desktop app. Many companies have their own management software and would like to integrate the equipment hour readings to their system so that they can automate their maintenance procedures. Below, I will demonstrate how to export the hour reading data from the IoTMeter using XML. Note: This tutorial uses Microsoft Office 2016.
Incorporating Hour Meter Log
The easiest way to collect the hour meter data is using our HourMeter Collector app. When you run the HourMeter Collector, it will automatically create a folder to your desktop containing a .CSV file which can be opened in Excel. Once the HourMeter Collector app is running, it will save the hour data every two minutes by default (interval can be changed from the app). This will keep an ongoing log of all data collected by the HourMeter Collector app. You can incorporate the .CSV file to your spreadsheet if you wish by following these steps. Navigate to the Data tab and click New Query. Select From File and then From CSV. Then navigate to the Hours CSV file (By default: C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\CSV_FILE) and open the Hours file. This will create a new sheet on your spreadsheet. Don’t forget to adjust the refresh rate. Keep reading for more detailed instruction.
Exporting XML Data
To export XML data from your Hour Meter, open a spreadsheet and navigate to the Data tab. Click the New Query icon, hold the cursor over From Other Sources and click From Web. Note: This method does not currently work with WiFi IoTMeter.
A window will pop up where you will enter the URL. To get data from the Hour Meter, enter IP_Address/hours.xml. Another window will pop up showing a preview. From here you can either load the table as is, or to better organize the table, click Transform Data. A new window will open, click Split Column and then click By Delimiter. In the select delimiter drop down menu, select Custom. In the box underneath, use the “|” symbol (Shift+\). Make sure to check the box “Each occurrence of the delimiter”
This will split the table into six columns which you can rename as you wish. Once you are finished, Click the Close & Load button in the upper left corner. Your Table will then load to your spreadsheet.
By default, Excel will update the data every 60 minutes. To change this setting as well as other refresh settings, click the arrow under the Refresh icon and click Connection Properties. From here you can change the refresh frequency and change other settings.
Collecting the Hour Meter Data Remotely
To collect the hour meter data within the same network, you can use one of the two methods above. If you want to read the data remotely outside your network, you will first need to port forward your hour meter to the Internet and have a public IP address. You can find a tutorial on how to do this here: https://www.linortek.com/using-port-forwarding-to-connect-to-remote-device/. Now you can collect the meter data from your device. Please note: the Port Forwarding feature is only available on the Network Hour Meter devices, it will be available for the WiFi Hour Meter on the next software update.
