Need help with files with "mlp" extension

[Virous]

Good Evening!

I have a few files with "mlp" extension, which are pH vs Time graphs from a lab data logger. The original software is unavailable to me, but in the Internet I can`t find anything to open it.

Please, help!

 

[jedishrfu]

Are you sure the mlp files are for a data logger because every reference I've seen says they are some kind of audio file known as Meridian Lossless Packing audio. Did the data logger record in an audio format?

http://pc.net/extensions/file/mlp

and

http://www.solvusoft.com/en/file-extensions/file-extension-mlp/

Perhaps you can find better info searching for the data logger software.

 

[Virous]

No, these are not sound files. I`m absolutely sure, since I recorded all these files myself. Audio format is the only thing I get from Google as well.

I hope to find someone on this forum who possesses the same kind of data logger and will share his software with me. On the official website of the manufacturer I found the software (MultiLab), but only the latest version, which uses a different format (mlb instead of mlp).

 

[jedishrfu]

Try contacting the manufacturer then.

 

[Virous]

Yeah, seems it`s the only way. They don`t tend to be fast when it comes to their support service. Especially on weekends :(

 

[jedishrfu]

Have you looked at the files with an editor or binary dump (ala vim -b or the od command in linux)?

http://usevim.com/2012/06/20/vim-binary-files/

You might be able to construct a program in your favorite language or a script in Python to read it.

 

[Virous]

Yes, I tried to open them with a text editor. I can clearly see the header of the table (e.g. "Temperature"), but I can`t find any numbers.

http://www.filedropper.com/5_11 - this is one of the files.

 

[Virous]

I can see two long strings with lots of groups of 3 symbols separated by 5 null-bytes. I presume, these are the values I need. 3 bytes should be enough to store a decimal number with 4 s.f., I guess. But I see no relationship between these groups and actual numbers :(

 

[jedishrfu]

you have to worry about byte order too, known as little-endian vs big-endian format. If the mlp file was recorded on an Intel machine then the binary numbers are little-endian format. If it was a on PowerPC chip as an example, it would be big-endian format.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endianness#Little-endian

Its hard to say whether they recorded that data as data points like ph value, temp value... or all ph values (an array) and all temp values

 

[B0b-A]

Viewed on a hex[adecimal] editor http://www.filedropper.com/5_11 begins ...

 DBLabFile.v.1.4 ...Exp..3...  ..Temperature.I/  O-1..C..

if that's any help.

http://www.fileformat.info/tool/hexdump.htm

 

[jedishrfu]

This dump is only partially helpful. The first few bytes are an identifying header and seeing the dots means you really need to look at the hex values for those bytes as they may be filler, or binary data like a floating or number...