CoolTerm is a serial port terminal application used to view and record sensor data.

How do I set the baud rate in CoolTerm?

You must set the Baud Rate to 9600 in the OPTIONS menu to match the Serial.begin(9600) setting in Arduino.

How do I start recording data in CoolTerm?

Click Connection, then select Capture to Text File, and finally click Start.

What format should the incoming sensor data be in?

The data must be separated by a carriage return and a line break, appearing as individual numbers on new lines.

Can this method work with sensors other than the sonar sensor?

Yes, any sensor that inputs analog voltages or sends values separated by a newline will work.

Where can I download CoolTerm?

You can download it from http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/31352/coolterm.

What example code is recommended for reading serial data?

AnalogInOutSerial example from the Arduino Examples is suggested as a starting point.

Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

Contents hide

1 Summary of Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

2 Step 1: Get CoolTerm

3 Step 2: CoolTerm and the Arduino code

4 Step 3: Connecting to the Serial Port in CoolTerm

5 Step 4: Start Recording & Saving

6 Quick Solutions to Questions related to Arduino Sensor Visualization:

Summary of Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

This article explains how to visualize Arduino sensor data in real-time using CoolTerm. By connecting a sensor like the XL Max Sonar EZ/AE to an Arduino, users can capture serial output and save it as a text file for graphing. The process involves configuring CoolTerm's baud rate to match the Arduino settings (9600), connecting via USB, and utilizing the "Capture to Text File" feature to record incoming values separated by newlines.

Parts used in the Arduino Sensor Visualization Project:

Arduino
XL Max Sonar EZ/AE sonar sensor
PC with CoolTerm application
USB cable
Text editor or spreadsheet software (implied for graphing)

Once you’re getting some values from sensors, for example using Arduino, (see my previous instructable), sometimes it’s nice to see the sensor data in a graph.

Here’s how in only a few steps!

I made this particular Instructables using a sonar sensor (XL Max Sonar EZ/AE) but you can do it with any data values that are separated in arduino by a carriage return and a line break:
To put it simply, the incoming sensor data should look like this in the Arduino Serial Monitor:

23
23
24
24
25
22
26

Separated by a newLine.

I made it at TechShop. !
www.techshop.ws

Step 1: Get CoolTerm

CoolTerm is a serial port terminal application.

Download it at : http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/31352/coolterm.

Open CoolTerm.

Step 2: CoolTerm and the Arduino code

I’m using a code similar to the AnalogInOutSerial example in the Arduino Examples, to read the incoming serial data from one sensor. See the image for code that would work (you might have to modify the map() function). At the moment, any sensor will work that inputs analog voltages, or any incoming values that are separated by a newline.

Serial.println(potValue); //print the sensor value to the debugger panel

Any code for one sensor would work, for instance the attached circuit and code would work for a photocell to measure light levels.

Instead of the photocell I’m using the Max Sonar Sensor to measure proximity.

Step 3: Connecting to the Serial Port in CoolTerm

With your arduino programmed and connected via USB and CoolTerm opened up, click OPTIONS.
Make sure the Baud Rate is set to 9600 (because remember in Arduino, we set it to 9600 using Serial.begin(9600);

NOTE: You cannot have two Serial ports open at the same time, so you cannot view the arduino serial monitor while you are using CoolTerm.

Step 4: Start Recording & Saving

Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm circuit

Now Click connect (see image).
You should see data scrolling through in the serial monitor.

Begin to record the data:
Click Connection –> Capture to Text File –> Start

You can specify where to save the text file.

For more detail: Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

Quick Solutions to Questions related to Arduino Sensor Visualization:

What is CoolTerm?
CoolTerm is a serial port terminal application used to view and record sensor data.
How do I set the baud rate in CoolTerm?
You must set the Baud Rate to 9600 in the OPTIONS menu to match the Serial.begin(9600) setting in Arduino.
Can I use the Arduino Serial Monitor while using CoolTerm?
No, you cannot have two Serial ports open at the same time.
How do I start recording data in CoolTerm?
Click Connection, then select Capture to Text File, and finally click Start.
What format should the incoming sensor data be in?
The data must be separated by a carriage return and a line break, appearing as individual numbers on new lines.
Can this method work with sensors other than the sonar sensor?
Yes, any sensor that inputs analog voltages or sends values separated by a newline will work.
Where can I download CoolTerm?
You can download it from http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/31352/coolterm.
What example code is recommended for reading serial data?
AnalogInOutSerial example from the Arduino Examples is suggested as a starting point.