A Simpler Way to Interface RS232 Instruments and other Serial Devices to Excel®

Collect gives you a simple and extremely powerful way to create custom interfaces that connect RS232 instruments or serial devices directly with Excel spreadsheets.

• Use standard Excel references to automate instrument data entry into Excel Spreadsheets
• Use standard Excel references to create cursor independent interfaces
• Interface and control multiple RS232 instruments or serial devices at one time
• Work in other applications while data is collected into the Excel spreadsheet

Collect can map data from your serial devices or RS232 instruments to specific Excel cell locations, starting cell locations or even different worksheets within the same workbook using the standard Excel references that you are already using.

For example to send data to a fixed cell location you can use the ‘$’ sign to indicate an absolute reference ($A$1) or you can tell Collect to transfer the data down the column by leaving out the $ sign (A1) making it a relative reference in Excel. It’s that simple.

In the same manner, you can also create time and date stamps for incoming data and specify different cell locations for each. Data is sent to the starting cell location, and then moves down rows in the Excel worksheet, independent of where the cursor is located.

You can also direct data to different sheets within the same workbook by using the standard Excel formula such as ‘=Sheet2!A2’




Collect can control the entry of data from multiple RS232 instruments or serial devices into the Excel spreadsheet, leaving you free to work in other applications.

Use Pre-configured Excel Templates or Create Your Own

Collect users can choose from a list of pre-configured Collect/Excel RS232 interfacing methods created by Labtronics for common laboratory applications or they can easily create a new method for their specific application.

By specifying the Excel interface option, users can import one of the preconfigured Excel templates into their Collect method or create a new template by using the ‘template setup’ option. Importing a pre-configured Excel template will save users valuable time in setting up their RS232 to Excel interfaces.




The direct to Excel interface option uses Excel’s object toolbar to lock-in specified cells as configured in Collect. During the method setup, a user will specify a starting cell location, and data will be sent to that location.

Toolbar Control over Serial Interface to Excel

When opening a new or pre-configured method, Excel is automatically launched and the Collect toolbar is added. You can control the instrument or device directly from the Excel template by using the floating toolbar.

Utilize functions within Excel

When interfacing to Excel, all of Excel’s functions are useful. Features such as real-time graphs, formulas, and limit flags are can all be added to your existing Excel template. This makes it easier to create informative reports from the collected data or to create statistics for a particular production line or product.


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Collect has been used by thousands of different customers for interfacing and controlling instruments and devices of all types. Through integrating the tools of Excel within the Collect software, Collect has become a powerful tool in data collection. For more information on Collect, please contact us at collectsales@labtronics.com or 519-767-1061.


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