Hi, I know this is an old topic but I wanted to post in case it helps others looking for an answer. I have a Rigol MSO5074 oscilloscope and a Rigol DG1022Z function generator. I use ARB files regularly and have found them relatively easy to work with, once you know the file format.
If you have the oscilloscope to hand, the easiest way to get an example file is to set up the GENI or GENII output, choose ARB as the function type, then load the waveform from one of the channels (note, the channel does not need to actually hold a useful signal) and save the waveform to an ARB file. If you save the file to a USB stick then you can transfer it to a PC and inspect the file format.
The ARB file is a text file format, CSV delimited, and the header contains the following fixed content:
X-axis,WaveGen-ARB
second,volt
The following rows contain the time in seconds, plus the voltage. The file can be as long as required.
Now, there are some details/limitations that need to be acknowledged:
- While the file defines the voltage, the actual output voltage values can be specified using controls on the device, e.g. the upper and lower voltage levels.
- Likewise, while the file defines the time, the actual output time period can be specified using the control on the device, e.g. the frequency or the period of the output waveform.
I'll just finish with the first few dozen lines from a sample file that is confirmed as working on both of the devices mentioned above. Best of luck with it!
X-axis,WaveGen-ARB
second,volt
0,2.30473475
2.2125851845296E-05,2.30288575
4.42517036905921E-05,2.30214625
6.63775555358881E-05,2.30288575
8.85034073811842E-05,2.303995
0.00011062925922648,2.30288575
0.000132755111071776,2.303995
0.000154880962917072,2.303995
0.000177006814762368,2.3047345
0.000199132666607664,2.3043645
0.00022125851845296,2.30288575
0.000243384370298256,2.30510425
0.000265510222143552,2.30806225
0.000287636073988849,2.3062135
0.000309761925834145,2.30584375
0.000331887777679441,2.3032555
0.000354013629524737,2.3047345
0.000376139481370033,2.30732275
0.000398265333215329,2.309172
0.000420391185060625,2.30806275
0.000442517036905921,2.308802
0.000464642888751217,2.3099115
0.000486768740596513,2.30806225
0.000508894592441809,2.30695325
0.000531020444287105,2.3080625
0.000553146296132401,2.3047345
0.000575272147977697,2.3062135
0.000597397999822993,2.308432
0.000619523851668289,2.30510425
0.000641649703513585,2.3080625
0.000663775555358881,2.30510425
0.000685901407204177,2.30436475
0.000708027259049473,2.3047345