How to Use

A practical guide to the current desktop workflow.

1. Start at the home screen

DBC Utility opens with View, Edit, New DBC, Log Analyzer, and recent-file actions. View, Edit, Compare, and Log Analyzer preserve their selection, filters, scroll position, and session state when you switch tabs.

2. View tab: inspect a DBC quickly

  • Load a .dbc file and browse messages and signals in a tree or table.
  • Inspect node count, message count, signal count, file size, version, and bus metadata.
  • Search by message name, signal name, or frame ID.
  • Use the multiplexer filter when a message contains multiplexed signals.
  • Open the layout visualizer for bit-level message review.

3. Edit tab: change structure safely

  • Add, edit, delete, duplicate, and reorder messages.
  • Work with signal start bit, length, byte order, signedness, scale, offset, limits, unit, receivers, and comments.
  • Use value tables for choices.
  • Manage shared VAL_TABLE_ catalogs and apply a shared table to a signal.
  • Choose Integer, Float32, or Float64 data types through Vector SIG_VALTYPE_; data type does not rewrite signal length or signedness.
  • Set multiplexer fields directly in the signal dialog.
  • Edit cycle time, send type, CAN FD frame format, start value, inactive value, SPN, and bus name; saves write these values back to their BA_ records.
  • Deleting a message, signal, or node also removes related comments, values, attributes, and obsolete signal-group references.

Message Type is not shown as a separate editor field because it is not stored as its own DBC record.

4. Translate between German and English

  • Translate comments, value labels, shared value tables, and string attributes from German to English or English to German.
  • Optionally rename signal and message identifiers with the bundled automotive glossary.
  • Install or remove Argos language packs from Translate > Models. Models are downloaded on demand and are not included in the installer.
  • Review the translated DBC before saving or sharing it.

5. Compare tab: review changes

  • Use side-by-side, unified, or structured comparison.
  • Side-by-side is the default fast text review; Structured comparison is built only when you open that mode.
  • Edit or copy lines between Primary and Secondary, then use Save or Save As for changed files.
  • Use ignore-whitespace and previous/next change navigation when reviewing a large diff.

6. Analyze ASC and BLF logs offline

  • Open ASC or BLF logs and map the required DBC files.
  • Filter and bookmark trace rows, inspect unknown IDs, and review decoded signal statistics.
  • Plot decoded signals and configure channels for multi-source sessions.
  • Log encoding and signal export are not included in v2.0.3.

7. Compare and save editor changes

  1. Make edits in the editor.
  2. Select Compare & Save.
  3. Review Original against Modified in Compare.
  4. Select Confirm Save after the diff looks correct.
  5. Close the saved confirmation to return to Edit.