How to Use

A practical guide to the current desktop workflow.

1. Start at the home screen

DBC Utility opens with direct entry into View DBC, Edit DBC, and recent-file workflows.

2. View tab: inspect a DBC quickly

  • Load a .dbc file and browse messages and signals in a tree.
  • 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.
  • Set multiplexer fields directly in the signal dialog.

4. Compare tab: review changes

DBC Utility supports side-by-side, unified, and structured compare views for reviewing DBC revisions before they move into testing or release.

5. Save-review flow

  1. Make edits in the editor.
  2. Trigger save when changes exist.
  3. Review the diff in compare mode.
  4. Confirm the save only after the diff looks correct.