DBC - CAN Database File - File Format Docs

What is a DBC file?

The files with .dbc extension are also known as CAN database files. The DBC file is a simple text file that consists of information for decoding raw CAN bus data to physical values or in human readable form. The DBC file is introduced, because this is the very common way to manage identification and translation of the data. The DBC file type was developed to provide the means of record keeping as described in a CAN network.

DBC File Format

DBC file format only represent the reading or passive part, it doesn’t provide a means to elaborate transmissions. To support vehicles that don’t have a specific native adaption yet. This is done using the general DBC vehicle type to use DBC files to translate CAN data into metrics. Each message in a DBC becomes a C structure with the signals being the members of the C structure.

DBC structure

The DBC data consists of the following elements:

Simple DBC Message

A simple DBC message consists of the Message ID, and at least one signal. Following is a demonstration of a message that consists of a single 8-bit signal.

BO_ 500 IO_DEBUG: 4 IO SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_unsigned : 0|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG

Signed signals

A signed signal can be sent by applying a negative offset to a signal. Following is an example of signed signal to the previous message.

BO_ 500 IO_DEBUG: 4 IO SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_unsigned : 0|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_signed : 8|8@1- (1,-128) [0|0] "" DBG

Fractional Signals

A fractional signal can be sent by deciding the range, and the precision if required.

BO_ 500 IO_DEBUG: 4 IO SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_unsigned : 0|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_signed : 8|8@1- (1,-128) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_float1 : 16|8@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_float2 : 24|12@1+ (0.01,-20.48) [-20.48|20.47] "" DBG

Enumeration Types

An enumeration type is used when the user wants to see names, instead of numbers. See the following example.

BO_ 500 IO_DEBUG: 4 IO SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_enum : 8|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG BA_ "FieldType" SG_ 500 IO_DEBUG_test_enum "IO_DEBUG_test_enum"; VAL_ 500 IO_DEBUG_test_enum 2 "IO_DEBUG_test2_enum_two" 1 "IO_DEBUG_test2_enum_one" ;

Multiplexed Message

defining a multiplexed messages that uses a single message ID is an option, however, they are decoded differently depending on which multipexed value was sent. In order to send a multiplexed message below, a separate message have to be sent:

BO_ 200 SENSOR_SONARS: 8 SENSOR SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_mux M : 0|4@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_err_count : 4|12@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_left m0 : 16|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_middle m0 : 28|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_right m0 : 40|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_rear m0 : 52|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_left m1 : 16|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_middle m1 : 28|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_right m1 : 40|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_rear m1 : 52|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG

DBC Example

Here is a complete example of a dbc file:

VERSION "" NS_ : BA_ BA_DEF_ BA_DEF_DEF_ BA_DEF_DEF_REL_ BA_DEF_REL_ BA_DEF_SGTYPE_ BA_REL_ BA_SGTYPE_ BO_TX_BU_ BU_BO_REL_ BU_EV_REL_ BU_SG_REL_ CAT_ CAT_DEF_ CM_ ENVVAR_DATA_ EV_DATA_ FILTER NS_DESC_ SGTYPE_ SGTYPE_VAL_ SG_MUL_VAL_ SIGTYPE_VALTYPE_ SIG_GROUP_ SIG_TYPE_REF_ SIG_VALTYPE_ VAL_ VAL_TABLE_ BS_: BU_: DBG DRIVER IO MOTOR SENSOR BO_ 100 DRIVER_HEARTBEAT: 1 DRIVER SG_ DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd : 0|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" SENSOR,MOTOR BO_ 500 IO_DEBUG: 4 IO SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_unsigned : 0|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_enum : 8|8@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_signed : 16|8@1- (1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ IO_DEBUG_test_float : 24|8@1+ (0.5,0) [0|0] "" DBG BO_ 101 MOTOR_CMD: 1 DRIVER SG_ MOTOR_CMD_steer : 0|4@1- (1,-5) [-5|5] "" MOTOR SG_ MOTOR_CMD_drive : 4|4@1+ (1,0) [0|9] "" MOTOR BO_ 400 MOTOR_STATUS: 3 MOTOR SG_ MOTOR_STATUS_wheel_error : 0|1@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ MOTOR_STATUS_speed_kph : 8|16@1+ (0.001,0) [0|0] "kph" DRIVER,IO BO_ 200 SENSOR_SONARS: 8 SENSOR SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_mux M : 0|4@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_err_count : 4|12@1+ (1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_left m0 : 16|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_middle m0 : 28|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_right m0 : 40|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_rear m0 : 52|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DRIVER,IO SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_left m1 : 16|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_middle m1 : 28|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_right m1 : 40|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG SG_ SENSOR_SONARS_no_filt_rear m1 : 52|12@1+ (0.1,0) [0|0] "" DBG CM_ BU_ DRIVER "The driver controller driving the car"; CM_ BU_ MOTOR "The motor controller of the car"; CM_ BU_ SENSOR "The sensor controller of the car"; CM_ BO_ 100 "Sync message used to synchronize the controllers"; BA_DEF_ "BusType" STRING ; BA_DEF_ BO_ "GenMsgCycleTime" INT 0 0; BA_DEF_ SG_ "FieldType" STRING ; BA_DEF_DEF_ "BusType" "CAN"; BA_DEF_DEF_ "FieldType" ""; BA_DEF_DEF_ "GenMsgCycleTime" 0; BA_ "GenMsgCycleTime" BO_ 100 1000; BA_ "GenMsgCycleTime" BO_ 500 100; BA_ "GenMsgCycleTime" BO_ 101 100; BA_ "GenMsgCycleTime" BO_ 400 100; BA_ "GenMsgCycleTime" BO_ 200 100; BA_ "FieldType" SG_ 100 DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd "DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd"; BA_ "FieldType" SG_ 500 IO_DEBUG_test_enum "IO_DEBUG_test_enum"; VAL_ 100 DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd 2 "DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd_REBOOT" 1 "DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd_SYNC" 0 "DRIVER_HEARTBEAT_cmd_NOOP" ; VAL_ 500 IO_DEBUG_test_enum 2 "IO_DEBUG_test2_enum_two" 1 "IO_DEBUG_test2_enum_one" ;

References

• DBC Format
• An Introduction to J1939 and DBC files