PCAN analysis and control for development and test environments PCAN-Explorer 7 is a professional software tool for working with CAN CC (Classic CAN), CAN FD, and CAN XL systems. It connects to one or multiple CAN buses and provides direct visibility into traffic, messages, and data signals for development, testing, and analysis tasks. The software supports live monitoring of CAN traffic, inspection of individual frames, and focused analysis of specific signals. Manual and periodic message transmission allow direct interaction with the bus, supporting control functions, simulations, and system validation. Symbolic CAN data for faster interpretation A core capability of PCAN-Explorer 7 is symbolic message representation. Using PEAK-System Symbol files or compatible third-party databases, raw CAN identifiers and payload data are translated into clear, readable signal values, reducing the effort required to interpret bus activity. Trace, replay, and filter multi-bus traffic The integrated trace function records CAN traffic from one or multiple buses simultaneously. Recorded data can be replayed in real time or analyzed step by step with breakpoint support for detailed inspection. Filtering options apply to both live traffic and trace files, enabling isolation of relevant messages based on defined criteria, even in high-volume networks. Automation and scripting support PCAN-Explorer 7 supports automation through macros, callback functions, and scripting with Python or VBScript. The complete PCAN-Explorer object model is available within these environments, enabling implementation of custom logic, automated test sequences, and advanced analysis workflows. Extendable through add-ins and standards support Functionality can be extended using add-ins from PEAK-System. Available add-ins include: Instrument Panel - add-in for signal display and manipulation Bus Descriptions (previously CANdb) - add-in for supporting CANdb and AUTOSAR XML formats Plotter - add-in for configurable display of signal curves J1939 - add-in for J1939 and J1939 FD support Please note: Add-in license type must match your base software license type (single computer or floating). PCAN-Explorer 7 License Options Bundled licensing option: Choose between the base software only or the "full bundle" which includes the base software and all available add-ins under a single license, simplifying purchasing and ensuring access to the full feature set. Flexible license models: Choose a single-user license for a dedicated PC or license dongle, or the new floating license for team environments, which allows a defined number of concurrent users to share access across a network via a central license server. Maintenance and updates: All licenses include 12 months of software maintenance, covering free version upgrades during that period. After the initial 12 months, continued access to new versions requires an active maintenance license. What's New in v7.1 (July 2026) License Borrowing (Floating License) — check out a license from the server for offline use, up to 30 days — useful for field tests, commissioning, or service work off-network. Trace Converter Add-in (included free) — convert trace files between formats like ASC and MF4 inside PCAN-Explorer, no external tool needed. HTML5 help system — documentation now opens in-browser. v7.1 is included at no cost for customers. CAN XL CAN XL (Extended Data-Field Length) was designed to improve cooperation with Automotive Ethernet and to enable transmitting larger data streams for use cases such as ECU flashing. For this, the new standard provides transmission of up to 2048 bytes payload data per message and data bit rates of up to 20 Mbit/s. Already have PCAN Explorer 6 and looking to upgrade? Start here.
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