Arduino - Write Variable to SD Card
In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to write variable to Micro SD Card with Arduino. In detail, we will learn:
- Arduino - How to write a string variable to Micro SD Card
- Arduino - How to write a int variable to Micro SD Card
- Arduino - How to write a float variable to Micro SD Card
- Arduino - How to write a char array variable to Micro SD Card
- Arduino - How to write a byte array variable to Micro SD Card
- Arduino - How to write variable as key-value to Micro SD Card
To read the key-value from the Micro SD Card and convert it to int, float, string, See Arduino - Read Config from SD Card
Hardware Required
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About Micro SD Card Module
If you do not know about Micro SD Card Module (pinout, how it works, how to program ...), learn about them in the Arduino - Micro SD Card tutorial.
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
※ NOTE THAT:
If you use an Ethernet shield or any shield that has a Micro SD Card Holder, you do not need to use the Micro SD Card Module. You just need to insert the Micro SD Card to the Micro SD Card Holder on the shield.
Arduino - How to write a variable to a file on Micro SD Card
The below code does:
- Write a int variable to Micro SD Card
- Write a float variable to Micro SD Card
- Write a string variable to Micro SD Card
- Write a char array to Micro SD Card
- Write a byte array to Micro SD Card
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-write-variable-to-sd-card
*/
#include <SD.h>
#define PIN_SPI_CS 4
File myFile;
int myInt = -52;
float myFloat = -12.7;
String myString = "HELLO";
char myCharArray[] = "ArduinoGetStarted.com";
byte myByteArray[] = {'1', '2', '3', '4', '5'};
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
if (!SD.begin(PIN_SPI_CS)) {
Serial.println(F("SD CARD FAILED, OR NOT PRESENT!"));
while (1); // don't do anything more:
}
Serial.println(F("SD CARD INITIALIZED."));
Serial.println(F("--------------------"));
SD.remove("arduino.txt"); // delete the file if existed
// create new file by opening file for writing
myFile = SD.open("arduino.txt", FILE_WRITE);
if (myFile) {
myFile.println(myInt); // write int variable to SD card in line
myFile.println(myFloat); // write float variable to SD card in line
myFile.println(myString); // write String variable to SD card in line
myFile.println(myCharArray); // write char array to SD card in line
myFile.write(myByteArray, 5);
myFile.write("\n"); // new line
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
myFile.write(myByteArray[i]); // new line
if (i < 4)
myFile.write(","); // comma
}
myFile.write("\n"); // new line
myFile.close();
} else {
Serial.print(F("SD Card: error on opening file arduino.txt"));
}
// open file for reading
myFile = SD.open("arduino.txt", FILE_READ);
if (myFile) {
while (myFile.available()) {
char ch = myFile.read(); // read characters one by one from Micro SD Card
Serial.print(ch); // print the character to Serial Monitor
}
myFile.close();
} else {
Serial.print(F("SD Card: error on opening file arduino.txt"));
}
}
void loop() {
}
Quick Steps
- Make sure that the Micro SD Card is formatted FAT16 or FAT32 (Google for it)
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- See the result on Serial Monitor.
COM6
SD CARD INITIALIZED.
--------------------
-52
-12.70
HELLO
ArduinoGetStarted.com
12345
1,2,3,4,5
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
- Detach the Micro SD Card from the Micro SD Card module
- Insert the Micro SD Card to an USB SD Card reader
- Connect the USB SD Card reader to the PC
- Open the arduino.txt file on your PC, it looks like below
Arduino - How to write a key-value to a file on Micro SD Card
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-write-variable-to-sd-card
*/
#include <SD.h>
#define PIN_SPI_CS 4
File myFile;
int myInt = -52;
float myFloat = -12.7;
String myString = "HELLO";
char myCharArray[] = "ArduinoGetStarted.com";
byte myByteArray[] = {'1', '2', '3', '4', '5'};
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
if (!SD.begin(PIN_SPI_CS)) {
Serial.println(F("SD CARD FAILED, OR NOT PRESENT!"));
while (1); // don't do anything more:
}
Serial.println(F("SD CARD INITIALIZED."));
Serial.println(F("--------------------"));
SD.remove("arduino.txt"); // delete the file if existed
// create new file by opening file for writing
myFile = SD.open("arduino.txt", FILE_WRITE);
if (myFile) {
myFile.print("myInt="); // write key to SD card
myFile.println(myInt); // write int variable to SD card in line
myFile.print("myFloat="); // write key to SD card
myFile.println(myFloat); // write float variable to SD card in line
myFile.print("myString="); // write key to SD card
myFile.println(myString); // write String variable to SD card in line
myFile.print("myCharArray="); // write key to SD card
myFile.println(myCharArray); // write char array to SD card in line
myFile.print("myByteArray="); // write key to SD card
myFile.write(myByteArray, 5);
myFile.write("\n"); // new line
myFile.print("myByteArray2="); // write key to SD card
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
myFile.write(myByteArray[i]); // new line
if (i < 4)
myFile.write(","); // comma
}
myFile.write("\n"); // new line
myFile.close();
} else {
Serial.print(F("SD Card: error on opening file arduino.txt"));
}
// open file for reading
myFile = SD.open("arduino.txt", FILE_READ);
if (myFile) {
while (myFile.available()) {
char ch = myFile.read(); // read characters one by one from Micro SD Card
Serial.print(ch); // print the character to Serial Monitor
}
myFile.close();
} else {
Serial.print(F("SD Card: error on opening file arduino.txt"));
}
}
void loop() {
}
Quick Steps
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- See the result on Serial Monitor.
COM6
SD CARD INITIALIZED.
--------------------
myInt=-52
myFloat=-12.70
myString=HELLO
myCharArray=ArduinoGetStarted.com
myByteArray=12345
myByteArray2=1,2,3,4,5
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
- Detach the Micro SD Card from the Micro SD Card module
- Insert the Micro SD Card to an USB SD Card reader
- Connect the USB SD Card reader to the PC
- Open the arduino.txt file on your PC, it looks like below
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