Alternate Icon Editors for LV 2013

I am trying to determine if there are any alternate Icon Editors that can be intergrated into LV 2013. I recall a great editor that I used with 8.6 and another pretty good one that I was able to use with 2009 but from what I can find, there is nothing out there compatible with 2013.
Using the default editors, My experience is that the readability of the text has degraded over the years as NI revises the editors. Examples here:
Actual LV 8.6 code wtih icons created with that version (Ignore broken items, old code that is missing things)
Notice that the lower case text is readable which is nice when you have longer words you are trying to get fit into a small space. "Bellows" will not fit using Small Fonts when typed in all Caps. The first part of the B and last part of the S are cut off.
And now, some of these exact same icons re-created in LV 2013
Using the default format (small fonts) there is a definite difference in the quality of the text. In particular, compare the "ER3000" text. It is pretty crisp in the old version but the zeroes are narrow and fuzzy in the new one. The word "Control" is clearly identifiable above but could be read as Control or Central below.
I know icons are not supposed to be used to document the full extent of a vi but given the continuing improvements in graphics capabilities, I would expect the clarity of the icons to improve over time, not degrade.
If anyone knows of an alternate editor that I can try out in 2013, I am ready to do it.
Thanks....
Doug
"My only wish is that I am capable of learning each and every day until my last breath."

Everything was set as default when creating new one. Old one was created w/ built in editor in 8.6 from a few years back. If there is a different font I can use that would appear better in the current editor I will try it but what little I did find was that the Small Font was the only one that would provide useable results.
Doug
"My only wish is that I am capable of learning each and every day until my last breath."

Similar Messages

Icon Editor Templates

Have there been any changes between LabVIEW 2012 and 2014 in the way the Icon Editor handles the templates?
I opened a file in LabVIEW 2012 and started modifying the icon from the default. I picked the _box template and worked from there. It is a black outline with a white background.
Later, I was doing the same thing to another file in LabVIEW 2014. I picked the same _box template. It looked like a black icon with a transparent background once I got to the Layers page.
I thought maybe I had different version of icon templates, until I realized both LabVIEW version point to the My Documents\LabVIEW Data\Icon Templates folder. The _box is a .png file in VI\Frameworks subfolder. So I'd expect it to look the same in both LabVIEW versions.
Or is it somehow related to the .bin file?
However, working with the box with transparent background in LV14, it at least seems to treat the background as white when I place it on other block diagrams. I'm not seeing wires show through transparent areas. So everything is just fine.
I just can't figure out why the icon template looks different in LV12 versus LV14.
See the attached .png file to see what I'm talking about.
Attachments:
IconEditor.png ‏156 KB

Interesting problem, I will add that this happened to me with fresh LabVIEW installs and the change seemed to occur between LabVIEW 2013 SP1 and LabVIEW 2014
I also played around with the transparency and it seems that the transparency will be kept only if it is not within the borders of filled in areas. I made some weird shapes to show what I mean.
Here is the Icon Editor for the VI I made
And here is what it looke like in another VI. I changed the background color to show transparency.
So ya, no answers here but that sure is interesting. I'll see if I can ask someone who might know more tomorrow
Matt J
Professional Googler and Kudo Addict
National Instruments

LV 2009 Icon editor

Just installed LV 2009 and had to try out the new icon editor.
Firstly, I'm very happy to see the huge increase in productivity possible with this new editor. Great stuff guys. Including the Glyphs in the editor is a HUGE time-saver.
I have noticed, however that there is a feeling of lag when drawing on the icon picture. It's as if the picture being displayed is about 1/4 of a second behind what I'm actually doing. Not a major problem, but I'm curious if others see the same thing.
A possible problem is the fact that when writing text on the Icon, selecting the Name of the layer (on the panel outside of the drawing area) and typing does not shift focus away from the icon. I need to manually select a different tool other than the text tool for the drawing editor before I can enter text anywhere in the editor. The picture control retains focus apparently.
Aside from that, brilliant!
Shane.
Say hello to my little friend.
RFC 2323 FHE-Compliant

smercurio_fc wrote:
How long does it take for the Icon Editor to come up for you? I have found it to be quite slow. While I'm running LV2009 in a virtual machine, I also have 8.6 in a virtual machine, and the Icon Editor for 8.6 comes quite quickly.
First time to call it it takes quite a while, about 6-7 seconds on my machine but subsequent calls are much quicker.
I know the old Icon editor could be replaced (mark Balla did a great job of creating an icon editor which bears striking similarity to the new NI one in many places), maybe the new one can be copied to an older LV version, I have no idea.
Shane.
Say hello to my little friend.
RFC 2323 FHE-Compliant

Icon editor lock up in LV2009 for Template VIs (.VIT)

I have reproduced this on two different LabVIEW 2009 installs (two different PCs).
Setup:
- I create a VI and save it as a Template VI (.vit) and then I try to edit the icon for the .vit by right clicking on the icon and selecting "edit icon".
What happens:
- The icon editor does not open and I cannot close the .vit. I can still make changes to the .vit, but I cannot close the .vit without using Win Task Manager.
Any Ideas?

If you double-click on the icon, the icon editor should open. I've only reproduced the issue by using the right-click menu shortcut for the icon editor in a .vit.
To reproduce the issue:
From a .vit right-click the icon and select "Edit Icon"To avoid the issue:
Double-click on the icon to open the icon editor
This appears to work on my system, any other takers?
-Bob
-Bob

"Small Font" in LabVIEW 2013/2012 Icon Editor

Dear All:
I have encountered a strange thing recently while using icon editor in LabVIEW 2012 and 2013. I am accustomed to using "Small Font" when editting VI's icon in the Icon editor(LabVIEW 8.0,8.2,8.6,2011), but i found this font in LabVIEW 2012/2013 is different from the one in LabVIEW2011(or 8.6..), the details are as attached images. My question is how can I do to use "Small Font" as I did in LabVIEW 2011, and how to remove the color layers while editting text. any help will be great appreciated. Thanks very much. Hope your reply……
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
2011.jpg ‏82 KB
2012.jpg ‏81 KB

xyl4804 wrote:
My confusion is that the "Small Font" in My LabVIEW 2012/2013 is annoying. I want a Small Font in LabVIEW 2012 like the Appearance in LabVIEW 2011(as attached images)
Then do the settings, choose right FONT (Small) and Font size (8 or 9)...!! By doing any changes in the settings, it will not modify any existing text..!!
But after making the changes in the Font setting, next time when you'll try to write any text, either on any of the four lines or by using the text tool, you'll see the text with changed font settings.
I am not allergic to Kudos, in fact I love Kudos.
Make your LabVIEW experience more CONVENIENT.

Dreamweaver CC and Windows 8.1 - Can't Find A Valid Editor For This File Extension

Was running the latest version with no issues and then I loaded Office 2013 .. Now when I am in the remote site and try to double click on a .cfm file, I get a dialog box..Can't Find A Valid Editor For This File Extension..
I tried the support chat and they said Dreamweaver support was not available, try again later???
So I thought I would reinstall the CC version and now I can see the Dreamweaver icon next to the files but still ... can't open the file..
Any assistance would be appreciated?
Leo

The issue is only in Windows 8.x where when Dreamweaver CC is installed, it is not able to turn on the file type associations by default. The workaround for now is to manually add the extensions both within Windows and then within Dreamweaver CC itself.
Go to Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs > Set Your Default Programs and select Dreamweaver CC and then select 'Choose defaults for this program' and Select All or the extensions you want to open in Dreamweaver CC
Start Dreamweaver CC and go to Edit > Preferences > File Types/Editors and add '.cfm .cfc' to the extensions and then add C:\Program Files (x86)\Dreamweaver CC\Dreamweaver.exe then click on Apply and Close
That should be it.
James

Glyphs in icon editor : gone

Ok- so I just opened my icon editor in 2013 and noticed my glyphs have dissapeared entirely.
I found these while searching:
http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Icon-editor-no-glyphs/m-p/1302384/highlight/true#M536775
http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Glyphs-no-longer-appear-under-glyphs-tab-in-icon-editor/td-p/1391478
I tried the "syncronize with ni.com" and I get this:
http://imgur.com/bEOK8gU
My Glyphs folder in LabVIEW Data dir is no longer read only...
I downloaded the glyphs zip from ThSa (5th msg in the 1st thread I linked to) and got the ones from his zip to load, but I'm still missing most...
where o where have my glyphs gone?
Thanks for any help!
-pat
EDIT: I didnt mention the lead in the one post linking to the NI library itself - I couldnt get the link to work at first, but now I got it- I guess I was too quick to post.
sorry for the repost. http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361F-01/lvhowto/synchronizing_icon_library/

I have attached a more uptodate glyph folder (assuming you just want the NI ones and don't have a load of custom ones).
Try adding to My Documents\LabView Data\Glyphs
Attachments:
Glyphs.zip ‏1159 KB

2014 icon editor layers issue

I have an issue with layers in the "Icon Editor" in LabView 2014 SP1.
Each time I use the Icon Editor and I save the changes, all layers are merged together also if the property "merge layer on commit" is unchecked.
In the previous releases (2013 SP1, 2011 SP1, ...), I could save the layers separately (not merged).
There is an other property to set the layers saved separately (not merged), or this is an unexpected behaviour?
Asper

PeterFoerster,
thanks for the replay.
Starting from yours note, I started a completely new LV-project and the icon layers work fine!
Definitely, I experience the described issue with all VIs that are been created in LV 2013 SP1 and now are open and saved with LV 2014 SP1.
In the project created with LV 2013 SP1, and now open in LV 2014 SP1, if I create a new VI the the icon layers work fine!
I use LV 2014 SP1 32 bit, English.
Asper

Bug in Icon Editor?

I was editing a VI in LV 2012 yesterday and modifiying its icon. I came across some odd behavior I would consider a bug.
I searched the forums and haven't found it being mentioned before. I tried it today using LV 2013 and had the same behavior. I have yet to try older versions.
See the attached VI.
In the icon editor, I made a layer invisible. I didn't want to delete it yet, but I also didn't want to see it while I was creating a new layer on top.
I hit OK and the icon was saved within the VI. It appeared just the way I wanted in terms of what layers I could see and which I turned off.
I edited the icon again to make a small change and hit OK.
Now the icon shows the layer I turned off !
I edited again, turned it off, hit OK, and it was like I wanted.
Edited again, and found the Visibility was turned on for all the layers when the icon was loaded back into the editor.
This is certainly unexpected and unwanted behavior. I expect that layers that I have turned off to stay turned off when I reopen the icon editor.
Two VI's are attached. The demo I created in LV 2013. And one saved back to LV8.0 so that it can be tested in older versions. I know that for a VI and icon created in LV2012 gave me the same unexpected behavior.
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
IconEditorBug.vi ‏16 KB
IconEditorBugLV8.vi ‏15 KB

CAR 407147 discussed in this thread was fixed in LabVIEW 2014. For a more complete list of bugs fixed in LabVIEW 2014, check the LabVIEW 2014 Bug Fixes. You can download an evaluation copy of LabVIEW 2014 at http://www.ni.com/trylabview/ or if you have an earlier version of LabVIEW installed and an active SSP subscription, you will be able to download the latest version of LabVIEW through NI Update Service.
Regards,
Jeff Peacock
Product Support Engineer | LabVIEW R&D | National Instruments | Certified LabVIEW Architect

Text based VI Icon editor with letter compression

For anyone who is looking for a quick and easy text based icon editor I've posted my latest version in the LAVA CR
http://forums.lavag.org/downloads.html&showfile=56
Description:
This is the second version of my vi icon editor and was created in LV8.2. The purpose is to help quickly create text base icons. The editor can be used in place of the standard NI icon editor or as a stand alone vi. see instructions. My original posting of the icon editor Ver. 1 can be found here
LabVIEW 7.0,7.1 http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?s=&s...ost&p=19022
LabVIEW 8.0 http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?s=&s...ost&p=12920
Instructions:
1: The icon editor was designed to be used as a replacement for the standard NI editor LV8.x only. To get LabVIEW 8.x to use the editor place the three files (lv_icon.vi, color templates.bin and the folder lv_icon_Subvis) in the LabVIEW 8.2\resource\plugins directory.
The next time the icon editor is called LabVIEW will use the lv_icon.vi instead of the standard one.
There is a button on the editor that will allow you to use NI’s editor when a text icon is not desired.
2: The icon editor can also be called from another vi or used as a stand alone tool. Make sure the “From Editor” control is set to false either via terminal in the lower left corner of the connector pane or manually in the FP. This setting indicates to the vi that a vi reference will be used to extract and save the icon information. If the “VI REF” input control is invalid at runtime a dialogue box will appear asking the user to select a vi.
New features:
Along with the auto drawing and Text compressing from version 1, version 2 has 2 new features.
1: In addition to the 2 color format in version 1 the icon editor now supports a 5 color format (Frame, Header text, Header Back, Body Text, and Body Back). This is the standard frame that many programmers use.
2: In version 2 the last 10 icon color sets are saved in a binary file and are recalled each time the editor is open. These color sets can then be selected and reused.
Future Ideas and improvements:
A graphics picker that would import a list of graphics to choose from
Template creators were text zones could be created to avoid interfering with graphics.
Incorporate some or all of the Ni editor functions.
Text extractor that would fill in the text boxes from the icon image.
Please feel free to give me feedback. This version has benefited greatly from ideas given to me by coworkers and other programmers.
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License

For anyone who is looking for a quick and easy text based vi icon editor I've posted my latest version in the LAVA CR
http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?automodule=downloads&showfile=56
File: Mark Balla Icon editor V2.2
Author: Mark Balla
[email protected]
Description:
This is the newest version of my vi icon editor and was created in LV8.2. The purpose is to help quickly create text base icons. The editor can be used in place of the standard NI icon editor or as a stand alone vi. see instructions. My original posting of the icon editor Ver. 1 can be found here
LabVIEW 7.0,7.1 http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?s=&s...ost&p=19022
LabVIEW 8.0 http://forums.lavag.org/index.php?s=&s...ost&p=12920
Instructions:
1: The icon editor was designed to be used as a replacement for the standard NI editor LV8.x only. To get LabVIEW 8.x to use the editor place the three files (lv_icon.vi, color templates.bin and the folder lv_icon_Subvis) in the LabVIEW 8.2\resource\plugins directory.
The next time the icon editor is called LabVIEW will use the lv_icon.vi instead of the standard one.
There is a button on the editor that will allow you to use NI's editor when a text icon is not desired.
2: The icon editor can also be called from another vi or used as a stand alone tool. Make sure the "From Editor" control is set to false either via terminal in the lower left corner of the connector pane or manually in the FP. This setting indicates to the vi that a vi reference will be used to extract and save the icon information. If the "VI REF" input control is invalid at runtime a dialogue box will appear asking the user to select a vi.
Version 2.1:
Along with the auto drawing and Text compressing from version 1, version 2 has 2 new features.
1: In addition to the 2 color format in version 1 the icon editor now supports a 5 color format (Frame, Header text, Header Back, Body Text, and Body Back). This is the standard frame that many programmers use.
2: In version 2 the last 10 icon color sets are saved in a binary file and are recalled each time the editor is open. These color sets can then be selected and reused.
Version 2.2:
Along with the all the features from version 2.1, version 2.2 has several new features.
1: A new color picker was added. The standard NI color picker has been replaced by one that will only show the legal 221 colors allowed by LabVIEW for icons.
My thanks to Justin Goeres for the idea.
2:Key navigation has improved. The key navigation will only set focus to the text boxes to navigate between boxes use the tab, enter, up and down keys.
My thanks to boone_93 for the idea.
3:Improved UI. The buttons and current and previous icons have been relocated for a more intuitive look. I have also added tip strips to the buttons and history array.
My thanks to ahull for the idea.
4:Random color picker. A random color button has been added to help pick colors.
My thanks to Dave Graybeal for the idea.
5: FP auto centers. The icon editor will now open in the center of the primary display.
My thanks to tcplomp for the code.
6: The ability to read the text in the icon was added. If the icon to be changed was previously created by this icon editor the program will automatically detect the characters in the icon and convert them back into strings. This function allows for small changes like color changes and spelling mistakes to be changed without having to type all the text over.
This one was all mine.
7:Bug with Panel close fixed. When the user presses the x in the upper right corner the editor will shut down gracefully instead of locking up.
I made a avi file that shows some of the new features for Version 2.2 which I posted the support thread.
Please feel free to give me feedback. This version has benefited greatly from ideas given to me by coworkers and other programmers.
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License
Attachments:
picture of editor.png ‏47 KB

LabVIEW 2010 icon editor -- why is white not white

OK, so I'm creating an Icon in LV 2010.
I want a white background.
So I choose the white color in the palette. But that doesn't quite look like white (a little darker than white).
so I go get a custom color, and set it to 255/255/255 (R/G/B). add it to my custom colors. hover over it quickly with the mouse and see that it is actually 255/255/255.
Then I go back to the actually icon editing, and make sure my color selection (foreground/background) is both WHITE (255/255/255).
I draw a box.
The box isn't white!!!
the box is drawn with colors 246/246/246 (R/G/B) not 255/255/255!
Go create another custom color of 255/255/254.
Draw the box again.
Box looks white, but it is actually 255/255/254 (what you would expect to get). Close enough for me to use, so I can get on with making my icons, but I just need to remember to not try to actually set the color to 255/255/255 -- actually use something ever so slightly different.
Best I can figure out -- if you hover over a transparent section, you see the color go to 255/255/255, so LV must be using 255/255/255 as transparent. But then it says that color is 255/255/255, and it's not, it's transparent. So the color should be shown as T/T/T so I don't need to know the special magical decoder of 255/255/255 = transparent to see if one single pixel is transparent color or not.
End of rambling and venting, and on to the real question:
What's special about taking 255/255/255 white and converting it to 246/246/246 instead of something closer like 254/254/254?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

The Icon Editor thinks it is doing you a favor, and it probably really is given the (perhaps outdated) method LV uses for transparency on the BD. By design, any "white" on the outside of a BD object (ie. icon) is considered transparent and not part of the object as far as clicking is concerned. I have also discovered the hard way that "white" means any pure grey (R=G=B) with R,G,B > 246. Tweaking the B value is one way to avoid this (as you have discovered).
You can get some very interesting effects when LV thinks your entire subVI is transparent.

Icon Editor bug - random rotations

While editing icons with the new icon editor in LV 2009, I keep finding that my icon (or selection, or layer) rotates when I type the letter "r" into a layer name. Are others seeing this? What tool do I need to have selected to avoid this? I've installed the icon editor update and this bug is still there.
Also, is there some way to define the default VI Icon layer to be something other than a white square with a black border?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I have noticed this, too. In fact, it's pretty easy to reproduce.
Open the icon editor and show the layers page. Now select a layer. At this point pressing "r" should rotate the layer, which makes sense.
Now, click in the layer name, which un-highlights the layer, and any time you type an r it will rotate.
There are some other issues with rotate: if a selection or layer goes outside the icon canvas, it will be trimmed permanently (not so great if you wanted to flip it 180 degrees).
As for changing the default icon background, I'd suggest making some templates for general use. You can save templates from within the Icon Editor. The first thing I do when editing an icon is delete the default layer and select a relevant template I've made. Or you can just use the filled rectangle too. If there is a way to change the default icon, i'd be interested in finding out.
-Barrett
Message Edited by blawson on 11-12-2009 03:27 PM
-Barrett
CLD

Missing tab in icon editor

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a tab in my icon editor...
Can anybody tell me where my missing tab (forgot the name of it) has been gone to?
Furthermore I can't synchronize with the NI icon library.
The problems occured today for the first time. After I tried to synchronize with the NI icon library... So I guess it must be kind of related...
Any thoughts?
Just to be clear... I don't have any debug info since the icon editor does not give me any
Solved!
Go to Solution.

You're missing the layers tab. Click layers--> show layers page.

LV 2009 Icon Editor Turned to Previous Version

Hello!
I just want to ask if someone has encounter a strange behavior of "ICON EDITOR". When I opened my editor, it showed up about half a second or so then disappear and violllllla!!! the old editor came up. Really strange because I've just used it earlier today... If anyone know how to bring it back please kindly post the "how-to".
Thanks in advanced!!
KowdTek
LabVIEW 2009
One Step At A Time, Maybe Two...
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Check the LabVIEW Data folder in 'My Documents'. If it is set to read only, the icon editor doesn't work.
Usually this is a sign for it, when the Icon Editor is displayed for a brief moment.
The IE is open source. If the LabVIEW data folder is not write-protected, navigate to LabVIEW 2009\resource\plugins\ lv_icon.vi and check whether the IE is executable at all.
Thanks,
Tom
http://www.newgistics.com

Icon editor VI

I'm using LV2009. I don't know why, but the icon editor doesn't work. So, I check the incon editor VI. As you can see the screen shot, there is an error, which I don't understand.
It used to work until a couple of days ago. Could anyone tell me what's going on there?
Thanks,
Jay

Hi Jay,
If you open context help and hover over the broken wire, what does the window say?
You can repair LabVIEW by going to Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. Select National Instruments Software and click "Change/Remove". In the window that opens, search for LabVIEW 2009 and then select Repair. You'll need the disks/installation files to complete the repair.

Alternate Icon Editors for LV 2013

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