Block diagram expansion criteria

Sometimes when I hold down Ctrl and drag a box or line on the diagram in order to expand it, the diagram does not expand. In the areas where this happens, sometimes I can do the same thing repeatedly with no results--there is no expansion of the code. Does anyone know why this happens or what the criteria are for it to work? Where I'm drawing the box is usually in the midst of code, ie, it is not a 'free' area where there is lots of space, such as within a wide open do-loop.

I�ve had this happen two times.
Once turned out to be an intermittent Ctrl key. The other time I was using a Keyboard, Video Mouse switchbox to run two PC�s with one keyboard, mouse and display. To switch between the two PCs, you could hit the Ctrl key three times quickly. Somehow that interfered with the normal use of the Ctrl key, and not just in LabVIEW. I disabled the Ctrl key switching and fixed that problem.
This may not apply to your situation, but it might be something to check.
Ed
Ed Dickens - Certified LabVIEW Architect - DISTek Integration, Inc. - NI Certified Alliance Partner
Using the Abort button to stop your VI is like using a tree to stop your car. It works, but there may be consequences.

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Close front panel but leave open block diagram

Is there a way to do this? I would like to have my block diagrams of a few subvi's open but front panels closed so my task bar isn't so cluttered. It's not a big deal, I was just curious
CLA, LabVIEW Versions 2010-2013

Chris_VH wrote:
No current way unfortunately.
A colleague and I actually just put in a product suggestion for this yesterday.
So if they fix this do I give you or them credit for the solution?
CLA, LabVIEW Versions 2010-2013

I created boolean references in my main vi block diagram and copied them to my sub vi front panel. when wire my reference in my main vi to one the input node of the sub vi the wire is broken. the error says its a class conflict why?

i created boolean references in my main vi block diagram and copied them to my sub vi front panel. when wire my reference in my main vi to one the input node of the sub vi the wire is broken. the error says its a class conflict why?

Expanding and clarifying what BJD said;
After you create the temporary sub-VI that BJD mentioned, open its front panel and copy the reference control that LV created when it created the sub-VI.
This reference control will be correct class etc that you need. Use the control to replace the original control that you were attempting to wire up.
The technique of "create sub-VI...copy" always works for me.
There is one more thing that you should watch out for.
The mechanical action of the boolean can not be set for latch action when attempting to read the value using a value property node.
Trying to help,
Ben
Ben Rayner
I am currently active on.. MainStream Preppers
Rayner's Ridge is under construction

Block diagram wont open properly

I have written a big labview program for my application. I have been workig on it for 6 months. I keep adding the peice of code every day and save it with a new name every week.
At one point when I added some code into my program, the block diagram started acting weird and wont let me work on the program easily. For If I add an add function, it would take time and insert this function a couple of inches away where I pionted my cursor. Another issue was that; if I add a while loop or for loop or any other structure it would take time and one added it would add a couple of inches away and expand the main program window (Block Diagram) too.
since then, I started using my company's laptop to develop the code. I have no issues with that lap top till today.
But now when I tranfer this program back to my desk top. It wont open the Block Diagram and wont let me edit it. When I try to open the block diagram. the window appear black out and the LabView stops working.
Is this issure ralted to the graphics of my compute or any thing else? Please help me. Thanks
Mansoor

There is a maximum size that a VI can be. What that exact size is I don't know. It does sound like you have one HUGE VI. If that is the case you really need to think more about using subVIs. It will make your program much easier to maintain and extend.
Also, rather than renaming it once a week you should consider using source code contol. Even if you are the only developer it is a much better way to manage your code. SVN is free and very easy to set up. If you do use source code control make sure you separate the compiled code from the source code. This is an option in the VI properties.
Mark Yedinak
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot

How can I open a vi and show the block diagram?

Hi,
I am opening an vi using "Open VI Reference" and "Invoke Methodpen FP", but I want to open the vi and show the block diagram, but I haven´t found any method (Invoke Method) to do that and any property.
Any idea?
Thanks!
Gracinda

OK, I can come up with a reason. I have written a program that will search the entire VI Hierarchy of a program and update all of the descriptions for all VIs with the top level program part #, the name of the top level program that the VI is used in, the company copyright info, the ITAR notice, company address, the name of the engineer performing the update, along with the date and time. This will also place as a background image on all the VIs, a watermark of the company name, legality stuff and the copyright. It works very slick in that if there are thousands of sub-vis, such as what I'm working on now, it goes through all of them, makes sure the data is there as per company policy without having to open every one of them look at them and update or not whichever the case may be. The one portion that is tough is that the program will detect if there is a description written about what funtion the VI performs and if there is not a description, then it pops up a dialog requesting the user to write a description. The problem is that without looking at the block diagram for the VI, it can be nearly impossible to write a description for the functionality of the VI. So is there a way to programmatically open a VI, show its block diagram (this would only be in the case of a missing description) and then upon completion of the updates, close the block diagram? (I already open and close the VI programmatically in order to read the VI DESC and update as needed, but that is in the background and of course you can't see the block diagram).
Thanks,
Dan

Urgent Help! How can i execute in the same block diagram two separate labview codes each one with diferent execution timings?

Dear All.
I have 2 application progrlams in the same block diagram. the intention is to use the 2 programs at different excuting time for different application, and each have stop and start button ofcourse i will have master stop. But when i run the program, it only works one program at time , that is the 1st block which i make it active only , when i tried to make active the second block it will not work, only works when i stoped the1st one. So, this it to request ur hlep how can i solve my problem. here i have attached some of my program.
Regards!
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
2_block application.vi ‏14 KB

Usually you set up a task that has all the channels from all the modules configured. When a loop starts it reserves that task and the cDAQ can't be used by other loops unless you start and stop tasks.
You can have one loop acquire all the data and if you want certain channels to go to other loops you can use the producer/consumer design pattern. If you wanted a third loop you would add another queue and the third loop would dequeue that data. See attached.
Eric
Attachments:
prod-cons.vi ‏69 KB

Error cluster constant appears different in two locations on a block diagram

I am a newbie to LabVIEW. I have taken Core 1 & 2 and Machine Vision and I have not com across this before.
The image on the right is obviously an Error cluster constant used in the block diagram to create an Error cluster and wire it to an error out terminal. As far as I can tell the image on the left is about the same thing, but why does it look different? The different appearance causes raises a concern that there is a difference in behavior that I do not understand. LabVIEW help suggets that both are Error constants. When I create a new error constant, it always ends up appearing like the right image above. I have not been able to create someting looking like the image on the left.
Could someone please confirm what the image on the left is on a blck diagram?
Thanks,
Bill
Solved!
Go to Solution.

The image on the left is an error cluster control. It has a front panel presence and can be set either via the front panel or through a property node or local variable. The image on the right is an error cluster constant. It is a static value.
Mark Yedinak
"Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot

In block diagram connecting wire getting blur while saving the VI in LabVIEW 2009

Hello,
I am using Labview 2009, And while I am saving a simple VI connecting wires are getting blurry. What could be the problem?? Is it affect my program while running?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Go into Tools>>Options, select the Block Diagram page and find the section called Constant Folding. If the CF for wires check box is checked, then this is most likely the reason. You can uncheck the check box and it won't affect the way your code runs.
If this isn't the case, you should upload an image of what it looks like.
Try to take over the world!

How can i avoid to see the source code when any user open block diagram third time without password

i have a probelem regarding source code control. my problem is that when user open block diagram of any sub vi in vi. i would like to make a such a vi which source code can not open after seeing the block diagram thrice time and i dont want to make password to see the block diagram so what can i do ?
give me the perfect solution for this type of problem.

First protect you diagram
create a tap on your FP and create a picture of your diagram and put it on the second tap
DON'T expect answers if you only want perfect one's
Greetings from Germany
Henrik
LV since v3.1
“ground” is a convenient fantasy
'˙˙˙˙uıɐƃɐ lɐıp puɐ °06 ǝuoɥd ɹnoʎ uɹnʇ ǝsɐǝld 'ʎɹɐuıƃɐɯı sı pǝlɐıp ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ɹǝqɯnu ǝɥʇ'

Is there a way to add shapes to the shape library, and does anyone make a shape library for electronic block diagrams?

Hello!
I'm trying to use Pages or Keynote to make electronic block diagrams. The shapes library looks like it would be perfect for the job, but the shapes are limited. I know I can make a custom shape, but I live with slight brain damage, which means the mouse is NOT my friend. If I try to make custom shapes, they look like a kindergartener's scrawl, so that's not a solution.
All of the online forums I've been to so far say to use Visio (ick!) and if your desired symbol is not there, make it yourself. Well, several symbols are not there, and the first paragraph explains why this is a non-starter.
I would gladly pay some reasonable fee for electronic shapes, such as amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, etc. if someone made them. But from the help file I can't even see a way to add those shapes to the Apple shape library, so I'm not sure, other than copy and paste, how to handle outside shapes. Copy and paste is pretty labor intensive anyway, but if it's my only option, well, so be it.
Any suggestions? Aside from Visio, that is...
Thanks!
Jim

Hi Jim,
When you say the "Apple shape library" do you mean the Shapes button on the toolbar in Pages?
I don't think there is a way to add to the Shapes in Pages. However, you can create a custom template with shapes that you frequently use. Save a document with your shapes then Menu > File > Save as Template...
This will be saved in My Templates folder, and you can open it with Template Chooser. You will still have to Copy and Paste a shape into the document you are working on. No way around that!
I don't use Keynote, so I may be missing something in your question.
Regards,
Ian.

Saved block diagram wont open

I am a new labview user so this may be obvious, but I have a problem nonetheless:
I have drawn a simple program and saved it but when I open it again, only the front panel opens and not the block diagram as well, which I wish to edit. I am openning labview on the same machine, same version etc. what do I need to do to get this working properly?
Thanks to anyone for their help

Hi Dougonlabview,
Just press Ctrl+E. This will bring you to the diagram. Pressing Ctrl+E again will bring the front panel back on top.
Regards,
Mathieu Steiner, Test System Engineer, Safran Engineering
CLD, ISTQB

How do I take a screenshot of a block diagram to be used in a MS Word document?

I am using labview 5.0 and I am working up a user manual on the VI I have created. I would like to include screenshots of the block diagram and explain what I have done for future revisions of the VI by other programmers.

You can "print" your vi. When you do that, you have the option to save it instead as an html or rtf file. LabVIEW will create images of your diagram that you can use for your user manual.
Also, you can simply select your diagram or part of the diagram using the "Position/Size/Select" tool, copy it and then paste it on your word document, like any regular cut and paste. It will paste as an image. If you want, you can paste the image in another application directly like Paint or Microsoft Photo Editor, so you can modify it accordingly to your needs.
Best regards;
Enrique
www.vartortech.com

How to add text to the block diagram

How do you add plain text to the block diagram for documentation and can I change the background color to yelllow or something else that may be helpful? see image below
Windows is a 64 bit extension to a 32 bit graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor, written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition. Byte that Microsoft!
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Just double-click in an emtpy area and start typing. Use the coloring tool to color the text background.
(there is also a "free label" in the decorations palette, but that seems like a detour )
LabVIEW Champion . Do more with less code and in less time .

LabView application hangs up when scrolling the block diagram

Hi all.
I attached you "Main.vi" that is part of my LabView project. I don't know what's going on, but when I scroll the block diagram to the maximum right, the LabView application hangs up. There are a lot of things in this block diagram because is an outline yet. My plan was to make it more structural, but now I can't do anything because this error don't allow me to edit the diagram.
Please, try to open it (ignore all the dependencies) and check if it hangs up also in your computer.
If it does, is there any way to recover it? It's really important for me because I don't have any backups since two weeks ago...
Regards,
Francisc
Hi all.
I attached you "Main.vi" that is part of my LabView project. I don't know what's going on, but when I scroll the block diagram to the maximum right, the LabView application hangs up. There are a lot of things in this block diagram because is an outline yet. My plan was to make it more structural, but now I can't do anything because this error don't allow me to edit the diagram.
Please, try to open it (ignore all the dependencies) and check if it hangs up also in your computer.
If it does, is there any way to recover it? It's really important for me because I don't have any backups since two weeks ago...
Regards,
Francisco
Attachments:
Main (v3.1).vi ‏257 KB

It didn't hang up on my computer, but it did make me nauseous, luckily I keep a bucket by my desk.
You might have video card issues. Try this: open the VI, and hit Auto Cleanup, then save. Close LabVIEW, reopen. If that does not work, try to get to the far right side by going to the Front Panel, and double clicking something that will take you there. If you get there successfully, use the disable structure to disable ~ 1/8 or more of the diagram on that side. Save, reopen.
Richard

Cannot place custom subVI on the block diagram

When I press the "Select a VI..." button on the function palette and select the VI I want to place on the block diagram nothing happens. This only seems to be happening for two particular VIs. Most of the time I can place the custom subVI without any problems.
Is there some option that could have accidentally gotten set that does not allow a VI to be placed on another VIs block diagram?
Please let me know if there is any way to fix this problem.
Thank you,
David R. Asher

David,
What you sent me has a .ctl file extension. The ctl extension is for LabVIEW custom Controls, not VIs. Even though it is actually a VI, the wrong extension must be confusing LabVIEW and not letting it load. It's probably trying to put it on the front panel since that is where controls go.
If you change the ctl extension to vi, it works as it should.
Ed
Ed Dickens - Certified LabVIEW Architect - DISTek Integration, Inc. - NI Certified Alliance Partner
Using the Abort button to stop your VI is like using a tree to stop your car. It works, but there may be consequences.

Block diagram expansion criteria

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