How to output last 4 arrays from a For Loop?

Question

Hi People,
I am almost at the end of my tether. I really hope someone could please help me.
Any input would be welcome. VI attached.
VI explanation:
I initialize an array.
The random number generator simulates my camera input.
Depending on which iteration it is, the data is added into one of four output arrays.
'x-y*floor(x/y)' gives a remainder value of 0, 1, 2 or 3.
'Case Selector' just adds 1 to 'x-y*floor(x/y)' to get case 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Shots 1, 5, 9 etc are added to Array 1 (Case 1).
Shots 2, 6, 10 etc are added to Array 2 (Case 2).
Shots 3, 7, 11 etc are added to Array 3 (Case 3).
Shots 4, 8, 12 etc are added to Array 4 (Case 4).
Averaged Output displays the averaged value i.e. the total value divided by the number of shots saved in that array ('Set (IQ+1)').
My problems are:
1) I would like to output only the last 4 sets of data from the Averaged Output 1, 2, 3 and 4 to 4 different files (i.e. save as .csv what is displayed onscreen in indicators 'Averaged Output 1', 2, 3 and 4 at the end of all iterations.
Where should I place my file save diagram disable so that it does this?
Putting it outside the main For Loop with auto-indexing on gives me one file with all previous data. (This is not feasible as my number of shots should number in the thousands)
Putting it outside the main For Loop with auto-indexing off gives me only the last set of data. (I need the output for 4 Arrays, not just the last run)
Putting it inside the main For Loop (as shown) gives me the same number of files as number of iterations. (Again not feasible due to large number of files that will be generated and slow camera capture)
For the sake of fast camera capture, I would like these 4 files to only output once all the image captures are complete.
2) Would preferably like to name the file once and for the programme to append '(1)', '(2)', '(3)' and '(4)' to filename of the appropriate 'Averaged Output' Arrays but file path controls are another big headache for me.
3) P.s. is initializing one array enough to avoid using Memory Manager? Or should I initialize 4 arrays?
I am using Labview 2010.
Thanks so much,
Jaslyn
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
Help Understanding Arrays and file paths (10).vi ‏26 KB

Answer 1

Thanks so much Lennard!!
Hi JKSH,
I've been busy trying to complete the dang code, but for completeness so that other users can learn too, I shall answer your queries. Thanks for looking in.
First, what do you mean by "add"? Your code in your case strcuture sums your input values, so your array size doesn't change. However, you also said "Putting it outside the main For Loop with auto-indexing on gives me one file with all previous data. (This is not feasible as my number of shots should number in the thousands)" -- it sounds like you are expecting an array with thousands of elements. So, what should "Output Array N" look like?
Ans: Output Array N should be a 4x4 array of the summation of all the numbers generated during every 4th iteration.
i.e. if random number 1=1, random number 2=2, etc, And 'No of iterations' is 12,
Output Array 1 should be 1+5+9:
15 15 15 15
15 15 15 15
15 15 15 15
15 15 15 15
(Note: Most of your arrays are 4x4, but in Case #2 you created 128x128. I prersume this is a typo?)
Ans: Kind of, I'm using a 4x4 array of randomly generated numbers as an example but my actual data will be the 128x128 pixel output of a camera. And during actual experimentation, 'No of Iterations' will number in the thousands.
Second, why do you add your "simulated camera input" to the "Initialized Array"? You can add it direcly to the previous output inside your case structure.
Ans: See answer to question 3
Third, have a look at shift registers: http://www.ni.com/gettingstarted/labviewbasics/shiftregisters.htm. Use them instead of Feedback Nodes to make your code tidier.
Ans: I did try.. But I can't seem to add shift registers to the case structure, only the for loops outside. Are you sure it can be done..?
jaslyn wrote:
1) I would like to output only the last 4 sets of data from the Averaged Output 1, 2, 3 and 4 to 4 different files (i.e. save as .csv what is displayed onscreen in indicators 'Averaged Output 1', 2, 3 and 4 at the end of all iterations.
Where should I place my file save diagram disable so that it does this?
For the sake of fast camera capture, I would like these 4 files to only output once all the image captures are complete.
You will need to call "Write to Text File.vi" 4 times to write 4 files. So, you should finish your loop, then call this VI 4 times.
Ans: How do I get it to extract the data from each of the 4 cases in my case structure?
jaslyn wrote:
2) Would preferably like to name the file once and for the programme to append '(1)', '(2)', '(3)' and '(4)' to filename of the appropriate 'Averaged Output' Arrays but file path controls are another big headache for me.
You can create strings first, then convert them into paths: http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361G-01/glang/string_to_path/
Thanks
jaslyn wrote:
3) P.s. is initializing one array enough to avoid using Memory Manager? Or should I initialize 4 arrays?
I'm not sure what you're asking; can you please clarify what you mean by "avoid using Memory Manager"? But anyway, you've actually initialized FIVE arrays: 1 outside the loop, and 1 inside each case.
I've read that to avoid fluctuations in memory usage, it is a good idea to initialize arrays to their expected size before the start of data collection. That was just what I was trying to do.