"Import string" method not supported in LabVIEW 7.1

Question

We have made an application that support multi-language (English, French, etc.). In LabVIEW 6.1, we used the "import string" VI method to support this option. The method was executed just before to open front panel. The code was based on this example found in NI Developer Zone:
Translation/Localization Tools in LabVIEW
(http://sine.ni.com/apps/we/niepd_web_display.disp​lay_epd4?...
But surprise in version 7.1, this method can't be loaded without the diagram block. So the built application doesn't support it! It works only in the development interface. Why this change?
If someone has an idea to solve this, let me know.

Answer 1

If you build that example into an EXE under LabVIEW 7.1, it should work fine as long as you add the non top-level VIs as Dynamic VIs and add the language files as Support Files when you create the executable, making sure to specify in "Custom Destinations" that you want the string files to end up in the same directory as the EXE.
Your point about the method requiring the block diagram is correct, according to the help for the method. However, I think the diagrams will be available to the run-time engine as long as you haven't purposefully removed them prior to creating the EXE in the manner described above. Maybe someone else can chime in on this point, because I know the App Builder changes a lot with every new major LabVIEW version (and sometimes, with minor versions too!).
In any case, I just did a test where I downloaded the example you referenced, created a .BLD file as I indicated above, and got a successful executable that was able to use the Import VI Strings method to load the desired language at run-time.
Regards,
John