Opening multiple sub VIs (front panels) in an application

Hi,
I am working on a small process control application. The main VI represents a layout of various equipment (pumps, valves, heat exchangers). Each TYPE of equipment
can be turned on/off through a particular subVI. The subVI is displayed when the operator clicks on the component. At the moment only one subVI front panel can be loaded. I would like to have multiple panels open at the same time; this to include multiple instances of a same VI and different subVIs.
I have tried to set properties in the WindowsApperance dialog box but cannot acheive the desired operation.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

Trust my personal experience: You do NOT want multiple dialog windows open. The users will hate you and curse your name if you do. You really want to use subpanels and limit what the user can do. Subpanels are a way of inserting a VI's front panel into another VI's front panel. So you want to have a section of your main front panel that the user can load whatever control subVI they need.
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LV 8.5 opens all sub-VI front panels

Hello,
Recently I again saw a strange occurrance that has happened to me about 10-12 times over the past year. Here specifically I am using LV 8.5 with the cRIO and FPGA module. When I was running a new RT VI from the developer environment, (deploying to the cRIO) the result looked something like this:
All the sub-VI front panels are opened, and shown in their reserved or running state.
None of these VIs are set to show front panel when called or opened, but all are sub-VIs of the top level VI within the project. It seems to have replicated a "Find all VIs in memory, within the project" and then "Show front panel" Invoke. The troubling thing is that this is not really repeatable, when I have closed all the VIs and run the VI again, it is fine. I have seen the same behavior in LV 8.2, 8.21 as well as when deploying to cFP-2120 or when on a Host computer.
Has anyone else seen this or are there any ideas of what is going on?
Thanks,
Mello
Message Edited by Mellobuck on 12-11-2007 01:17 PM
Message Edited by Mellobuck on 12-11-2007 01:17 PM
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Well now that I have seen to image, I recall having seen this myself.
Like you, it was when I was deploying to an RT target and I was not able to recreate this behaviour.
It was either an 8.0 or a 8.2 app.
So all I can do is confirm that you are not alone, but can not offer a solution.
Ben
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I try to open two sub vi front panel in third - main vi front panel.

I have two sub vi, and I`d like to see this two vi front panel in main vi front panel window. Does anybody can answer me , If it`s possible?

Click here for a recent related discussion.
Or have you thought about using a tab control? You can organize controls in pages and have those controls call sub-VIs with or without displaying the front panel of the sub-VI. See the Tab Control Properties.vi example that ships with LabVIEW.
From any LabVIEW window, select Help from the window menubar, then Find Examples >> Search, then enter "tab control" (without the quotes) in the box labeled Type a keyword to find:

Sub vi front panel opens when main vi opens

When I open my main vi I have one of my sub vi front panels that opens. I looked in the properties for the sub vi and Show front panel when loaded is NOT checked. Is there something else I need to look at?
Solved!
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please clarify;
Q1)
The sub-VI FP opens when
You open the top VI but BEFORE you run it
OR
The sub-VI FP opens after you start the top level VI
Q2)
If the above Q was after you run....
Is the sub-VI running or paused when it opens?
If it is puased you may have a breakpoint set in it.
Ben
Ben Rayner
I am currently active on.. MainStream Preppers
Rayner's Ridge is under construction

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

Open close sub vi front panal

I have a sub vi which returns a true or false. I'm using a case statement to open and close the front panal of the sub vi. If true I'm using a invoke FPpen to open the sub vi and if false I'm using an invoke FP:close to close the front panal. The sub vi and case structure or inside a while loop. My problem is if a false is returned without the front panal already being open an error occurs. Is there a different setting I should be using or is there a way to determine if the front panal is closed so I don't use the invoke FP:Close?
Thanks.
Solved!
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Knoebel wrote:
I didn't think of doing it that way. If I use FPpen and FP:Close depending on true or false value I still get an error if False and the front panel is already closed. I don't know of another way to open and close the front panel based on the condition.
Yes, you will get an error if you try to close a panel that is not open. Just ignore the error with the Clear Specific Error.
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Open sub VI front panel in a tab-- Possible?

Well, the question is basically in the subject: Is it possible to call sub VI's and display their front panel in a tab. I do NOT wish to have the front panel in a new window when called.
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_Faust wrote:
Well, the question is basically in the subject:<...>
The answer is also basically in the picture:
You can find SubPanel element in the same palette as the Tab Control container. Place a SubPanel on the Tab Control and wire a reference of the VI whose front panel you want to display.
Message Edited by Giedrius.S on 02-13-2010 11:08 PM
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Close top vi front panel while sub vi front panel run

Hello,
I'm writing wiring a program and have several (several several several .. ) VI which launches Sub-VI with their front panel.
During there Sub VI, the Front Panel of the Top-VI get bored behind...
Is it possible to Hide this Front Panel while the sub-VI is running.
Thanks
Solved!
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Sorry for this post, i didn't read every replies of the folowing topic :
http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/closing-front-panel/m-p/300115
The VI of falkpl :HideFPvi.vi 24 KB is a very good method for my VI.
Sorry again, hope this'll help someone

Position Sub VI front panel

Is there an easy way of positioning the Front panel of a sub VI on a coordinate point of the calling VI?

I just found the SnapToPanel utility on the community.
Description
The SnapToPanel VI enables you to position a Target VI window relative to a Reference VI window.
Use the SnapToPanel VI in your application to control the position of sub-panels relative to the main application panel.
Ton
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Have a program in which a sub vi front panel pops up when the main vi is loaded

I have a strange problem.
This problem only occures after building an application using LV 8.6 Professional version Application Builder, and I have installed it onto the target computer. It doesn't happen when running the development system.
When I load the program on the target computer, one of the subvi's front panels used in the application appears on top of the main vi's front panel.
This subvi should never appear on the front panel at any time during the program exicution.
It happens to be the Write to Spreadsheet.vi that is part of the standard vi library.
I have checked all calls to this subvi to verify that it has not be modified to make it load or appear when the main vi is loaded.
It is called at 4 different times during the program exicution but in no instance is it set to show the front panel.
Has anyone seen this and if so what was the fix?
Solved!
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Does the exe file run on your development computer without the popup?
Can you post a VI that demonstrates this behavior?
You've probably already checked, but there are two places that need setting, the SubVI Node Setup, and the File Proeprties Execution tab. See attached jpegs.
Message Edited by Pablop on 09-02-2009 02:20 PM
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Renco Encoders, Inc
Goleta, CA
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Attachments:
SubVI Node Setup.jpg ‏13 KB
VI Properties Execution.jpg ‏32 KB

How to creat multiple sub VIs'

I have a VERY large VI that finaly crashed due to the large size. What is the best way to create "Sub VIS"? I have almost 800K of code. Should I create all the sub vis and then add them to my Project? I want the program to call the sub vis automaticaly.
Thanks
Philip

Hi Philip,
Backups:
As Lynn (johnsold) said, local backups are a minimum requirement.
A service like Dropbox is better in case of computer crash.
Note: Temporarily disable Dropbox syncing when doing builds in a Dropbox folder as this may cause builds to fail.
The best solution is true source control like the free TortiseSVN.
For sub vis I suggest:
Identify code sections that perform one specific function. This makes a logical sub vi. If you can easily come up with a name to describe the
section (like "Parse Input String" for example) then you are on the right track. With some practice you will be creating sub vis that can be used
in other programs and save you time in the future. This is a good reason to NOT include unrelated code in a sub vi just because it will fit.
Take note of the number of inputs and outputs in the code section. Ideally you want a small number of inputs and the same for outputs (3 or 4). Use clusters to reduce the number of I/O items.
Standardize on a connector pane layout - this makes wires line up better. The 4224 pattern works well. When LabVIEW creates sub vis it only creates the number of inputs and outputs that are required. So you will normally have to change the connector pattern and rearrange the controls and indicators every time you create a sub vi.
Include error in and error out in their standard places even if you don't need them for the particular application. When you use that sub vi later
you may need them.
Good practice is to use Type Defines for controls and indicators that go to more than 1 place. In your case, it is a jugement call if it is worth the trouble to do this on an existing program. Once you start using sub vis more, Type devs become very important. If you don't use them, changing a data structure will require manually changing every sub vi that uses that data structure.
steve
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Hiding front panel with built applications

I've seen and used the techniques to run a VI with a hidden front panel. I have the VI open a reference to itself and it works as expected. However when I build my code into an application, it no longer works. Watching Task Manager I see the application quit when the panel becomes hidden. I've even tried building the window-less.zip example I downloaded from the NI website. It worked in VI form but not in EXE form. Anyone have any suggestions?
Andy Brown
Averna

Andy,
I ran into this problem back in LabVIEW 5.1 when I was developing a game in LabVIEW. I had an introductory screen that allowed the user to run the tutorial or play the game, and upon selection I hid the introductory screen and displayed the panel of the appropriate subVI (tutorial or game). Unfortunately when I built an executable, it would end once I chose to run a subVI, and I later found out that this is because closing the front panel of an executable essentially closes its reference. My workaround was to use LabVIEW 6i and the new tab control to keep all of my front panel operations in the same VI, and programmatically switch between the tabs in order to display different screens (like tutorial, enter info screens, the actual game, etc.)
I hope this
suggestion helps. There may be a way to bypass the problem with closing EXEs once their front panels are gone, but I do not know of one.
Good luck with your application, and have a pleasant day.
Sincerely,
Darren Nattinger
Applications Engineer
National Instruments
Darren Nattinger, CLA
LabVIEW Artisan and Nugget Penman

Saving Image of front panel in an application

See attached image.
Using my source code, I can save the image of the front panel with no problem. However, when i build an application and run this, the image of the front panel does not save. Can anyone help?
Attachments:
Save Image of Front Panel.JPG ‏19 KB

This piece of code does the trick, don't mind the wiring.
André
Message Edited by andre.buurman@carya on 09-17-2007 05:39 PM
Regards,
André
Using whatever version of LV the customer requires. (LV5.1-LV2012) (www.carya.nl)
Attachments:
Top level dir.PNG ‏10 KB

Showing multiple values on front panel using array

For example, if I input "10" for number of datapoints, I want to see 10 hex and binary values all listed in a column. Right now, only 1 value shows up and all the previous values get erased
Thanks!
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
labviewa.png ‏34 KB

Hi,
Wire the data outside the for loop for get an auto index array with all elements.
You can check too: Tutorial: Arrays and Clusters.
Best Regards,
Luis A. Mata C.
Ing. Electrónico
Anaco - Venezuela

Storing front panel values between application runs

Labview 6.1 built application
I have built an application in which the operator can change setpoints that transmit through datasocket to a central controller.
The operator needs to be able to close his PC down, each time he reboots the application reloads with the default levels, this can cause alarm problems etc.
Is there a way of him entering the values to an area that will save his last values and reload as the datasocket values when the executable is restarted?
(his/her) no offence.
Any code or advice, thank you.

Hi,
You can use configuration files VI placed in the File I/O section. I use LV7 and It has it, I supose LV6 also has it.
What you can do is create an ini file with a configuration by default
and then when program starts you read it and load this values to your
window. You can load them reading from the ini file when you open the
window that contains these levels. Finally, in this window you can
create a button to save the new values that the operator enters for the
levels. So If the operator need to save new values, he/she will press
that button and the values will be saved to the ini file and then when
operator closes his PC, reboots it and restarts the application the
default values will be the last values the operator has entered and
saved in the previous execution of the program because each time you
restart it the values are loaded from the ini file.
I hope this helps you,
ToNi.

Opening multiple sub VIs (front panels) in an application

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