Using a "menu ring" feature on the front panel with event structures

hello - right now i have many event cases controlled by many "ok buttons". i would like to use a menu ring on the front panel to save space from all those buttons, but i don't see how it will work with all the individual event cases. currently each event is tied to a single button, and the menu ring acts as one thing on the block diagram so i can't tie an event to a choice in the menu. any suggestions? thanks....

Alternativley, you could use an enum control instead of a menu ring. It will name the cases according to the selection automatically.
If you want to use a menu ring and strings, you could do something like in this image.
Message Edited by altenbach on 02-09-2006 01:43 PM
LabVIEW Champion . Do more with less code and in less time .
Attachments:
RingText.png ‏3 KB

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I want to save an image of the front panel, (with data), after every VI run

When I try to copy the front panel (using a select all), and paist to paint, all the data in the graphs show up as they did after the last run, but the data in the charts dissapear. The chart itself is copied but the data is not. Any ideas on how to solve this?
Thanks,
Brian
Attachments:
Brians_graph_compilation2.vi ‏1363 KB

This Knowledgebase also has some information on programatically saving VI images
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/942DAA35C7B35616862565FE005F713F?OpenDocument
(KB 197BB7VJ if the link doesn't work).
Note that you don't have to put the code in the VI you are running in order to save it to a file, so you don't actually have to modify your VI. You can just run a seperate VI that uses the VI name from the first one (I've attached a VI which could either be run standalone or used as a SubVI, as well as an example of using it as a SubVI).
If you don't want to do it programatically you could just hit the print screen button on your keyboard and then paste it into paint and crop off the extra windows stuff.
Attachments:
CreateVIJPEG.vi ‏34 KB
ImageExample.vi ‏24 KB

Unexpected effect of Lock Front Panel in Event Structure

I have been using LV intensely for only a short time, although I have dabbled with it many times since its first appearance. The "problem" that I have had may well be the intended behaviour, but it just seems unintuitive to me. I'm writing a small application to take measurements from a USB instrument. I have already written a basic driver for the instrument, which the application calls, and the driver is working as expected. In the application, the user can configure various settings and then click an Execute button to transfer them to the instrument. The click event is handled in an event structure along with other events. Since some of the instrument operations take an appreciable time, the first action that occurs in the click event case is to disable the Execute button using a property node so that further clicks are ignored until the operation completes, at which time the button is re-enabled.
When disabled, the Execute button is grayed out as expected and clicking it has no visual effect. However, it seems that clicks made during the disabled period are still queued and acted upon when the button is re-enabled, causing the operation to be repeated.
It is the solution I have found that seems unintuitive to me. The Lock Front Panel check box was checked (by default) for the click event, and I assumed that this would be the correct setting. However, unchecking the Lock check box actually makes everything worked as expected. Click events occurring during the disabled period are now ignored or discarded. I'm not suggesting that this is a bug, but I'm interested to learn why it happens, if anyone can explain. I have attached a picture of a simplified version of the event case.
Attachments:
Sample.png ‏7 KB

I would say what you see is expected behavior, even though it's a bit complicated.
The "Lock front panel until the event case for this event completes" option will only defer clicks and other things generating events until the current event handler completes. So this means that the click is placed in a queue and only evaluated once the event is finished. At this time, the button is no longer disabled, so an event is generated.
When the "Lock front panel until the event case for this event completes" is not checked, the click is immediately evaluated, but it's happening on a disabled control, so it does not generate an event.
From the LV help:
By default, when an event enters a queue, LabVIEW locks the front panel that contains the object that generated that event. LabVIEW keeps the front panel locked until all Event structures finish handling the event. While the front panel is locked, LabVIEW does not process front panel activity but places those interactions in a buffer and handles them when the front panel is unlocked.
Note If an event case that locks the front panel takes a significant amount of time to execute, consider using the Set Busy function or displaying a dialog box to notify the user that the front panel is locked.

Is there a way the user can change the equation in the formular node from the front panel on the fly, dynamically?

Is there a way the user can change the equation in the formular node from the front panel on the fly, dynamically?

Sorry, I don't think so. That would be pretty cool if you could create a property node for a formula node and then enter a formula on the front panel and use it to update the formula. But you can't create a property node for a formula node and the only way of modifying the formula is by typing it into the formula node on the diagram. And you can't modify a diagram of a running VI.
You could create a VI which is only a formula node with the maximum number of inputs and outputs you expect. Have a button on the calling VI to Edit Formula. When the button is pressed, use a VI server to display the front panel on the formula VI, display a dialog box telling the user how to display the diagram of the formula VI, then stop the calling VI. (You can't edit a sub-VI while t
he calling VI is running). The user will then need to rerun the calling VI to use the new formula.
You might be able to do something by calling MatLab or something like that to get an interactive formula window.

Is there a way to use the built-in Datalogging and programmatically log the front panel while the vi is running?

I would like to use the built-in Data Logging feature. There is the "Log at Completion" option, but is there a way to programmatically make a new log record while running? I looked around in VI server and couldn't find any methods that would do that. Currently, I am grabbing all of the front panel control references using VI Server and if there are any changes, the changed values are written to a log file along with a date/time stamp. I'm mostly dealing with buttons, which simply change from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0, so it's not too hard to visualize what was pressed. It works okay for reconstructing what happened, but it would be much nicer to use the built-in fe
ature because you can "replay" directly onto the front panel and actually see what the changes were. However, without being able to programmatically make a new log, it won't work for me.

Jake,
There are several options here.
I would suggest using your own code for datalogging. The datalogging you are referring to is primarily for debug, and one shot datalogs of front panel indicators (and controls?), not including graphs, etc.
If you go to the file functions, you will see a menu for datalogging. These functions will allow you to save your data, as you need it, simply, and in a compact format.
I recommend opening the datalog file, doing all your file operations, and closing the file before the program is complete. There are several examples of this in the examples database.
Good luck

Using a menu ring to select DAQ device channel and indicator

Hi,
New user here. I am using the DAQ assistant with multiple analog inputs. I would like the front panel to have a menu ring where the user can select which channels are to be active. Also, this corresponds to a single graphical indicator.
Currently I have a VI that displays all channels each with its own indicator. I want to simplify the front panel so that a user can simply use a menu ring to select and focus on what he/she is interested in. Is it possible to use the Select Signals Express VI to implement this?
Thank you!

Drop the DAQ Assistant or convert it to regular DAQmx functions. The physical channel control does all that. Just look at the shipping examples.

Is it possible to use a Case Structure to hide numeric indicators on the Front panel when they are not in use?

I am rather new to LabVIEW, have only been using it for about 1.5 weeks as of this post, which means I may be missing something rather obvious due to ignorance, but is there any way to have my front panel change as my case changes due to user selection of a certain case via the front panel?
The goal of the program is to make a simple layout for a user that is using the digital multimeter that the proposed code is designed for and I don't want tons of numeric controllers and such clogging up the screen space that don't work with the function the user is using to measure with.
Thanks in advanced.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Check out the property node for the controls
Visible Property
Short Name: Visible
Requires: Base Package
Class: Control Properties
Displays the front panel control.
This property is similar to the Show Control and Hide Control options on the shortcut menu of a control.
Also look at the TAB control to control which controls are available to your user.
Omar

How to get the position of the stem in control valve using slider control in the front panel

I have created a calibration program for a control valve. Signal (4-20mA) is generated from labview using slider contorl which is given to the valve via DAQ(module 9265) and again the feedback signal from the valve is acquired using DAQ(module 9203).. . There is an input ISO/ISC(Increasing signal to open/ Increasing signal to close) in the front panel.
ISO would set the output to increase from (4-20)mA further opening the valve
ISC would set the output to increase from (4-20)mA further closing the valve
I have doubt, how can i get the position of a stem

Ravens Fan wrote:
If the position of the stem is being sent to the PC through a 4-20 mA signal into your DAQ 9203 module, then you just need to do an analog input read in order to get the signal.
When reading this post, that is what came to mind... So let's see if both RavensFan & I are trying to understand the same thing... Are you saying that the position of the stem is linear (or scaled) to the amount of current sent to it? Meaning a 4mA signal would move it a certain distance, and 10mA would move another given / known distance? Or are you saying that it is calibrated so that a 20mA signal for a certain duration (ms) would move it a given distance? So the scale would be time and not current unless a lookup table is used to adjust the time duration based on the current being drawn...
It's just that I am not familiar with solenoid / drive devices that related to current.. To voltage, yes. To time, yes.. To current, I'm simply saying that I am not familiar with that. Can you tell us more about this stem (mfg / model designation)?

Is there possibility to use the front panel without installing Labview?

Hallo,
i have two small questions:
1- Is it possible to use the front panel of a labview software without needing to install Labview itself? i mean something similar to the "power point viewer" which can view the Power Point files without installing the microsoft office.
2- In an intensity Graph, how can one change the color?
thanks.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi,
Regarding your questions
1)You need to have Labview and Application builder installed on your machine. If you have that you can make an stand alone application (EXE) and then you can deploy it on systems that does not have LabView and can view it, However you will not be able to see the block diagram.
Here is a link that explains how to do so
http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361A-01/lvhowto/exe_ex/
2) You can either do it by using propery node or marker method. The following link explains it
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/1ADFF221E27F5B5886256E6F007C7B58?OpenDocument
Hope it helps.
Regards,
Fawad
Fawad Nisar
Applications Engineer
National Instruments UK & Ireland

How can I simultaneously acquire and display an image on the front panel using a PCI-1424

Dear friends;
I want to use PCI-1424 , and labview 5.1 to capture the image, But I can not find some functions in labview to capture, display and save the image.Can you be kind to share some examples or provide some information.
Another question is how I CAN display the image in the front panel.
thanks so much

Hello yangshang,
Thank you for contacting National Instruments! To acquire images from the 1424 you will need NI IMAQ 2.5.1 or later. This can be found HERE on our drivers download page. One thing to note is that in LabVIEW 5 we only had the ability to view an IMAQ image as a pop up window. This VI is called "IMAQ Windraw". This will pop up a separate window that will display your picture. If you need to view the picture on the front panel you can try saving the image as a file (BMP, JPG, etc) then use the LabVIEW Graphics and Sound VI's to Read a picture file in and then wire the picture to a picture control on the front panel. Let me know if you have anymore questions. Good Luck.
Regards,
Mark T
Applications Engineer | National Instruments

How can I simultaneously acquire and display an image on the front panel using a PCI-1408

I have to acquire and display an image directely in the front panel of a *.vi using a PCI-1408. i have to know all informmations about this image because I want to create a calibration system.

Hi Paola,
if you own IMAQ Vision you can just have a look at the examples that comes with your board or you can look at: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/explprog.nsf/6c163603265406328625682a006ed37d/2abaefe05789961686256866007c0d22?OpenDocument.
Without IMAQ Vision look at:
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/explprog.nsf/6c163603265406328625682a006ed37d/22474456534202b086256aff005fc4f3
(or search at ni.com for "IMAQ Display without IMAQ Vison)
Please mail me if you need further help,
Michael

Need your help, How to write a program such as drag the objects to the front panel like using the LabVIEW Front Platte

Dear all:
Sorry for so long title.
I need your help with how to drag the objects and drop onto the front panel.
Like the LabVIEW front platte, i can choose the objects i can drop onto every where of the front panel.
Could drag and drop function can satify?
Any idea?
Thank you
Attachments:
Image00000.jpg ‏75 KB

What you want to do is relatively complicated and it seems that your knowledge of LabVIEW is relatively basic. I suggest you try searching this site and google for LabVIEW tutorials. Here, here, here, here, here and here are a few you can start with and here are some tutorial videos. You can also contact your local NI office and join one of their courses.
In addition, I suggest you read the LabVIEW style guide and the LabVIEW user manual (Help>>Search the LabVIEW Bookshelf).
Try to take over the world!

How can I make an area of the front-panel have scroll bars?

I'm writing a VI that provides many options to the user. The front-panel is large and contains many controls ~130 of them, it's divided up visually to match the workings of the system the VI controls. One particular functional block has very many control options though these are rarely used. I can't fit all of the controls I need onto the screen area I have available.
What I would like is a way of making an area of the screen with scroll bars on it. I don't need any more than that, just an expansion of the front-panel area I have available. The "Sub-Panel" feature provides the scroll bars. But, a Sub-Panel is a way of accessing another VI, I don't want to do that. I could put the extra controls on the far-left or far-right of everything else and get the user to scroll the main scroll bars at the edges of the screen. The problem with that is that I it would mean couldn't lay out my front panel to match the system block-diagram as I have so far.
Does anyone know how to do this?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I know I can show the scroll bars at the edge of the VI. In my case that's not very useful. The front panel shows a block diagram of a system. It's made up of a set of clusters which control various parts of the system. I want to keep this layout because it's very useful in explaining to people new to the system how it works. I inherited that approach from a previous iteration of the program for an older system. The problem I have is that the new system has far more control parameters for one of the blocks. Unfortunately it's one of the blocks in the middle of the block diagram. If it were one at the left, right, top or bottom it would be no problem because the main scrollbars could be used.
I can use a tab-control, that's my fall-back plan. The problem is that would be abusing the purpose of the tab control. In a tab control each tab is supposed to deal with a group of controls that have a common connection. So, all the things in tab #1 are supposed to be connected in some way and all the things in tab #2 are supposed to be connected in some way. There not supposed to be a way of gaining more screen space.
The controls I'm dealing with are numeric controls, switches and rings.

Is it possible to change the font style and size of the front panel title?

Can you change the style and size of the Front Panel Window title? I seem to have no luck. I seem to be stuck with only 1 font/style. I would like to use a superscript for 1 of the letters in the title. Is this possible? If it isn't this would be a nice feature to have in the future. I am using LabVIEW 8.5.1.

Things like the window title font is a function of Windows - not LV. You can change it globally, but not on a window by window basis.
Mike...
Certified Professional Instructor
Certified LabVIEW Architect
LabVIEW Champion
"... after all, He's not a tame lion..."
Be thinking ahead and mark your dance card for NI Week 2015 now: TS 6139 - Object Oriented First Steps

Is it possible to display the color map of a 3D Surface plot on the Front Panel?

This would be a very useful feature to include, especially if you are just displaying the top-down (XY) projection of your plot (otherwise there's no way to visualize the amplitude that a given color represents). I know that the Intensity Graph allows you to display the Z-axis color map, but I want to use the 3D Graph control for some of the other features it offers...

I had the same question. After quite a bit of playing around with properties, methods, color ramps, viewing examples and reading a bit about it, I discovered a way to do this. Basically use the ColorMapValues and ColorMapColors properties from the 3D graph and modify them slightly and feed these into the ZScale.Marker.Vals[] on an intensity chart or the Scale.MarkerVals[] on the color ramp. See the attached example.
I think the diagram is self-documenting and pretty darn simple. I have a couple of notes on the front panel that help explain the vi.
Good luck.
Attachments:
3D_Intensity_ColorMap_Example.llb ‏51 KB

Using a "menu ring" feature on the front panel with event structures

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