Add tool to "safely" edit LabVIEW.ini

[Bob_Schor]

At various times, (including just after I post this Idea), I've editing the LabVIEW.ini file, usually to clean up the initial LabVIEW 2012 screen showing Projects I've created and Projects/Files I've opened.  I worry about "accidently deleting" something important, or (because I'm using an ordinary text editor to do this) deleting a bit too much (i.e. two entries instead of one) or not enough (forgetting to delete a semicolon).  In addition, not all of these entries should be "presented" to the User, particularly not without documentation!

A LabVIEW Advanced Option to "manipulate" the .INI file could have several virtues.  First, it would "know" which .INI file is appropriate for that version of LabVIEW (I have several installed on this PC).  Second, it could present the choices in a "logical" way, an array of Paths, for example, instead of a single string of path names separated by semicolons.  Third, it omit those features "better left alone".  Fourth, it could provide some Help (in the form of either a Help message or an explanatory label, e.g. "Recently Opened Files and Projects") so the User would know what is being altered.

BS

[tst]

It sounds to me like you're describing the LV options dialog - it presents the various LV options in a pretty and safe way, with help and related to a single LV version. Remember that the INI file is simply a tool which LV uses to remember the settings. You can access it manually to manipulate settings which aren't exposed through the LV UI, but it's always something you would want to do with care.

If there are specific options which don't appear in the various option dialogs, then maybe you just need to ask NI to add them.

[Bob_Schor]

I hadn't noticed the correspondence between the Options dialog (which I use, like, and would definitely prefer to editing an .INI file) and LV.INI.  So I'll follow up on your suggestion -- make available on the Options Dialog the "remembered" (or Recent) file settings (like the list of VIs and Projects, and Templates), giving the user the option to remove selected entries from the list. 

[AristosQueue (NI)]

Bob_Schor: Why are you trying to remove entries? If you just click on an entry that no longer exists, LV will check it and then remove it from the list.

[fabric]

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@AristosQueue (NI) wrote:

... Why are you trying to remove entries? ...

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I have often wanted an easy way to remove entries that STILL exist, e.g. Projects that are complete but which are still retained on disk, VIs or libraries which I opened long ago but which are now just cluttering up the list...

A "right-aligned trash can (on hover)", or a "right-click>Remove" option would be most welcome, but that discussion doesn't really belong here...

[Bob_Schor]

Yes, that's the point, to get rid of stuff that's really old (or was simply "looked up to see how I solved this last year"), but doesn't belong "in my face" each time I open LabVIEW.  The entries do still "exist" (i.e. they are legitimate files, just not "current") (and I also was unaware that clicking on an entry that doesn't exist would remove it from the list ...).  I'm just trying to suggest a way to "remove" list entries, at the user's discretion, would be helpful.

[GuenterMueller]

I maintain a copy of the LabVIEW.INI. When I see that one or more settings are not as I expect them to be I close LabVIEW and restore the copy. Works for me.

[tst]

I would suggest you create another idea for the removal option (maybe a right click as suggested or a button on each line). Personally, I don't really use the GSW, so I wouldn't vote for it, but others might.

This idea should probably be declined.

[JordanG]

Intentionally editable options are exposed in the UI currently and a general configuration file editor is not something NI would include. Specific options you wish us to add to the user interface may be addressed as separate ideas.