Browse button for File Path constant

[P@Anand]

In many cases where I use file path constant instead of control. For selecting a path either we can right click and select browse for path or paste a copied path into the constant.

So it would be a nice and handy option to have a browse button along with the constant as the control has. This button won't respond when the code is executing or while the BD is in run mode similar to the other Enum/Ring constants. This button can be enabled or disabled or made always to be enabled or whatever may be the best approach. This button may be disabled when "invalid path" is selected.

Mockup 1:

Mockup 2:

I have modified the Path constant suggestion and now I feel its not going to take more space.

Suggested style:

Mouse turns to select pointed when hovering over the button.

Upon clicking the button the browse window appears

[Intaris]

You can just right-click and choose "Browse for Path".

[P@Anand]

Yes, and I have mentioned in my idea. I felt its handly to have a browse button as well.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

P@Anand: I think you'll find a lot of resistance to this idea. It would use more space on the block diagram. We regularly get requests to make diagram elements smaller. Making one larger has to justify its use of space.

[P@Anand]

Aristos: I just showed it as an example. I am fine with having a small option (Like radix of numeric constant). All I expect is a single click option to launch the Browse window instead of making right click and select the option.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I wasn't suggesting closing the idea. We will wait and see if others comment. You might want to doctor up an image with the smallest button that you would find useable and post it here... we can get a moderator to update the image in the original idea. I think that might help sell the idea more to other users.

Taking off my R&D hat and putting on my LV user hat:

For myself, the right click is fine, but if other users want this, I wouldn't object, as long as it was a small button.

[P@Anand]

I have modified the Path constant suggestion and now I feel its not going to take more space.

Suggested style:

Mouse turns to select pointed when hovering over the button.

Upon clicking the button the browse window appears

[altenbach]

 I think the size argument is almost insignificant. Paths are typically quite long and we still can make the constant small. But yes, the minimum size will be larger with this idea implemented.

How about adding the browse option to the left-click option of the glyph? Selecting a valid path will automatically check the valid path entry for later and canceling th dialog would retain the old selection. Just an idea that would not increase the size at all. Left-click is better than right-click, especially for touch screen interfaces that seem to become more popular.

[P@Anand]

I like the idea of adding the Browse option to the Glyph and in fact I initially thought of proposing the same. But for a long time I was not knowing the option of selecting the glyph and for the new users it must be documented clearly to show the browse feature. Which again becomes similar to the right click to select the browse option. So I proposed the idea of having the browse button.

As you said no where we have used the path constant with its default size so I don't think this would be inconvinient. Aslo in the palette we don't have to show the browse glyph along with the constant as the same is not shown with the control either.

[Manzolli]

How about having an option to hide the browse button like in the "File Path Control"?

[P@Anand]

How about having an option to hide the browse button like in the "File Path Control"?

I already mentioned this on my idea, but I left to the developer (The LabVIEW R&D) to have the best option.