More complete event list for event structure

[Don_Phillips]

I found some previous posts related to adding specific events to the event structure but not an idea for expanding the list in general.

Some previous (specific) requests:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Add-First-Run-event-on-event-structure/idi-p/1044381

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Click-Event/idi-p/929496

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Key-focus-Event/idi-p/1418878

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Panel-Open-Event/idi-p/1415674

Occationally I decide to work on a custom control or make a UI enhancement to find I would really like to use the event structure but shortly after I start I have to rethink my design due to lack of the event I need.

Recent example -

I thought I would take a stab at creating a string control with placeholder helper text (ghosted) to prompt the user for field input.

Very much like the PlaceHolderString control from SAPHIR

http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/210715

I wanted to recreate it for the learning experience and to see if I could figure out how to implement such a feature.

Started with a string control and an event structure and immediately got stumped as there is not a focus event.  I could tell if someone clicked in the control but not if they used the tab key.

I eneded up using the timeout terminal to programmatically test if the string conrtrol had keyboard focus.

Does that seem right though?  I do not think you should have to poll the UI if you are using the event structure.

The event structure was put into place as an alternative to polling.

Just to further support the lack of events you can check out the event list for VB 6.0.

VB 6.0 has more events which start with the letter 'A' than LabVIEW has total.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa338130(v=vs.60).aspx

Note that I am not dumping on LabVIEW.  I think the event structure is great!  I just wish it was more complete.

Right now it seems half baked...

[altenbach]

> I thought I would take a stab at creating a string control with placeholder helper text (ghosted)

Of course for this case you would definitely want to vote for this idea. 😄

(Have you tried a simple "value changed event" after setting the string to "update while typing"? Display the ghost text whenever the string control is empty (or only displays the default text).

[Intaris]

I also feel that all events which are exposed within the event terminal should be accesible for triggering outside of the event case.  Why can't I programatically activate the shortcut menu of a graph for example?

Shane.

[Chon.Mech]

I'd like the event structure to be able to register an X becoming Y; for example, Boolean becoming True or an Integer becoming 3.

[Intaris]

Over_Nyquest

I'm not sure I agree with that at all.  That's a job for a Value Change event plus a custom user event to be honest.  Otherwise I don't think I really like the idea of conditional UI events.