Quick Access to a LVOOP Class Library via the Right Click Menu

[Alex.T]

We're all familiar with how fast programming in LabVIEW can be when using the right click menu to quickly access the associated palettes of the function we've right clicked over. Below, we can see that right clicking on the DAQmx Create Virtual Channels VI gives us direct access to the DAQmx - Data Acquisition palette. This is a lot faster than manually navigating to the Functions Palette to get the same result.

However, nothing similar exists for when programming in LabVIEW Object Oriented Programming (LVOOP). Development for LVOOP programmers would speed up dramatically if they didn't have to switch back and forth between their VI and the project window when making use of VIs from their class library.

The idea is shown below. On the left, we have the current Right Click context menu available in LabVIEW. On the right, the suggestion; the programmer is able to search through all of the VIs that are accessible to the class without having to scroll through the Project Window.

[Intaris]

Fair enough.  I presume the posts here will make it clear enough to NI R&D what it is we're actually looking for.

Kudos incoming.

[fabric]

+1 to all the refinements suggested by drjd 🙂

[Alex.T]

Ah! I'd better explain myself.

I was aware that like any VIs, they could be placed inside a palette which would give us these context sensitive menu options. In my own time working with LabVIEW OOP, it's been through using libraries that aren't completed because new functionality is continuously being added. I look at building palettes like the final touch to a library of code.

The suggestion is focussed on not having to manually create a new palette for the class, but rather have tighter integration between the Block Diagram and the Project Explorer when using OOP so that it provides more support for an iterative development effort.

[TailOfGon]

I love the idea. The menu should populate the parent and ancestors' class libraries as well !!  I always wanted this feature. At some point I tried to develop one using JKI Right Click Framework without success.

[Darren]

Since all the contents of any open projects appear as items in the Quick Drop window, I usually accomplish this task by typing the name of my class (or enough letters to differentiate it, anyway), then the first few letters of the VI within the class that I need. This works well whenever I need to drop, insert, and replace LabVIEW Class VIs with Quick Drop.

Before Quick Drop, though, I used to rely heavily on the item-sensitive right-click menus as well. For non-Quick Drop users out there, I can see how this would be a useful idea.

[TailOfGon]

Darren, but what do you do if you want to search for VIs belonging to parent (or ancestors') VIs? If you forget the name of it or if the hierachy is deeply nested, this could be a pain. It would be great if it can list up every inherited methods. Maybe through Quick Drop shortcut?

[Darren]

I haven't had issues with forgetting my class names. The class hierarchy hasn't been an issue either, as I typically type enough of the class name to get the list to just show the VIs in that class.

[fabric]

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@Darren wrote:

I haven't had issues with forgetting my class names. The class hierarchy hasn't been an issue either, as I typically type enough of the class name to get the list to just show the VIs in that class.

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Hmm... My current project has just under 400 classes in use... I can't say that I remember all the names! 

But - context-aware menus would mean that I don't have too!

[crcarlin]

Is this the latest discussion of such a feature, or does anyone know of any forum discussion that might be more recent than 2013?

[tst]

Since LV 2015 supports right click menu plugins, you could probably adapt this plugin - https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-6771