place elements into array by framing them

[max_]

I have a few front panel elements that I want to group.

As LV is a visual programming language, I expected to be able to just draw an array frame around the elements.

This is not possible with the "array constant" and I could not find anything else that does this.

I can't move elements into an array frame either.

I had to create the array and wire each element seperately.

This is a tedious task and the result is hard to maintain.

See attached image below.

Drawing a frame around elements or the possibility to place them into a frame would be a great thing.

[admin edit: Adding screenshot from thread below]

[X.]

No image attached, but I think I understand what you are talking about.

Note that you could drop all your controls into a cluster instead, then on the block diagram used the cluster to array function and voila!

 FP:

=======>

BD: 

 

Giving this:

 

Allowing what you are proposing (dropping several controls into an "Array template") would probably give rise to additional requests such as "I want to reorganise elements in the created array", or: "I want type casting options"... Unlikely that NI will open this Pandora box.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

An array has a single homogenous control to define its core type. This is by design and not a limitation NI is going to relax (explained in this other declined idea). Because there can only be one prototype to define the element of the array, drawing a frame around a set of controls doesn't make any sense.

If you want a fixed number of controls on a panel, drop a fixed number of controls. Use Build Array on the diagram to pull their values together. Likewise, you can populate a fixed number of indicators by indexing the array on the diagram.

[max_]

X, thank you for the suggestion.

I do use clusters to group parts of the application.

But in this use case I do not want the visual frame around the elements in the front panel.

I try to attach the images again:

 

Aristos, thank you for your explanation.

I'm afraid I don't quite understand it.

I do not want the array to have multiple types. I want to group references to front panel elements.

As I tried to explain earlier and the image now hopefully illustrates: using build array is very tedious.

[tst]

Some relevant comments:

1. The tediousness, at least, can be relieved by using Quick Drop shortcuts which automatically create the references and build them into an array. Look at the QD group in this site and I believe there should be at least one plugin which does this, so I believe that should cover your actual request.
2. Another option is to get all the references in the front panel and then filter just the ones you want based on logic. This assumes that you can apply such logic, which is sometimes true and sometimes not.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

max_ -- Ah. I see. I thought you were drawing boxes around front panel elements. You're wanting to draw a box around diagram *refnum* elements. That's a more feasible request.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I'll ask a moderator to move your images up into the main idea.

[Darren]

I shrunk down the images and added them to the main idea post.

[X.]

Like AQ I thought you were working on the FP.

Note that YOU CANNOT put references into a cluster constant on the BD, so my suggestion would not work in your case. It would work for most other objects, but not references.

[Darren]

Any idea that has received less than 2 kudos within 2 years after posting will be automatically declined.