MathScript Nugget #2: Context Help for the MathScript Node

[jattas]

One of the fantastic things about LabVIEW is the instant help it gives you as you develop your VIs. The context help window (available via Ctrl-H) gives you quick help for the palette functions that you call. You can also set up the subVIs that you write to have custom context help by modifying the VI Description field of your VI. And if you hover over a wire, the context help shows you detailed information about its data type.

In LabVIEW 2009, MathScript features the exact same instantaneous feedback for the text within your MathScript Nodes. The analogy of a palette function in MathScript is a built-in function like ‘cos’, ‘fft’, or ‘size’. If you hover over the call to one of these functions, the context help will show you the proper syntax for calling the function, descriptions of all the inputs and outputs, and even example code snippets.

Just as you can document your own subVIs in LabVIEW, you can document your own functions in MathScript. The standard way to do this is to add some lines of comments, preceded by %percent signs, to your .m file after the function declaration. Now when you call the function in that .m file from a MathScript Node, the context help will show those comments, as well as the path of the file you’re calling.

Finally, wires in LabVIEW are represented as variables in the MathScript world. If you hover over a variable in the MathScript node you will see the variable’s data type in the context help window. This is the exact same type that LabVIEW would use if you output that variable from the MathScript node (see last week’s nugget for more info). MathScript is even smart enough to differentiate between two types of 1D arrays: row vectors and column vectors.

Once I started using this feature, I could no longer imagine how I possibly lived without it. I hope you give it a try and feel the same way!

jattas
LabVIEW MathScript R&D

ps Check out previous nuggets here.

[kmcdevitt]

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jattas wrote:

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Once I started using this feature, I could no longer imagine how I possibly lived without it. I hope you give it a try and feel the same way!

jattas
LabVIEW MathScript R&D

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jattas,

I am glad you love the new feature, but imaging how you would feel if you did not work for NI but were a regular customer of NI and NI swooped in and took away your MathScript all together.  What's the point in any MathScript Nugget if NI takes away the MathScript that you purchased? 

This is the second in a series of responses to a series of MathScript Nugget posts.

Jattas, many of us in the LabVIEW community acquired MathScript as part of one the NI Developer Suites.  It was part of the core package.  When we received our LabVIEW upgrades, we were shocked and horrified that National Instruments had confiscated our ownership of MathScript.  Even thought we were, and are still now, on current SSP, we were not given the the Upgrade to LabVIEW 2009 MathScript RT.

Paying for the SSP means that you get shipped each quarter the DVDs containing the updates and upgrades.  The most recent shipment in early August 2009, at the time of NI Week, came with all the upgrades to LabVIEW 2009.  This was a big upgrade with many new happy features.

However, MathScript was taken away from us, and we were told that we need to purchase it again.

MathScript IS something that we OWN, and is something that you simply can not take back.

This just can not stand.

We own MathScript.  We are on current SSP.  This entitles us to the upgrade.  We have paid for it.

This is what "The Promiss" is all about for the SSP.  We pay for the upgrades, and then you let us have them when the come out.

I just can't not figure out why you are not including the upgrade to the 2009 MathScript.

To add insult to injury, you have confiscated our old 8.x MathScript.

This is absolutely abominable.

Horrific.

Shocking.

What a nightmare for those upgrading to LabVIEW 2009 with developed programs that use the MathScript.

They just won't go now more.

Tell me jattas, what will you be taking away next that we have paid for?

Shame on you National Instruments.  You broke The Promiss.

You need to do the right thing NI.

You need fix this.

jattas, what is the point of these Nuggets if we purchase MathScript, and then you take it away again?

jattas, how can you in your right mind invite everybody to a MathScript Nugget party, when there is no MathScript to be had? 

jattas, Even though we purchaced 10 copies of MathScript as part of NI Dev Suite, all still on current SSP, and watched horifically as you have taken it away, and were to purchase MathScript RT 2009 again, then would you take it back again when LabVIEW 2010 comes out?

Kevin.