Can I change the default label visibility, colors, etc of block diagram objects?

[RnDMonkey]

Sometimes you want a particular aesthetic style to your block diagrams or front panels, and it would be really handy if I could standardize the default appearances of items as was requested back in '08 by PConrad in the thread http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/Changing-The-Default-Control-Appearance-For-Good/m-p/818685

I like the suggestion of writing a VI to programmatically set the controls and indicators of another VI, but that has definite drawbacks in terms of flexibility, ease of maintenance, and does not help with block diagram objects.

The kind of block diagram changes I'm talking about are custom fill and/or border colors of various types of structures, showing structure labels by default with particular coloring to match the structure's border and blend into it, custom number formatting of numeric indicators, etc. I blame NI for showing me the appeal of having a pretty block diagram (see picture).

Nearly 4 years later, is this now possible?

[Ben]

The best i can offer is to suggest creating templates customized as you like and work from those.

Ben

[RnDMonkey]

That's disappointing. As far as using "templates", are you thinking copy-and-paste type templates? Is there a way to add custom-styled structures to a custom pallete in the functions pallete?

[Ben]

They used to be called "Merge VI"s but NI changed the name. I do not rember what they are called now. ( I do "stad-up comedy coding routines" so to stay in shape I will often develop from "first princliples").

So yes.

Ben

[Ray.R]

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@RnDMonkey wrote:

Is there a way to add custom-styled structures to a custom pallete in the functions pallete?

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Not that I am aware of.

[RnDMonkey]

Ben,

I'm sorry to take up your time, but I do not understand your last post.

"They used to be called..." what do you mean by "They"? The vi containing the template objects?

"I will often develop from 'first principles'" what does that mean?

"So yes." Yes to which question? Copy-and-paste or adding custom structures to palette (as opposed to VIs that I know are possible to add)?

Thanks for your help.

[Ray.R]

I think this is what Ben was referring to:

(from the Tools menu)

[Darin.K]

Personally, I use Snippets a lot for these types of things.  It is easy to use Windows Explorer to organize and get a preview of the objects which I then drag directly into LV.  Works great for me, plus with a few tricks (ie. hacks) I use it for both controls and BD objects.  Using Snippets instead of .ctl files is nice because again I can use Windows Explorer to browse by the image of the control instead of trying to give everything a snappy name and trying to remember it.  Based on the tepid response to this idea:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW-Idea-Exchange/Front-Panel-Snippets/idi-p/1640260

that I was one of the few who actually like to use, you know, images and pictures in a graphical language, but instead people love their .ctl files and browsing by names (of course I still have the .ctl files, the snippets containing the controls are of course simple wrappers with an added image, but I digress).

My first advice then is this:  use snippets to contain these types of objects.  Put them in an easy to reach folder and let Windows explorer do its thing.  I further suggest you use the Code Capture Tool to create the snippets as the native tool is a bit quirky and it seems very low priority on NI's bug fixing radar.

If you really want pallete objects, look into this Quick Drop Shortcut which lets you select code and create the Formerly-Known-As-Merge-VI aka the palette item set to place contents.

https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-12725

[Ray.R]

Use of snippets...  It's a wonderful idea.  I gatta remember that one.

and thanks for the link to the "Quick Drop Shortcut"

[Ben]

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@Darin.K wrote:

...Formerly-Known-As-Merge-VI aka the palette item set to place contents.

https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-12725

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Bingo!

Since Darin handled the question that maters.. "first principles" only object from NI after a fresh install. Some secure facilities only let me with my clothes, wrist braces and brain.

Ben