Can't create constant for cluster with waveform inside it..

[unclebump]

I have an indicator cluster that contains a timestamp, string, three booleans, two doubles, and a graph using a 1D array of waveform datatype. When I include the waveform graph inside the cluster, I can't right click the control terminal and create a constant. Is it possible to create a constant for the waveform datatype??

[Deborah]

Hi,

Waveform graphs and waveform datatypes do not have equivalent block diagram constants. If you really need this cluster on your diagram, you could replace the graph with a 2D array to contain the graph data and a numeric control to contain the t0. (You already have the timestamp in your cluster.) Alternatively you could place the cluster on your front panel and "hide it" (right click on the terminal and select "Hide Control") if you don't want it to be seen.

Deborah

[unclebump]

I'll just have to use the get waveform component function to retrieve the 'Y' array inside a for loop. and use a regular 2D graph inside the cluster. Can you do mask and limit testing on array data directly without converting into waveform?? Seems like a waste of memory having to take an array of tag data and convert to waveform for mask and limit testing. Then convert it back to an array for display purposes.

[Deborah]

There is an "Analyze" palette that has numerous analysis functions that operate on 2D arrays. It is located next to the "Waveform" palette.

None of the graphs or charts have constant equivalents, so if you use a 2D graph in the cluster you still can't create a constant for the cluster. Since I not sure what your reason is for using a graph in a cluster, I am making this next comment ignorant of your use case. With that said... In general graphs are very useful for viewing data. They are not recommended for data transferring as they carry a much larger footprint than a waveform datatype or 2D array. If you are frequently using this typedef cluster in your VIs, especially in VIs that are not part of your user interface, you may want to consider not
using a graph in the cluster. Or you could have 2 versions of the cluster -- one for user interface display purposes (with a graph) and one for programming purposes (no graph).

Deborah