Changing The Default Control Appearance For Good?

[PConrad]

I am always using numeric controls that are right justified and lack the up/down arrows. Is there a way, aside from creating a type def and (which is another file to manage), to change the default creation appearance of controls and indicators?

[Norbert_B]

Could you post an example containing such controls?

I checked all standard digital numeric controls in LV 8.6 and they justify the number to the left. The digital numeric control from the system palette does not have increment/decrement arrows, the others have....

hope this helps,

Norbert 

[PConrad]

Hello Norbert,

Here's a better explanation of what I'm looking for, put together without any get-out-of-the-office-before-5-oclock rush wording. 🙂

The Modern/Numeric control defaults to showing the INC/DEC arrows and is left justified. I don't want the arrows, and I want the control right justified. After I place a Modern/Numeric, I have to tweak it to remove the INC/DEC arrows. After I place and tweak one, I can do a copy/paste or a control-drag to duplicate the control, but I find that I always have to tweak the first one. Plus, any time I use a block diagram "Create Control" shortcut, it places a Modern/Numeric that is left justified and has the arrows.

What I'd like to do is change LabVIEW's default settings so that when I place a Modern/Numeric, it does not show the arrows and is already right-justified.

I know I can create a custom control/typedef, but the problem with that approach is that now you have another file to distribute. Also, it wouldn't override LV's "Create Control" on normal numeric wires.

Is there a way to fiddle with LV's defaults, or am I out of luck?

Thanks!

[Norbert_B]

No, there is no way in changing the default set of visual appearance of NI controls.

But working with custom controls is not that difficult. You can create your own control/typedef and the insert it into your palette (Tools >> Advanced >> Edit Palette Set).

Regarding distribution:

- If you distribute for developers, use the application builder to create a source distribution

- If distributing for end users, you should compile an exe. So typedefs either get disconnected or the .ctl is included in the exe.

hope this helps,

Norbert 

[Coq_Rouge]

I do not think you can modify standard labview items this way. But you can modify labview a labview control, and save it to disk. For this you select the control and then go to edit->customize control. After that you may go to tools->advanced->edit palette set, and insert your own control in the palette set. But is often faster to modify one control and use this as template for the other controls by simply copying it.

[GerdW]

Hi PConrad,

well, no way to make own default controls.

But:

You can write a small vi, that gets references to all controls of a second vi. Then you parse that array of references and change the properties of each numeric control to your needs - each setting is available by property nodes too!

You can even put this vi into the Tools menu (like is done with CCT [CodeCaptureTool]).

Message Edited by GerdW on 12-04-2008 03:09 PM

[Coal_Man]

Instructions for adding VI to the tools menu can be found here:

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/2ED4443B186788E18625714000757C03