Consider it a wish list

[BenYL]

I am a new user from a "C" background, and I'm really enjoying the power and programming aestetic of Labview. However, I've been noticing some small issues I wish were different. Any comments on these?

1) I wish wires would re-route through structure boundaries!

2) I create contants/controls/indicators *all the time* so right-click/select/select/click seems like too many steps.

3) It'd be nice if shift-array terminals could be positioned independantly.

4) When a while loop is created, I think Labview should add a "True" constant to the loop condition as a default.

5) It'd be nice if there were a right-click option to flip the two inputs on math blocks.

Ben

[falkpl]

5) It'd be nice if there were a right-click option to flip the two inputs on math blocks.

ctrl on math terminals will switch the wires (IE A-B ctrl+left click becomes B-A)

[NitinD]

1) I didn't understand this one...

2) LV 8.6 onwards there is quick drop, you could configure it to search your own key words. Alternatively, just pin the pallette you use the most on your screen.

3) I'll suggest this, but the way it is, the palettes are pretty carefully placed.

4) LV 2009 on, a control is created automatically when you drop a while loop.

5) Pressing control changes the mouse to a pair of 'tweezers' they swap the inputs. It works on Add function. 🙂

[johnsold]

Nitin,

4) I do not see this happening.  I looked through the Preferences and saw nothing which looked like this as a option.

I think it is not a good idea to have anything automatically connected to a loop termination terminal.  If the loop is part of the UI, a Stop control will likely be used.  But loops in state machines or calculations will probably have termination conditions determined logically from internal data rather than from a User control.

A True constant connected as the OP suggested would create an infinite loop.  A broken VI because the programmer has not wired to the termination terminal is a much better default.

Lynn 

[Cory_K]

For suggestion 3, do you mean a shift register?

If so, I kind of like the fact that they always line up with one another.
Because if you had more than one pair, and you were moving them around vertically,

how would you know you wired to the correct shift register?

[Norbert_B]

Lynn,

i think that Nitin is using the while loop from the express palette. This version does indeed create a boolean button element  when dropped on the block diagram.

Another possible solution is to work with snippet VIs.

hope this helps,

Norbert 

[johnsold]

Norbert,

Thanks.  I never use the Express palettes, so I did not know that was there.

Lynn 

[BenYL]

This is great!

What I mean by #1: when I move a block it'd be good if Labview would re-route the wires in most direct way, regardless of the fact that the wires pass through a structure boundary. This would mean Labview also adjusting where on the structure the wires pass through.

[F._Schubert]

#2: If you have a SubVi, you can right-click on a terminal and select Create Cotrol or Create Indicator. Furthermore you should have a look on how to use templates. There are some more ways to ease/speed coding here, dependinging on which tasks you need to do repeatedly.

#4: The concept Norbert suggested is really a speed gainer. There is also a community nugget on 'Merge VI'. You could design a set of different while loops whith stop conditions as Stop Button (maybe more if you use different styles like dialog), False---Run (LV2 Globals/AEs), ='Shutdown' (State Machines), =Error or...

Felix 

[The_Chancenator]

2.  This is a new feature of LabVIEW 2009.  Place down a VI, and highlight it.  Open up QuickDrop (ctrl+spacebar).  Press/hold down ctrl+D.  Watch the magic happen. 

If you'd like to use constants instead of controls/indicators, use Ctrl+Shift+D from the QuickDrop menu. 

1. (kind of).  You can also use a shortcut to unwire/rewire.   Use ctrl+R from the QuickDrop menu.

Also, for features that you do not see, we have a suggestion board where users can vote on new features of LabVIEW that they would like to see: ni.com/ideas

Cheers!