Core Palettes Missing

[RkTrey]

Using Win10, LV2018SP1f4 32bit. 

Finding myself need to modify some UDP code in one of my applications, I have found that my Communications palette has disappeared. The vi's still exist as evidenced by that my applications are not broken. I don't know where on disk so I can't simply recreate the palettes manually (nor is this the right solution). If I open the help associated with a UDP function then select "Find on the palette" I am presented with a dialog informing me of myriad not applicable reasons why the "Object not found"

After uninstalling and reinstalling LV and manually deleting all files left behind by the uninstall, I am presented with the same issue. I'm missing several palettes. 

My palettes: 

Palettes on another machine nearly identical to my own (with additional packages applied): 

How do I get back the missing core items?

[Bob_Schor]

There are several ways for Palettes to "disappear".  One way is that Installed Palettes can be "hidden".  If you open the Block Diagram Palette, there is a little arrow at the bottom that lets you change the "Visible Palettes".  For example, I always turn off Instrument I/O, Control and Simulation, and Express VIs (as I don't use them and might not have the functions installed).  Another way is adding Toolkits and Modules that ship with LabVIEW.  For example, Vision and Motion requires (I think) Vision or Motion Toolkits.  Finally, there are palettes that get installed using VIPM, including OpenG and the JKI products.  When you install these additional packages from the LabVIEW Tools Network, VIPM will also add their Palettes to the Block Diagram.

Bob Schor

[RkTrey]

Thanks for the message Bob. These are core palettes, such as Signal Processing, Data Communication, Connectivity, and even Express that are missing. These are not addons; they are not visible in the Change Visible Palettes dialog nor do they return when clicking "Restore Defaults". Nor do they return after I uninstall and reinstall LabVIEW.

[Bob_Schor]

Something seems really wrong.  Please open MAX, expand the Software tab (only one level), and attach a screen shot of the result.

Bob Schor

[RkTrey]

Briefly yesterday while I was re-applying vipm packages, my installation lost it's cached network license and reverted to evaluation; at that time, I noted that the palettes had reappeared. Unfortunately, this didn't persist. I made contact with my license server, opened LabVIEW and noted the palettes had disappeared again. I then blocked my connection to my license server and reopened LabVIEW to force it back to evaluation mode but this time the palettes were still missing. 

Here's the MAX screen shot you've requested. 

[Bob_Schor]

Wow, that's totally weird.  But you mentioned "License", so go to Start, National Instruments, License Manager and see what shows as "Activated".  Be sure to expand Local Licenses to see whether you are running Base, Student, Full, etc., and check the Add-ons.  Does it show what you expect?  Are things activated?

Bob Schor

[RkTrey]

Licenses are as expected--showing active on my EAS with Professional dev 2018 sp1. I'm not sure if there is any level of license that excludes the communications palette though. 

As I manage my team's continuous integration system, I have several machines running with licenses checked out and only my personal development machine is showing this issue. 

[RkTrey]

Another observation: logging in as a different licensed user on the same affected machine, I do get the palettes back. 

[aeastet]

One simple thing you could try would be to delete the LabVIEW.ini file located in your national instruments folder for the version of LabVIEW that you have. It should be where your LabVIEW.exe file is located.

Make a backup of this file before you try this so you can out it back if it does not help.

Tim

[RkTrey]

Thanks Tim. Unfortunately this doesn't bring back my palettes.