Darren's Weekly Nugget 04/05/2010

[K1200LT_rider]

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altenbach wrote: 

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There should be a way to use the existing about box, but transform it with some customization. We have at least 3 empty areas (A, B, C, see picture)). What if LabVIEW would ship with an "about" editor that would allow us to add a company icon, company name, links, and contact information to the existing about box while leaving the existing NI information in place? Would that be useful?

Message Edited by altenbach on 04-05-2010 03:37 PM

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I would like that.

[LabBEAN]

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 smercurio_fc wrote:

Additional comment: what a lot of people miss is this little tidbit for an About box:

Note  The front panel window must include a National Instruments copyright notice. Refer to the National Instruments Software License Agreement located on the LabVIEW DVD or CD for more information about the requirements for any About dialog box you create for a LabVIEW application.

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According to Wikipedia, "Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author or creator of an original work, including the right to copy, distribute and adapt the work."

I cannot say what the intention is here, but obviously NI is not the author or creator of 3rd party tools and applications and cannot copy, distribute, and adapt the work (unless you work for NI).  Right?

NI demonstrates how to pull the copyright info out of the FileVersionInfo.  If it's an application, it has the EXE copyright.  If it is a VI running in the IDE, it contains the LabVIEW legal copyright.

[Cepera]

Nickerbocker raises a valid point. NI, can you clarify the need to use your copyright info in executables built with LV? And if such copyright notice is indeed required, please include rationale for it. Thanks!

[Darren]

I've forwarded this question on to the proper authorities.

[Darren]

Here's what the lawyers say about the issue:

"NI runtime engine and driver interface software is distributed with Authorized Applications, and we want the benefit of a copyright notice for the NI runtime engine and driver interface software."

[smercurio_fc]

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Darren wrote:

Here's what the lawyers say about the issue:

"NI runtime engine and driver interface software is distributed with Authorized Applications, and we want the benefit of a copyright notice for the NI runtime engine and driver interface software."

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In non-lawyerese speak, what does this mean? How is a benefit translated to a mandate, which is what the current license agreement says.

[battler.]

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battler. wrote:

Thanks Darren.

Can someone please post some images of an example implementation of the About screen.  I have no idea what you or the NI docs mean.

My application runs a custom run-time menu.  I have added my own Help-->About menu item.  Selecting the About menu item opens a standard dialog box with Ok button.

How will this method fit in with my custom run-time menu??

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Can someone please have a go at answering my on-topic questions.

[Darren]

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battler. wrote: Can someone please have a go at answering my on-topic questions.

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The "About.vi" trick I mention in the nugget will create a Help > About menu entry without you having to edit the custom runtime menu of the VI.  If you already have your own custom menu that shows a Help > About entry, then I'm guessing your runtime menu will override the About.vi behavior...I don't expect you'd have two Help > About menu entries, although I've never tried it.

[battler.]

Thanks Darren.

I'm happy, and it's easy, for me to get rid of my own About dialog.  Is this NI one your talking about any better (advantages)?

Anyone got a screenshot?

[rolfk]

This are two examples of typical About screens that I use.