Dynamically defined and clickable signal path feature

[Probotector]

Hi all,

Im developing a LabVIEW built cutomer application.

What I want to accomplish is a GUI showing a signal path (picture of processing blocks and connecting wires) that can be dynamically modified an also be clickable.

In my mind I was picturing a solution involving an ActiveX-container holding a HTML object. The HTML object is a local .html file with svg shapes forming the processing blocks and wires. Unfortunately the Microsoft Web Browser ActiveX container implemented in LabVIEW does not support svg and that's why I'm looking for another solution..

My next idea was to use VI scripting and dynamically add control objects to the front panel of a VI and let them represent the signal path. Unfortunally VI scripting seems to only work in the Development environment and not within an executable.

Does anyone have an idea of how to accomplish this dynamically defined and clickable signal path feature of mine? 

LabVIEW version: LV2014

Best Regards

Jon

[mikeporter]

What your application needs the ability to look like it's generating code and connections. One of the toolkits (DSC maybe) has representations of pipes and valves for giving a visual representation of process fluids flowing through pipes and tanks and things. Perhaps you could do something similar to show data processing steps acd connections.

Mike...

[tst · Accepted solution]

Most likely, the best option for you is using the picture control VIs. You can use them to draw arbitrary shapes (boxes, lines, etc) programmatically and you can use Mouse Down events to know where the user clicked on the picture and to implement things like click and drag.

Be aware that the picture control essentially defines a picture as a series of commands (opcodes and data) and it's not super efficient, so you should probably make sure not endlessly modify the same picture, but rather use a base picture and then add to that.

Another alternative implementation for something like this is something like the .NET picturebox, but that might be more complicated.

[Probotector]

tst,

I think picture controls will do the trick. Thanks!

/Jon