How to programatically increase number of pages of a tab control ?

[Matthew_Kelton]

Well, you can change the names of the tabs.  If you deselect (or programatically set) the option Make Page Caption Match Label under the Advanced settings for the tab control, you can programatically change the caption.  The value on the block diagram stays the same, but visually, you can make the tab appear to have a new name.

[smercurio_fc]

Thanks for the pointing that out. I was obviously referring to the names (labels), not the captions, which can, of course, be changed programmatically.

[Imagineer]

Phew! Thanks for letting me know that. I actually started to freak out on manipulating Tab control!

Thanks Matthew Kelton! You brought the Tab Panel back in action

But still if I go with smercurio_fc and suggestion of others w.r.t. a non tab control based solution for a dynamic GUI creation, is there any control which has the benefit of Space saving GUI similar to Tab control but is feasible to manipulate using the suggestions mentioned?

Meanwhile with renewed motivation to work this Tab Panel thing, if am able to make it possible, shall post the VI so that everybody can benefit from it!

I have attached a snapshot of what am trying to achieve so that my point gets put forth in right way.

Thanks and Regards,

Tirthankar De

[Matthew_Kelton]

What might end up being a lot easier for you is to use a tree control.  The whole tree can be dynamically built.  You didn't say whether the spreadsheet will change the number of controls you would need on the screen, but you have a couple of options that way.

1.  Assuming you have static code to represent the different configurations, just use the tree (or listbox) with a subpanel which you can load the proper VI for configuration.

2.  Assuming you want to support dynamic spreadsheet changes, you can use a table/multicolumn listbox or the extra columns of the tree to display a table of the settings.  You can have a hidden ring control which you can position as needed.  When the user clicks or double-clicks on a value, a boolean can either switch values, or use the ring control to indicate True/False, OFF/ON, etc.  The ring can be populated with the values.  There are some forum threads pertaining to having a ring control pop-up for a table or listbox.

Message Edited by Matthew Kelton on 12-19-2008 03:54 PM

[TCPlomp]

Following Matthews advise on the Tree control.

Have look at the LabVIEW options dialog. This is basically a framework with two panes:

On the left a tree control (or listbox I'm not 100% sure), and on the right a sub-panel.

Selecting an item in the list displays a different VI in the sub-panel.

The framework is stored under LabVIEW x.x\resource\Dialog\PreferencesDialog.

I have never actually used the framework to build my own but it could be doable.

Even the options dialog for a control is based on a (tab-based) framework.

I didn't study it but the folder LabVIEW x.x\resources\PropertyPages has a lot of information on the dialog.

It looks like a tab-control with only the tab-header and a sub-panel beneath it.

Ton

[Matthew_Kelton]

I actually use the tree with tabs to do the configuration similar to what Ton describes.  I hide the tabs and change the tab value when the user changes the tree (or listbox control) selection.  As Ton said, it looks very similar to what NI does with the LabVIEW configuration screen and what many/most Windows apps have moved towards.