How to put a title of a group of controls with no line below title text?

[JavedAhmed]

Hi,

Is there any way to write a title of a group of controls and indicators made by "chiselled line", such that the chiselled line remain invisible below the title text and remain visible everywhere else? For example, the titles "Printer", "Page Range", "Copies", and "Zoom" in a Microsoft Word form in the attached PDF file; note that there is no line below the title text and there is no text box surrounding the title text. I want to have that kind of title of the group of controls and indicators in a GUI of my LabVIEW application.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Javed

[Rod42]

Hi Javed,

One way is to put your text into a System Label or a free label. Ensure that you size the box to the text in it

Change the colours of the label to have a background colour the same colour as your panel background, and the foreground colour set to transparent [transparent foreground removes the box round the text]

When you position the text, you may find that it is partly hidden by the line. If so, select the text box and bring it to the front (Control-Shift-K is the keyboard shortcut) Note: This step won't be needed if you place the line before you make the label.

Rod

[Broken_Arrow]

Rod's answer is spot-on. Here's proof!

[JavedAhmed]

Hi Rod,

Thanks for your help, but I could not implement your idea. My replies to your suggestions are written in bold below.

One way is to put your text into a System Label or a free label. Ensure that you size the box to the text in it

Can you please explain what are "System label" and "free label"? As far as I am concerned, I first inserted a Recessed Frame from Decorations control palette. Then, I put the text using "Edit Text" tool in the Tools Palatte. The text box resizes automatically as I insert a new character in it. I wrote "Printer" in the text. Then, I went to Tools Palette, clicked on "Set Color", right-clicked on "Printer" text, clicked on "T" (Transparent) shown at the top-right position of the color palette. The result is that the text box around the text is eliminated, but still the line of the frame is making a strike-through effect. How to eliminate the line from the area of the text container. The resulting VI (using LabVIEW 8.5) is attached.

Change the colours of the label to have a background colour the same colour as your panel background, and the foreground colour set to transparent [transparent foreground removes the box round the text]

I think this is important. But I don't know where are the options for setting the "foreground color" and "background color".

When you position the text, you may find that it is partly hidden by the line. If so, select the text box and bring it to the front (Control-Shift-K is the keyboard shortcut) Note: This step won't be needed if you place the line before you make the label.

Thanks for the keyboard short-cut, but my problem is not solved yet, as shown in the attached VI.

By the way, where did you find the frame with round corners (in the image you have provided)? The recessed frame available in LabVIEW 8.5 decoration palette does not have round corners.

Rod

[Rod42]

I'm on a system at 8.2 so can't load your VI, but you seem to be close, just the colour setting to do. I'm guessing that both foreground and background colours of  your label are are transparent, so ou see your line throught it.

The help file is recommended reading, but here are some quick pointers.

Free label. Obtained by double clicking on an empty area of either BD or FP (in auto tool selection) and typing. Also obtained by selecting the labelling tool and single clicking.

System Label. On the Controls -> System Palette.

Changing colours. In the help file index, type color, then select picker (how-to)

Quick Guide. When the color picker is active, (and the panel item allows it) pressing "F" allows the foreground colour to be chosen, "B" allows the background colour to be chosen. To select both, you need a bit of practise. Bring up the color picker, press "F" and move the mouse to the chosen foreground colour. Don't move or click the mouse.  Press "B". Move the mouse to the background colour and click. Keep watching the panel item as it will preview the colours you are selecting.

I couldn't find an exact match for the frame decoration in 8.2, although some were close. Broken Arrow, which one did you use. Is it from 2009?

Rod.

[Broken_Arrow · Accepted solution]

Doesn't matter what label you use as long as you COLOR IT CORECTLY. Use the Background Color with Transparent Borders... just set the color boxes as shown.

[JavedAhmed]

Dear Rod and Broken Arrow,

Thank you very much for your help. The problem is now solved.

Regards,

Javed

[JavedAhmed]

PS: I have just found out that "System label" in LabVIEW 8.5 does not require any color setting to have the effect that I desired - i.e. Transparent color for foreground and client area color for background!

Javed

[Broken_Arrow]

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JavedAhmed wrote:

PS: I have just found out that "System label" in LabVIEW 8.5 does not require any color setting to have the effect that I desired - i.e. Transparent color for foreground and client area color for background!

Javed

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I didn't know that.    Even as you change the background, the system label takes on that background automatically!

[JavedAhmed]

Yes, of course!

Javed