Labview 2016 Navigation windows bug

[aucman]

Hi!

When I drag controls in front panel and I have opened Navigation window the navigation window positioning windows does not move with my cursor. It moves only when I release controls. This behaviour is diffrent than previous version. Is this a bug?

I am new to Labview. Can someone explain to me if it is save to move to new version of Labview when NI releases it or is it general knowledge that new versions of Labview are full of bugs. I mean you just cant accidentially release a bug where stuff were already working before. Does NI actually have a test team before they release new version of Labview?

[Bob_Schor]

No, this is not a bug.  This represents a lot of hard work by the LabVIEW Developers, working with Designers to come up with improvements to the appearance of the Block Diagram and Front Panel, including how it appears while the user is "interacting" with it.  The changes were carefully considered, tested, and implemented with the idea that they would represent a net "improvement" in using LabVIEW, though a few would be "disappointed" and want to see the "old way" maintained.

The question of "Is it safe (not "save") to move to a new version of LabVIEW (not "Labview") when NI releases it or is it general knowledge that new versions of LabVIEW are full of bugs", as someone who (almost) always moves to "the new Version" as soon as our copy arrives, and who has been "part of the Solution" by being part of the Beta test program, I would state that (a) it is safe, provided one is willing to accept the design decisions that NI makes, and wants to use the new features that they have introduced, and (b) the "general knowledge" is that new versions of LabVIEW are rather free of bugs (be quiet, LabVIEW 2011 ...).

But if you have any serious problems with LabVIEW 2016, you are always free to go back to LabVIEW 2015.

Bob Schor

[aucman]

Oh please, did you even try what I described as a bug. So you are telling me that wehen opening a NAVIGATION WINDOW. Please read the caps lock word again and if you dont know what it is look in Labview help. When opening Navigation window and draging a control from a waaaaaay upper left corner to waaaaay down to bottom right corner NOTHING in Navigation window moves until I release control?....and by your way of telling me this represents a lot of hard work by the Labview Developers, working with Designers to come up with improvements to the appearance of the Block Diagram and Front Panel. The changes were carefully considered, tested, and implemented with the idea that they would represent a net "improvement" in using LabVIEW, though a few would be "disappointed" and want to see the "old way" maintained.

Well if every change is carefully considered like that then I dont know how NI is actually selling anything.

[aucman]

If you actually are responding to answers at least respond with something meaningful not some generic answer in a way that makes you look like some advanced **bleep** Artificial intelligence

[Bob_Schor]

I did read what you wrote, and even tried it out (again).  I opened a "largish" VI (I'd say it took about 7 screens across by 3 screens down), went to View/Navigation Window, and in the little window called "Navigation", tried dragging the clear image (that showed what was on my screen) around.  If I "zipped" from one side to the other, the updating of the screen lagged maybe half a second -- it did not try to "scroll smoothly", but rather moved in short "hops" (which had the virtue of letting me see things as static images).  I will confess that I rarely use this window -- I had to go find some old LabVIEW code I inherited a decade ago that had a larger-than-a-screen Block Diagram ...

I do not know why my LabVIEW 2016 Navigation Window "appears to work satisfactorily" and does not exhibit the symptoms you describe -- maybe you have a bad installation?

I apologize for not directly addressing your complaint (which I was unable to confirm), but responding, instead, to your question about whether it is "safe" to upgrade to a new Version.  I hope you can get over your hostility to NI and their products -- they really are not "out to get you".

Bob Schor

[aucman]

I installed Labview 2016 from update service on three different computers all upgraded form 2015 and all have both version installed. Two computers with windows 7 and one with windows 10. The Navigation windows works as expected on all computers in 2015 version and in none in 2016 version. If someone can confirm the same behaviour then this is a bug.

I need Navigation window becuase sometimes when i copy block diagram from other VIs the front panel objects are thrown a few light years away from my basic objects that were there before the copy operation. So in order to locate them in this vast front panel universe i need Navigation window and to successfully transport them back to my other front panel objects.

If this is another Labview feature that allows users to explore the vastness of the front panel then my apologies.

I actually like Labview very much but sometimes it seems that only engeneers are developing its features and not softwere developer scientist.

[aucman]

I will describe the steps to try what i think is the bug. 

1. open navigation window

2. place one control in front panel to very upper left corner (scroll as much as you like)

3. place one control in front panel to very down right corner (scroll as much as you like)

4. navigating in navigation windows between those two with your mouse works fine

5. BUT if i drag with my mouse upper left corner object and try to move it to my down right corner object so that window starts automatically scrolling with my drag....then navigation window does not refresh my auto scroll location...it refreshes it only when I drop the control on the current position in the screen. Which is annoying because when auto scroll is happening I have no idea where I am.

[jcarmody]

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@Bob_Schor wrote:

I did read what you wrote, and even tried it out (again).  I opened a "largish" VI (I'd say it took about 7 screens across by 3 screens down), went to View/Navigation Window, and in the little window called "Navigation", tried dragging the clear image (that showed what was on my screen) around. [...]

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I think OP wants you to drag a control on the FP and watch the Navigation window move, not move the navigation window.

[Hooovahh]

Wow lots of emotion in such a little thing.  I vote bug.  It behaves in one way in 2015, and it now functions in a less useful way in 2016.

That being said I can see why a bug like this might have slipped through.  I probably use the navigation window a few times a year, and it is always for things like you mention, where you paste something and you can't find it easily.  In these cases a work around you could try is to leave the navigation window open, but then use Shift+Arrow to move your objects around.  The navigation window will update with the new objects position, then you can scroll to where they are when you are done moving them.  Not ideal, for sure.

[sassyaspy]

This behavior is a result of changes to the appearance of dragging items on the front panel and block diagram in 2016. CAR 599907 has been filed. I would suggest reaching out to our support team if a workaround beyond those provided here is needed.