Making Custom Controls

[Ciphertech]

What tool do I use to make Custom Controls and vi's from scratch

[chilly_charly]

Seems you don't have any experience in LabVIEW... 😉

To learn more, I suggest you try searching this site and google for LabVIEW tutorials. Here and here are a couple you can start with. You can also contact your local NI office and join one of their courses.

In addition, I suggest you read the LabVIEW style guide and the LabVIEW user manual (Help>>Search the LabVIEW Help). 

[smercurio_fc]

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Ciphertech wrote:
What tool do I use to make Custom Controls and vi's from scratch

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Well, the direct answer is ... LabVIEW.

CC is right. You really need to at least go through the tutorials and crack open that Help file. It's written for a reason. 

[altenbach]

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Ciphertech wrote:
What tool do I use to make Custom Controls and vi's from scratch

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The sticky point is "from scratch". This is not fully possible! 😮

Using the control editor, you always start with an existing control, which you then modify by changing cosmetic properties such as size, arrangement, color, decals, etc. You cannot start from scratch, but you can typically come close to your ideas by starting with an existing control that has all the features you want.

More here: Creating Custom Controls, Indicators, and Type Definitions 

For even more complex tasks, you can make an XControl. This is basically a control that can consist of as many controls and indicators as you like, can have any datatype, and contains complex code and logic.

More here: Using XControls (There is even a tutorial)

Good luck!

Message Edited by altenbach on 09-07-2008 10:15 AM

[Ciphertech]

Thank you Altenbach, you are the only one who understood my question. I have just purchased LabVIEW 8.6 PreoDev version and also installed other modules even though I had no license. One module gave me VALVES. Unfortunatly, this module will cost $2,500 and all I need is VALVES (along with the other modules I have licenses for). So, I would like to remove the VALVE control out of this module that will turn off soon and add it to a CUSTOM set of my own. I would also like to add my own MENUE iten in the FUNCTIONS menue to I can collect what I find usefull.

I understand from other replies that there is a CONTROL EDITOR, this is really the answer (in part) to my question, but I could not find it. What MENU group is it in? Now, getting to the "from scratch" comment. As NI have developed these tools from scratch, I would also like to do the same, where can I get information on the programming requirements, if it is not a deadly secret...thanks again for a mature informative reply.

[altenbach]

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Ciphertech wrote:

I understand from other replies that there is a CONTROL EDITOR, this is really the answer (in part) to my question, but I could not find it.

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You can get to the control editor by right-clicking on a control/indicator and select "advanced...customize". Once you have customized your control, you can save it, or just apply the changes to the control in the current VI. If you need two-state valves, you could customize a boolean button and import the on and off graphics into the two states. The links quoted above will give you more details.

You can even place them into the "user controls" area of the control palette. (Manual)

[Ben]

"DSC" is the add-on with all of the fancy controls and indicators.

DSC is not required to use those. If you like them, create a VI and drop one of each on its FP for use after the license expires.

If you look hard enuogh you will find the DSC controls being used in some of the standard shipping examples.

BTW: You really don't want to create a LV control from "scratch" unless you are the type that start building a house by digging a hole in the backyard, so you can smelt the iron you will use in making the nails.  That's all I can say for now since the "iron" I have been cooking for that last three months is ready to tap.

Ben