Opening multiple sub VIs (front panels) in an application

[Nustian]

Hi, 

I am working on a small process control application. The main VI represents a layout of various equipment (pumps, valves, heat exchangers). Each TYPE of equipment

can be turned on/off through a particular subVI. The subVI is displayed when the operator clicks on the component.  At the moment only one subVI front panel can be loaded. I would like to have multiple panels open at the same time; this to include multiple instances of a same VI and different subVIs.

I have tried to set properties in the WindowsApperance dialog box but cannot acheive the desired operation. 

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[James.M]

It sounds like you want subpanels. This is basivally a subVI run and loaded in to a subpanel so you can see that subVI's front panel from within your main front panel.

Check out this link for more info.

[Nustian]

Thanks for the reply

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the subVI is displayed as a dialog box; prompting operator input. I think subpanel may not work as the main

VI needs to visible at all times 

[Nustian]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the subVI is loaded as a diaglog box; prompting operator input. Subpanels may not work as the main VI needs to visible

to the operator at all time.

[Nustian]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the subVI is loaded as a diaglog box; prompting operator input. Subpanels may not work as the main VI needs to visible

to the operator at all time.

[Nustian]

Thanks for the reply.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that the subVI is loaded as a diaglog box; prompting operator input. Subpanels may not work as the main VI needs to visible to the operator at all time.

[aputman]

It sounds to me like you want to launch the VIs asynchronously and flag it so that main doesn't wait for a response.  A subVI that is just dropped on the block diagram in the usual way will block execution of the main VI until it completes.  But launching it asynchronously will allow it to run parallel to the main VI.  You will need to implement some communication between main and the subVI (i.e. a queue, notifier, etc) if there is data flowing to/from each another.

[crossrulz]

Trust my personal experience: You do NOT want multiple dialog windows open.  The users will hate you and curse your name if you do.  You really want to use subpanels and limit what the user can do.  Subpanels are a way of inserting a VI's front panel into another VI's front panel.  So you want to have a section of your main front panel that the user can load whatever control subVI they need.

[James.M]

Oh ok, yeah if you really don't have any room on your main panel for subpanels, you want asynchronous calling of the same subVI in the form of a popup. Here's more about that. (The example does "call and collect", which still stops the block diagram there, but you can do "call and forget" if you don't need the outputs of the subVI there.)

But like crossrulz said, you really don't want to do it this way if you can avoid it.

Multiple popups are no fun.

[mikeporter]

Sounds like you want floating windows. This might give you a few ideas...

http://www.notatamelion.com/2015/06/15/creating-a-reconfigurable-interface-using-undockable-windows/

Mike...