Viewing large clusters on the front panel

[SeattleSafety]

I have a large cluster that I am using to hold configuration data. I would like to be able to limit the front panel display to one screen, but I am running out of room solely because of this single configuration cluster. Is there a way to add scroll bars to a cluster control? Or is there an alternative approach to viewing the contents of a multi-screen cluster within one screen?

I am already using a tab control...one of the pages of this tab control contains the large cluster...so I don't think a tab control will help me at this point.

Also, I would prefer not to place the cluster off-screen since the contents of the cluster will be edited frequently.

Thank you,
-Robert

[aartjan]

I think there is a number of things you can do:
1. consolodate the controls in the cluster (use arrays, check boxes instead of buttons, change sizes, use clusters inside cluster, remove labels etc etc.
2. obvious: reduce number of controls. Big clusters are similar to subvi's with lots of inputs/outputs - no information hiding and little modularisation.
3. dynamically and programmatically show the control in the cluster you want to show. You can do that with the code I posted here. You can put a "next" button next to the cluster that loops through all the controls as you push it.

good luck,

aartjan

[aartjan]

I couldn't help myself and made you an example of looping through controls. Enjoy

aartjan

[SeattleSafety]

Thank you very much for your input and efforts on this problem! Your cluster scrolling implementation is wonderful...and perfect! Thanks again!
-Robert

[aartjan]

Thanks for the compliment. I do want to add that you do not have to settle for this method if one of the following suits your needs better:
-not moving the controls, but hiding and unhiding them
-moving the controls, but keep them in a stack just outside of the cluster window
-actually splitting up the cluster into multiple clusters on the front panel (and merge them in the code). You can then stack these clusters and hide and unhide them.

Don't forget to make controls visible and unstacked before completion if you want to work on them in edit mode.

aartjan