Where's my "Compare VI" tool?

[Shuttle Engineer]

I'm trying to go through a bunch of VIs that were written by someone years ago, and there are multiple copies in multiple directories.  Of course there is no documentation that helps to tell us which are the latest and I can't trust the file dates to determine which actually has the latest changes.  I went through the Basics 1 and 2 CBTs and saw the "Compare VIs" tool explained, but couldn't find it in my Tools menu where it is supposed to be.  I have 7.0 Express.  Selecting the "About LabVIEW" in the help menu doesn't help much, because it doesn't say if we have the Full Development version, Professional version, or whatever (NI: why doesn't it?).  If there are versions of LabVIEW that don't have a particular feature, I wish the CBT would have mentioned it, because it caused a bunch of confusion around here as we were going crazy trying to figure out why it wasn't in our menu anywhere.  The CBTs have caused other confusion and frustration for us several times.  Yes, we found the online errata for the CBTs, but it didn't show all the problems that we found in them.  I'll quit now.

Thanks,

Brad

[LV_Pro]

I don't have an easy answer to determine whether you have the Full or Pro, but as you have indicated you know that the "compare" is in the Pro. I questioned the reasoning behind that when the first came out with the tool, seems silly to have to buy the whole package (LabWindows, etc.) for a LabVIEW developer to get what is a pretty common tool functionality in most languages, and is useful at any level of development/developer.

P.M.

[Megan B.]

Hi Brad,

I'm sorry that this has been such a difficult process for you.  P.M. is correct that the Compare VIs utility is only available in the Professional Development System.  I know that this information is included in the version 7.0 course manual for LabVIEW Basics II which we currently use, although it is possible is is omitted in an older version of the manual. 

I have attached a VI which will determine the version and package of your LabVIEW system.  I agree that this is a cumbersome method and have put in a Product Suggestion that this information be included in the "About LabVIEW..." screen.

Good luck with your project,
Megan B.
National Instruments.

[Megan B.]

Whoops!  Here it is...

Megan B.
National Instruments

[Shuttle Engineer]

Thanks for your replies.  I ran the version checker and it said I have the "Full Version" of LabVIEW.  Guess that explains it.  I may have to talk my company into upgrading us to the Pro version of 7.1 (or 8 when it comes out).  That way I'll also get the Application Builder, which I REALLY want.  Thanks again...

- Brad

[Roy_F]

>> Selecting the "About LabVIEW" in the help menu doesn't help much, because it doesn't say if we have the Full Development version, Professional version, or whatever (NI: why doesn't it?). 

Well, you stumped us with that question, so.... The next release of LabVIEW will indicate Pro, Full or Base.

I know, the big win would have been if I could give you Comapre VIs - sorry.

Roy

[altenbach]

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@Shuttle Engineer wrote:

...  That way I'll also get the Application Builder, which I REALLY want.  Thanks again...

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Brad,

The Application builder is also available seperately, see e.g.: LabVIEW Application Builder for Windows

.

[altenbach]

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@Roy F wrote:

.... The next release of LabVIEW will indicate Pro, Full or Base.

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Make sure we also have an item in the application property node so it is easier to get this information programmatically. Having to search for the existence of certain files is a bit of a kludge. 😉