learning labview in proper way

[Monireh]

Hello to all,

I have started learning LabVIEW since 2009; I even studied the LabVIEW 8.2 book student edition; however, I have not reached to a proper level in solving my problems in LabVIEW although I am the best student in my university. can you please guide me how I can improve my skills in this software because I really need it & I am spending lots of time but I don't know why I can not find the right way to learn this software.

Looking forward to recieving from You,

                                                              M

[DavidMaidman · Accepted solution]

I find a good place to start is with the example finder and with the express VIs.

You can search through the examples (Help>>Find Examples) and often you can find what you are looking for. Look at a couple of similar examples and then tailor them to do what you want.

If you are struggling with a particular VI or function you can often find examples through the context help.

If you configure an express VI to do what you want (or nearly what you want) you can right click the express VI  and select 'Open block diagram' this then lets you see how the VI has been implemented.

[CoastalMaineBird]

The best way to learn is by doing; if you can get a job where they throw challenges at you, great.  If not set up your own challenges.

Pick a task for yourself and set about doing it.

Note that you can set up simulated devices in NI-DAQ; they'll provide dummy inputs to your program.

Here's a task for you: prove that the random number generator in LabVIEW  is really random.

It generates a number between 0 and 1 - a really random generator, if it generates 1000 numbers should produce 100 that are between 0 and 0.1, 100 that are between 0.1 and 0.2, etc.  Test it.

Master, really master the basics, before you worry about the advanced stuff.  It's better to know everything about FOR and WHILE loops than half of that plus half of what an FFT does.

Hope that helps. 

[JÞB]

What do you find difficult?  Have you taken any software design classes at your university?  Have you mastered any other programming languages?

LabVIEW does provide a means for programming that does not require an advanced level of software engineering skills (and markets itself to this niche).  HOWEVER, basic knowledge of software design principles is a MUST to learn if you want to learn any programming language.   As an analogy, very few books ould be published if the writers did not know the basics of language (syntax, word usage, spelling etc)  Very few LabVIEW applications are useful without a sound understanding of programming fundamentals either.

[ian_fung]

Agree with Steve Bird...

In most cases, if not all, if there's no task/ challenge given, even a small and simple one, one lost his/ her direction in where to start and what to pick up... 

PS: Just personal point of view 🙂

[Pattos]

I agree,

you definitely need a Task that you can work on. I mean, that is the whole reason of Programming, isn't it?

@CoastalMaine:

If the generator was really random, then it wouldn't produce 100 numbers between 0 and 0.1 and 100 between 0.1 and 0.2 and so on.

The chance to get 100 numbers in every of those steps is really small, just like the chance to get 1000 times 0.

Cheers,

[Ray.R]

---

David_78 wrote:

I find a good place to start is with the example finder and with the express VIs.

---

  I disagree with David.

Unless he meant that you should look at the examples to see what badly written codelooks like.

We wanted to get a few people to participate in re-writing the examples using proper style, but no-one had the spare time to handle that huge task. So you may want to reconsider giving the first reply the accepted solution.  A suggestion is AFTER you learn proper coding style and architecture, that you review the examples in the example finder and you'll see what I mean.  The examples are oftenfull of Stacked Sequences and Local Variables.  Two items that you should try to avoid (especially Stacked Sequences).

What I suggest (and I didn't yet read the rest of the posts) is to write some code and post itin this forum for people to review it. People will gladly provide suggestions and recommendations on coding style and architecture. 

I would also recommend that you read the Rube Goldberg Code thread.

You may also find out why I recommend not using Local Variables.

[Pattos]

I like your approach Ray!

Learning proper coding by looking at how to not do it. 😄

But I agree that it is helpful to know how to not do it.

Cheers,

[ian_fung]

I would agree with Ray.R and Pattos

In fact, I do not even get use or use them that much ever since they (Express VIs) come on board LabVIEW.

Perhaps it was because we started before the Express VIs even exist...

Though they can be handy, in one way or another. It is, still, very much important to learn the i.e. Ray.R: "proper style and architecture" as this will then equip one with real LabVIEW coding techniques and skills.

If one always starts with the example finder and with Express VIs, he or she might falls into "modifier" instead of having the capability to able to code from nothing i.e. Blank VI.

PS: No offence please 😉