n00b needs icon index

[Candice]

Hello,

I'm  new to LabVIEW, and am having to teach myself the ropes.  I was wondering if there is a database where one can look up a specific icon and see what its name is, and maybe a small summary of what it does, including express VIs.  I'm having difficulty using the tutorials (amateur online and text-book oriented) because of the differences between versions.  Sometimes a tutorial will tell me to find "x" and place on the block diagram, but I can't because it is named something different or has a different icon in the newer version. An index (or glossary) would be very helpful in regards to this situation. 

Thanks
Candice

[jasonhill]

Have you tried context help (ctrl-H)?  That will give you a breif summary of what the vi does, plus a description of each terminal.  Each one has a link to the more complete help file.  I have found that the help files for the included functions is very complete.

[Candice]

Yes, I know about the context help. However, it is only helpful for things that are already placed on the block diagram.  I'm looking more for icons that I have not yet placed on the block diagram and need to find and identify.

[jasonhill]

You should get the same context help when hovering over the icon on the functions palette (i.e. before they are placed).  I usually have at least one menu "pinned" so it stays open and I do not have to re-navigate to the palette I am interested in.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Context help works perfectly fine as you browse through the palettes as well. You do not have to have a function on the block diagram. Also, in the on-line help, there is a section called VI and Function Reference. There are topics underneath this listed by palette name. You can browse through this. If you have a name of a function, you can use the search function of the tools palette.

[Candice]

Yeah you are right...it does provides the name. I am still frustrated with the fact that the icons and names of the icons change from version to version.  I think I am just frustrated in general from trying to learn this language with practically no programming experience.  The user manual and help files are decidedly lacking and I can't afford a text book grrr.  Thank you for your input 🙂

[Candice]

omg I am a total n00b! LOL. I didn't see that the Ctrl+h help would change as you mouse over the palette! Ooops. Thought it only worked on the block diagram.  Thank you for pointing that out to me