"xterm" commands Mac

[CodeMunkee]

Hello

Using LabView 2009 on Mac OSX:

On my VI, I would like to place a button that when pushed will open a PDF of the instrument's instruction manual. I found what I believe to be a solution for a Windows operating system on this thread below...

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/system-exec-vi-wont-take-multiple-cmd-line-options/m-p/1120009#M4944...

But I cannot get it to work on Mac OSX (not surprising). I cannot find a Mac equivalent. Using X-Terminal, the command is simply

"open InstructionManual.pdf" when in the correct directory.

Can anyone please point me to a subroutine that will either allow me to use an X-Terminal command or a Mac OSX system command that will open up a PDF?

Thanks very much.

[johnsold · Accepted solution]

I think you can do it with the System Exec.vi (Connectivity palette) although I have not done that in quite a while so I do not recall the exact format.  The image below shows how to use Apple Events to open a PDF.

Lynn

[Sarci1]

Hey CodeMunkee,

You do have the option to open the PDF as an ActiveX control.  Please see the community example Open PDF in LabVIEW.

Lynn

[johnsold]

Lynn,

ActiveX is not available for the Macintosh, which CodeMunkee is using.

Lynn

[CodeMunkee]

Thank you!

For anyone else with a similar issue: in LabView 2009, go to Data Communications>>Protocol>>AppleEvent>>AEFinderOpen

works like a charm. specify folder, then file.

One final question... for mass distribution I plan to have the PDF in the same folder as the VI (which will be a *.app). What is the right way to specify "current folder"? I thought I could just do this

.:

as the current file (that's a period for the current folder, then a colon) and then indicate InstructionManual.pdf as the file, but it didn't work. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks a ton.

[Sarci1]

Hey CodeMunkee,

You could try using the Current VI's Path Function with the Path to String Function.

Lynn