Copying Lookout Objects

[newsgroups.ni.com]

Is there any way to copy Lookout "Expression" and "Average" objects using
the keyboard shortcuts (i.e. "CTL-C") or with the mouse?. I can
successfully copy objects such as "Gauges" and "Pots" and Lookout creates a
new object with a number appended to the end of the original name. If I try
to do the same thing with the expression it just creates a linked copy of
the same object. I have many expressions that are practically identical
except for the name and the source and I have to do "Object >> Create..."
every time! This is REALLY slowing down my development.

--
Geoffrey B. Klotz
GK Associates, Inc.
TEL: (805) 523-8700
FAX: (805) 523-1216
EMAIL: gklotz@gkainc.com

[Guy_McDonnell]

One approach, though it can be perilous, is to manualy edit the .lks file
with a basic text editor that does not force hidden character such as eol.
This approach allows the copy paste option you reference. I usually use the
editor with my C compiler but notepad will also work.


"newsgroups.ni.com" wrote in message
news:39b815fc@newsgroups.ni.com...
> Is there any way to copy Lookout "Expression" and "Average" objects using
> the keyboard shortcuts (i.e. "CTL-C") or with the mouse?. I can
> successfully copy objects such as "Gauges" and "Pots" and Lookout creates
a
> new object with a number appended to the end of the original name. If I
try
> to do the same thing with the expression it just creates a linked copy of
> the same object. I hav
e many expressions that are practically identical
> except for the name and the source and I have to do "Object >> Create..."
> every time! This is REALLY slowing down my development.
>
> --
> Geoffrey B. Klotz
> GK Associates, Inc.
> TEL: (805) 523-8700
> FAX: (805) 523-1216
> EMAIL: gklotz@gkainc.com
>
>
>

[newsgroups.ni.com]

Thanks for the suggestions. Editing the .lks file seems to work great. I
figured out that when you are finished editing the source that you have to
recompile manually. Maybe on a future release of Lookout, NI can include a
text editor for manipulating the source code similar to some of the HTML
editors like MS FrontPage.

One other suggestion is adding a feature to the "alignment" commands that
will make all highlighted display boxes equal in dimension. The most time
consuming part of creating a user panel right now is manually manipulating
each gauge object with the mouse and trying to match the size of previously
created display objects.

All in all, a nice product. Thanks again.

--
Geoffrey B. Klotz
GK Associates, Inc.
TEL: (805) 523-8700
FAX: (805) 523-1216
EMAIL: gklotz@gkainc.com


Guy McDonnell wrote in message
news:39b92b55@newsgroups.ni.com...
> One approach, though it can be perilous, is to manualy edit the .lks file
> with a basic text editor that does not force hidden character such as eol.
> This approach allows the copy paste option you reference. I usually use
the
> editor with my C compiler but notepad will also work.
>
>
> "newsgroups.ni.com" wrote in message
> news:39b815fc@newsgroups.ni.com...
> > Is there any way to copy Lookout "Expression" and "Average" objects
using
> > the keyboard shortcuts (i.e. "CTL-C") or with the mouse?. I can
> > successfully copy objects such as "Gauges" and "Pots" and Lookout
creates
> a
> > new object with a number appended to the end of the original name. If I
> try
> > to do the same thing with the expression it just creates a linked copy
of
> > the same object. I have many expressions that are practically identical
> > except for the name and the source and I have to do "Object >>
Create..."
> > every time! This is REALLY slowing down my development.
> >
> > --
> > Geoffrey B. Klotz
> > GK Associates, Inc.
> > TEL: (805) 523-8700
> > FAX: (805) 523-1216
> > EMAIL: gklotz@gkainc.com
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[otto]

Editing the lks file works eally great. you can even copy quiet complex object
groups, that are interconnected to each other. I have found that in Lookout
4. this works beautifully if you create folders within the object explorer.
If you do this the objects will stay grouped together in the source file
and you can easily copy the folder and just rename the folder name.

If you are looking for a fast way to resize elements to the same size, just
switch on the snap to grid feature and resizing positioning will be fast
and easy and will make your user interface look really professional.

[John Dunlop]

Hi,

We have found that editing the LKS file is a really good way of sizing and
aligning objects.

You can use Search and Replace for {l= ???,t= ???,w= ???,h= ???
to get the ojects the same (i.e. l=left, t=top, w=width, h=height)

I definately support the inclusion of an editor. We quite often fiind
ourselves editing Word and Lookout at the same time.

John


otto wrote in message
news:39c23604@newsgroups.ni.com...
>
> Editing the lks file works eally great. you can even copy quiet complex
object
> groups, that are interconnected to each other. I have found that in
Lookout
> 4. this works beautifully if you create folders within the object
explorer.
> If you do this the objects will stay grouped together in the source f
ile
> and you can easily copy the folder and just rename the folder name.
>
> If you are looking for a fast way to resize elements to the same size,
just
> switch on the snap to grid feature and resizing positioning will be fast
> and easy and will make your user interface look really professional.

[Alan Richard]

It is my understanding that only control objects can be CTL-Dragged or
CTL-C/CTL-V copied. The best I could come up with for expressions was to cut &
paste the "Expression=" field from one expression into a new expression. Then
modify the new expression accordingly.

Alan Richard
NASA Glenn Research Center

"newsgroups.ni.com" wrote:

> Is there any way to copy Lookout "Expression" and "Average" objects using
> the keyboard shortcuts (i.e. "CTL-C") or with the mouse?. I can
> successfully copy objects such as "Gauges" and "Pots" and Lookout creates a
> new object with a number appended to the end of the original name. If I try
> to do the same thing with the expression it just creates a linked copy of
> the same object. I have many expressions that are practically i
dentical
> except for the name and the source and I have to do "Object >> Create..."
> every time! This is REALLY slowing down my development.
>
> --
> Geoffrey B. Klotz
> GK Associates, Inc.
> TEL: (805) 523-8700
> FAX: (805) 523-1216
> EMAIL: gklotz@gkainc.com

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