IMAQ Overlay Text.vi: "User-specified Font" ignored

[MacNorth]

I'm trying to use "IMAQ Overlay Text.vi" use draw a fixed-width tag on an image. In my trials so far, I cannot determine how to use any other font but the default. The "User-specified Font" choice appears to ignore my font requests, but does use my size and bold settings.

What I've tried so far:

• Use LabVIEW to tell me font names via the application drop-down menu, and then type one in verbatim into the "Font Name" component of the "User Specified Font" cluster.
• Use another Windows program (like Write.exe) to give me font names, and then typing one in verbatim as before.
• Use a nonsense font name to provoke some kind of "font not found" error, but none were raised.

This third data point makes me think that a default font is selected if the user's is not found. How do I learn which font names this VI will use? LabVIEW can see and use the font I want, but not IMAQ 😞

I have LabVIEW 2009 with the 2012 Vision Development Module.

[Silver_Shaper · Accepted solution]

Check the built in example.. It works.

[MacNorth]

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Silver_Shaper wrote:

Check the built in example.. It works.

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Excellent! Thanks for your reply 🙂

I can confirm that switching from "IMAQ Overlay Text.vi" (and "IMAQ Merge Overlay.vi") to "IMAQ Draw Text.vi" uses the font I specify by name on the Front Panel. This will suit my needs

I have two points for NI engineers and I would like a response:

1. Does "IMAQ Overlay Text.vi" have any outstanding bug reports about this behavior? Or, am I doing something wrong?
2. Please make your examples easier to discover and find. With help from Silver_Shaper, I was able to find the example, but the directions on your website are incomplete and misleading. To experience the frustration first hand, follow the link in Silver_Shaper's post and read and follow the text.
• You will find that it is incomplete: the article takes you halfway there, pointing you to to "Help » Find Examples... » Toolkits and Modules", but doesn't follow through and ask you to expand "Vision » Functions" before you find the example.
• But once you're there, you will also find that the article is misleading. The article is called "Overlay Text on Image" and the same title is used in the overview, but on disk it is called "DrawText Example.vi" and the real name can only be found in the front panel image.

Please confirm the bug or my misunderstanding of "IMAQ Overlay Text.vi", and please confirm that you will update that article.

[Ever_Song]

Hi MacNorth,

Thanks for your questions/suggestions. In response to your comments:

1. There is a known bug in the IMAQ Overlay Text.vi that is the exact issue you are seeing (CAR number 329930). I have added this thread to the CAR so that R&D knows that other users are experiencing the problem. I do not have a definitive date when the CAR will be resolved, but you can check the release notes for updates on the status on corrected CARs.

2. I agree with your comments on the example. I am currently in the process of updating the article. It should be pushed live once the changes have been approved by the gatekeeper.

[MacNorth]

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Ever_Song wrote:
 

1. There is a known bug in the IMAQ Overlay Text.vi that is the exact issue you are seeing (CAR number 329930). I have added this thread to the CAR so that R&D knows that other users are experiencing the problem. I do not have a definitive date when the CAR will be resolved, but you can check the release notes for updates on the status on corrected CARs.

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Thanks 🙂 Here is more information about my particular system in case it helps:

• Windows XP SP3 with Pentium 4 and 2 GB RAM
• LabVIEW 2009 SP1 (9.0.1)
• Vision Development Module 2012 (12.0.0)