LabVIEW Wiki - User contributions [en]

Set up differencing capabilities

2008-10-02T00:48:52Z

Paul Lotz: Added comment on .lvdiff file.

TortoiseSVN has its own program (TortoiseMerge) to show the differences between two different versions of a file. This works well with text files but since LabVIEW VIs are binary files it is advantageous to use LabVIEW's graphical differencing capabilities.

The professional version of LabVIEW has a "CMP Compare two VIs.vi" in the ...\LabVIEW x.x\project\procmphier.llb library.

The open-source "LVDiff" tool (see [http://meta-diff.sourceforge.net/] for the main download but download the updated "lvdiff.vi" from the link here [http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=354286&requireLogin=False] since the version currently in the .zip file does not work with VIs in libraries) provides a wrapper to call this VI.

Be sure to update the paths in the .lvdiff file.

== Configure TortoiseSVN to use LVDiff for VIs ==

Open Windows Explorer. 
Right-click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
Under "External Programs" select "Diff Viewer". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/DiffViewerPageNew2.png[/IMG] 
Click on the "Advanced..." button and add a ".vi" extension with the "External Program" pointing to "lvdiff.exe". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/SettingUpLVDiff.png[/IMG] 

== Comparing VIs from TortoiseSVN ==
To compare a file with the previous version in the repository right-click on the file in Windows explorer and select "TortoiseSVN...Diff with previous version".

Set up differencing capabilities

2008-09-30T18:37:12Z

Paul Lotz:

TortoiseSVN has its own program (TortoiseMerge) to show the differences between two different versions of a file. This works well with text files but since LabVIEW VIs are binary files it is advantageous to use LabVIEW's graphical differencing capabilities.

The professional version of LabVIEW has a "CMP Compare two VIs.vi" in the ...\LabVIEW x.x\project\procmphier.llb library.

The open-source "LVDiff" tool (see [http://meta-diff.sourceforge.net/] for the main download but download the updated "lvdiff.vi" from the link here [http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=354286&requireLogin=False] since the version currently in the .zip file does not work with VIs in libraries) provides a wrapper to call this VI.

== Configure TortoiseSVN to use LVDiff for VIs ==

Open Windows Explorer. 
Right-click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
Under "External Programs" select "Diff Viewer". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/DiffViewerPageNew2.png[/IMG] 
Click on the "Advanced..." button and add a ".vi" extension with the "External Program" pointing to "lvdiff.exe". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/SettingUpLVDiff.png[/IMG] 

== Comparing VIs from TortoiseSVN ==
To compare a file with the previous version in the repository right-click on the file in Windows explorer and select "TortoiseSVN...Diff with previous version".

Set up differencing capabilities

2008-09-30T18:35:47Z

Paul Lotz: Updated screen captures.

TortoiseSVN has its own program (TortoiseMerge) to show the differences between two different versions of a file. This works well with text files but since LabVIEW VIs are binary files it is advantageous to use LabVIEW's graphical differencing capabilities.

The professional version of LabVIEW has a "CMP Compare two VIs.vi" in the ...\LabVIEW x.x\project\procmphier.llb library.

The open-source "LVDiff" tool (see [http://meta-diff.sourceforge.net/] for the main download but download the updated "lvdiff.vi" here [http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=354286&requireLogin=False] since the version currently in the .zip file does not work with VIs in libraries) provides a wrapper to call this VI.

== Configure TortoiseSVN to use LVDiff for VIs ==

Open Windows Explorer. 
Right-click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
Under "External Programs" select "Diff Viewer". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/DiffViewerPageNew2.png[/IMG] 
Click on the "Advanced..." button and add a ".vi" extension with the "External Program" pointing to "lvdiff.exe". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/SettingUpLVDiff.png[/IMG] 

== Comparing VIs from TortoiseSVN ==
To compare a file with the previous version in the repository right-click on the file in Windows explorer and select "TortoiseSVN...Diff with previous version".

Set up differencing capabilities

2008-09-30T18:22:52Z

Paul Lotz: Initial

TortoiseSVN has its own program (TortoiseMerge) to show the differences between two different versions of a file. This works well with text files but since LabVIEW VIs are binary files it is advantageous to use LabVIEW's graphical differencing capabilities.

The professional version of LabVIEW has a "CMP Compare two VIs.vi" in the ...\LabVIEW x.x\project\procmphier.llb library.

The open-source "LVDiff" tool (see [http://meta-diff.sourceforge.net/] for the main download but download the updated "lvdiff.vi" here [http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&message.id=354286&requireLogin=False] since the version currently in the .zip file does not work with VIs in libraries) provides a wrapper to call this VI.

== Configure TortoiseSVN to use LVDiff for VIs ==

Open Windows Explorer. 
Right-click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
Under "External Programs" select "Diff Viewer". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/DiffViewerPage.png[/IMG] 
Click on the "Advanced..." button and add a ".vi" extension with the "External Program" pointing to "lvdiff.exe". 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/SettingUpLVDiff.png[/IMG] 

== Comparing VIs from TortoiseSVN ==
To compare a file with the previous version in the repository right-click on the file in Windows explorer and select "TortoiseSVN...Diff with previous version".

Configure TortoiseSVN to work with LabVIEW

2008-09-30T17:47:22Z

Paul Lotz: Corrected typo

The following TortoiseSVN configuration steps are helpful when working with LabVIEW: 
[[Use _svn directories]] 
[[Set up differencing capabilities]] 
[[Set up merge capabilities]]

Use svn directories

2008-09-30T17:46:03Z

Paul Lotz: Added screen capture.

Use "_svn" directories instead of ".svn" directories so that the LabVIEW mass compiler doesn't try to compile these directories. [Right?]

== How to use _svn directories ==
Open Windows explorer. 
Right click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
On the "General" page in the "Settings - Tortoise SVN" dialog check the "Use '_svn' instead of '.svn' directories" box. 
[IMG]http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/pauljlotz/Using_svn_directories.png[/IMG] 
Click OK. 
TortoiseSVN will prompt you to restart the computer.

Use svn directories

2008-09-30T17:41:17Z

Paul Lotz: Initial

Use "_svn" directories instead of ".svn" directories so that the LabVIEW mass compiler doesn't try to compile these directories. [Right?]

== How to use _svn directories ==
Open Windows explorer. 
Right click on a directory and select "TortoiseSVN...Settings" from the pop-up menu. 
On the "General" page in the "Settings - Tortoise SVN" dialog check the "Use '_svn' instead of '.svn' directories" box. 
Click OK. 
TortoiseSVN will prompt you to restart the computer.

Configure TortoiseSVN to work with LabVIEW

2008-09-30T17:28:58Z

Paul Lotz: Initial

The following TortoiseSVN configuration steps are helpful when working with LabVIEW: 
[[Use _svn directories]] 
[[Set up differencing capabilitis]] 
[[Set up merge capabilities]]

TortoiseSVN client to Subversion

2008-09-30T17:24:41Z

Paul Lotz: Initial

TortoiseSVN is a free Subversion client integrated as a Windows shell extension. [http://tortoisesvn.net/]

After downloading and installing TortoiseSVN, one can: 
[[Point to an existing repository]] 
[[Add a directory to the repository]] 
[[Configure TortoiseSVN to work with LabVIEW]]

Source Code Control Tools

2008-09-30T17:14:39Z

Paul Lotz: Changed "Tortoise SVN" to "TortoiseSVN"

The LabVIEW 8.6 help includes a list of SCC tools that integrate with LabVIEW's source code control interface:
[http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361E-01/lvconcepts/using_source_code/]

[[Perforce]] 
[[Microsoft Visual SourceSafe]] 
[[Microsoft Team System]] 
[[MKS Source Integrity]] 
[[IBM Rational ClearCase]] 
[[Serena Version Manager (PVCS)]] 
[[Seapine Surrond SCM]] 
[[Borland StarTeam]] 
[[Telelogic Synergy]] 
[[PushOK (CVS and SVN plugins)]] 
[[ionForge Evolution]] 

In addition there are tools that a developer can use outside LabVIEW's source code control interface. 
[[TortoiseSVN client to Subversion]] 

This page offers a comparison of different tools: 
[[SCC Tool Comparison]]

Source Code Control Tools

2008-09-30T01:35:22Z

Paul Lotz: Added tool comparison link

The LabVIEW 8.6 help includes a list of SCC tools that integrate with LabVIEW's source code control interface:
[http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361E-01/lvconcepts/using_source_code/]

[[Perforce]] 
[[Microsoft Visual SourceSafe]] 
[[Microsoft Team System]] 
[[MKS Source Integrity]] 
[[IBM Rational ClearCase]] 
[[Serena Version Manager (PVCS)]] 
[[Seapine Surrond SCM]] 
[[Borland StarTeam]] 
[[Telelogic Synergy]] 
[[PushOK (CVS and SVN plugins)]] 
[[ionForge Evolution]] 

In addition there are tools that a developer can use outside LabVIEW's source code control interface. 
[[Tortoise SVN client to Subversion]] 

This page offers a comparison of different tools: 
[[SCC Tool Comparison]]

Source Code Control Tools

2008-09-30T01:32:59Z

Paul Lotz: Initial page

Source Code Control

2008-09-30T01:26:04Z

Paul Lotz: Removed link to LabVIEW 8.6 help.

== General ==

Source code control (SCC) allows software developers to manage code for development and release. SCC tools generally allow for the managment of additional files besides code.

Essential capabilities of source code control include: 
File Check-in/Check-out 
Revert to Previous 
File Comparison 
File Merge 

== LabVIEW and Source Code Control ==

National Instruments maintains information on SCC and LabVIEW on this page:
[http://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-1681] 

[[Some Source Code Control Tools]]

Source Code Control

2008-09-30T01:25:05Z

Paul Lotz: Added link to 8.6 help

Source Code Control

2008-09-30T01:21:13Z

Paul Lotz: New page: == General == Source code control (SCC) allows software developers to manage code for development and release. SCC tools generally allow for the managment of additional files besides cod...

Software Engineering with LabVIEW

2008-09-30T01:10:04Z

Paul Lotz: Initial edit

This page describes software engineering practices and tools.

The intent of the this page is to share best practices. This will include discussion of tool selection, where appropriate, and information regarding setting up and using tools.

Following are some key tasks that are part of a software engineering process: 
[[Requirements Management]] 
[[Planning Development]] 
[[Software Design]] 
[[Source Code Control]] 
[[Unit and Regression Testing]] 
[[Issue Tracking]]

Getting Started

2008-09-30T00:47:23Z

Paul Lotz: Corrected spelling of "useful"