Front Panel - Revision history

Q: /* Adding Controls/Indicators */

2020-06-06T05:26:42Z

Adding Controls/Indicators

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:26, 6 June 2020
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	=== Adding Controls/Indicators ===		=== Adding Controls/Indicators ===
	{\|		====Via [[Controls Palette]]====
	\|-
	\|Via [[Controls Palette]]
	# Right-Click on a blank space on the Front Panel		# Right-Click on a blank space on the Front Panel
	# Navigate through the [[Controls Palette]] to find the desired Control or Indicator		# Navigate through the [[Controls Palette]] to find the desired Control or Indicator
	# Click on the Control or Indicator. A dotted outline of it appears.		# Click on the Control or Indicator. A dotted outline of it appears.
	# Click on the Front Panel to place.		# Click on the Front Panel to place.
	~~\|- style="text-align:center;"~~		<gallery mode="slideshow">
	\|
	<gallery mode=~~nolines widths=50px~~>
	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control.png\|Step 1		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control.png\|Step 1
	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Select.png\|Step 2		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Select.png\|Step 2
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	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Placed.png\|Step 4		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Placed.png\|Step 4
	</gallery>		</gallery>
	\|-
	\| Via [[Quick Drop]]		====Via [[Quick Drop]]====
	# While on the Front Panel, press ''Ctrl-Space''. The Quick Drop Window will appear.		# While on the Front Panel, press ''Ctrl-Space''. The Quick Drop Window will appear.
	# Type the name (or shortcut) of the Control or Indicator.		# Type the name (or shortcut) of the Control or Indicator.
	# Click on Front Panel to place.		# Click on Front Panel to place.
	~~\|- style="text-align:center;"~~		<gallery mode="slideshow">
	\|
	<gallery mode=~~nolines widths=50px~~>
	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop.png\|Step 1		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop.png\|Step 1
	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop-Select.png\|Step 2		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop-Select.png\|Step 2
	File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop-Placed.png\|Step 3		File:Front Panel-Adding a Control-Quick Drop-Placed.png\|Step 3
	</gallery>		</gallery>
	\|}

	== Changing Front Panel Color ==		== Changing Front Panel Color ==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add resizing tips

2020-05-15T12:38:19Z

Tips and tricks: Add resizing tips

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:38, 15 May 2020
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	=== Connector pane ===		=== Connector pane ===
	* Always leave some extra unused terminals on the connector pane of a VI to allow for later extensions without breaking existing code.		* Always leave some extra unused terminals on the connector pane of a VI to allow for later extensions without breaking existing code.

			== Resizing Objects ==
			* When placing an object, keep dragging to resize it as it is placed.
			* When resizing an object, hold '''Ctrl''' to resize from the center.
			* When resizing an object, hold '''Shift''' to resize proportionally to its original size.
			* Temporarily disable the alignment grid by pressing '''G'''.
			** Press '''G''' again to re-enable the alignment grid.

	== Searching ==		== Searching ==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add searching tips

2020-05-15T12:37:04Z

Tips and tricks: Add searching tips

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:37, 15 May 2020
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	=== Connector pane ===		=== Connector pane ===
	* Always leave some extra unused terminals on the connector pane of a VI to allow for later extensions without breaking existing code.		* Always leave some extra unused terminals on the connector pane of a VI to allow for later extensions without breaking existing code.

			== Searching ==
			* Select a control and press '''Ctrl+F''' to open the '''Find''' dialog with the selected element as search parameter.
			* In the '''Search Results''' dialog, press '''Ctrl+G''' to go to the next match and '''Shift+Ctrl+G''' to go to the previous match.

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add tips for the connector pane

2020-05-15T12:35:33Z

Tips and tricks: Add tips for the connector pane

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:35, 15 May 2020
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	* Use the [[system label]] (formally known as dialog label) from the controls palette, to label elements on the front panel. The background color of this label will automatically adjust to the background color of the owner (it is not transparent).		* Use the [[system label]] (formally known as dialog label) from the controls palette, to label elements on the front panel. The background color of this label will automatically adjust to the background color of the owner (it is not transparent).
	[[Image:Dialog label example.png\|thumb\|center\|400px\|Dialog label example]]		[[Image:Dialog label example.png\|thumb\|center\|400px\|Dialog label example]]

			=== Connector pane ===
			* Always leave some extra unused terminals on the connector pane of a VI to allow for later extensions without breaking existing code.

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add documentation tips

2020-05-15T12:30:16Z

Tips and tricks: Add documentation tips

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:30, 15 May 2020
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	* Select '''Tools > Navigation Window''' to display an overview of the front panel or block diagram.		* Select '''Tools > Navigation Window''' to display an overview of the front panel or block diagram.
	* Press '''Ctrl+T''' to split the screen between the front panel and block diagram. Press '''Ctrl+Z''' to undo this operation. (It may be convenient to disable this feature under '''Tools > Options > Menu Shortcuts''' because '''Ctrl+T''' and '''Ctrl+R''' are very close on the keyboard.)		* Press '''Ctrl+T''' to split the screen between the front panel and block diagram. Press '''Ctrl+Z''' to undo this operation. (It may be convenient to disable this feature under '''Tools > Options > Menu Shortcuts''' because '''Ctrl+T''' and '''Ctrl+R''' are very close on the keyboard.)

			=== Documentation ===
			* Double-click any open space on the front panel to place a [[free label]].
			* Use the '''Set Color''' tool to change the background color of free labels.
			** Choose the "T" option on the color picker for a transparent color.
			* In the [[VI Properties dialog]], select '''Documentation''' to add a link to an external HTML or compiled help file.
			* Select '''File > Print''' to print VI documentation into various output formats.
			* Use the [[system label]] (formally known as dialog label) from the controls palette, to label elements on the front panel. The background color of this label will automatically adjust to the background color of the owner (it is not transparent).
			[[Image:Dialog label example.png\|thumb\|center\|400px\|Dialog label example]]

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add navigation tips and use subcategories

2020-05-15T12:19:27Z

Tips and tricks: Add navigation tips and use subcategories

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 15 May 2020
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	== Tips and tricks ==		== Tips and tricks ==
			=== General ===
	* Press '''Ctrl''' and drag to make more space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).		* Press '''Ctrl''' and drag to make more space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).
	* Press '''Alt+Ctrl''' and drag to remove space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).		* Press '''Alt+Ctrl''' and drag to remove space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).
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	\|-		\|-
	\|}		\|}

			=== Navigation ===
			* Scroll on the horizontal scroll bar to scroll left and right.
			* Scroll on the vertical scroll bar to scroll up and down.
			* Press '''Shift''' while scrolling to scroll faster.
			* Select '''Tools > Navigation Window''' to display an overview of the front panel or block diagram.
			* Press '''Ctrl+T''' to split the screen between the front panel and block diagram. Press '''Ctrl+Z''' to undo this operation. (It may be convenient to disable this feature under '''Tools > Options > Menu Shortcuts''' because '''Ctrl+T''' and '''Ctrl+R''' are very close on the keyboard.)

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: /* Tips and tricks */ Add movement tricks

2020-05-15T12:13:46Z

Tips and tricks: Add movement tricks

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Right-click the application instance name on the status bar to quickly switch between application instances.
 [[Image:switching application instances.png|center|thumb|300px|Switching application instances]]
 == Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: Fix placement of tips and tricks

2020-05-13T19:25:21Z

Fix placement of tips and tricks

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 13 May 2020
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	== Best Practices ==		== Best Practices ==
			=== Organization ===
			*For simple [[VI\|VIs]], it is best practice to place inputs ([[Control\|controls]]) on the left side of the front panel and outputs ([[Indicator\|indicators]]) on the right side of the front panel in a manner that matches their position on the [[Connector Pane]].
			*For complex UIs see the page on [[User Interface\|User Interfaces]].

	== Tips and tricks ==		== Tips and tricks ==
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	* Right-click the application instance name on the status bar to quickly switch between application instances.		* Right-click the application instance name on the status bar to quickly switch between application instances.
	[[Image:switching application instances.png\|center\|thumb\|300px\|Switching application instances]]		[[Image:switching application instances.png\|center\|thumb\|300px\|Switching application instances]]

	~~=== Organization ===~~
	*For simple [[VI\|VIs]], it is best practice to place inputs ([[Control\|controls]]) on the left side of the front panel and outputs ([[Indicator\|indicators]]) on the right side of the front panel in a manner that matches their position on the [[Connector Pane]].
	*For complex UIs see the page on [[User Interface\|User Interfaces]].

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==

Logmanoriginal: Add tips and tricks

2020-05-13T19:22:25Z

Add tips and tricks

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 13 May 2020
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	== Best Practices ==		== Best Practices ==

			== Tips and tricks ==
			* Press '''Ctrl''' and drag to make more space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).
			* Press '''Alt+Ctrl''' and drag to remove space on the front panel (press '''Esc''' to abort).
			* Press '''Ctrl''' and drag while using the '''Positioning''' tool to duplicate objects.
			* Drag a block diagram constant to the front panel to create a control.
			* Drag a front panel control into a control refnum to quickly create a typed reference.
			[[Image:Simply creating a control reference.png\|center\|thumb\|300px\|Simply creating a control reference]]
			* Right-click the application instance name on the status bar to quickly switch between application instances.
			[[Image:switching application instances.png\|center\|thumb\|300px\|Switching application instances]]

	=== Organization ===		=== Organization ===

Q: Added details

2020-05-12T16:55:24Z

Added details

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 12 May 2020
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	\|}		\|}

	=== ~~Organization Best Practices~~ ===		== Changing Front Panel Color ==
	~~For simple [[VI\|VIs]], it is best practice to place inputs ([[Control\|controls]]) on~~ the ~~left side of~~ the ~~front panel and outputs (~~[[~~Indicator\|indicators]]) on the right side of the front panel in a manner that matches their position on the [[Connector Pane~~]].		=== During Edit Time ===
			During edit time the Front Panel color can be set using the [[Tools Palette]], Set Color tool.

	For complex UIs see the page on [[User Interface\|User Interfaces]].		=== Changing Dynamically ===
			While the [[VI]] is running, the color can be changed dynamically by using the [[Pane class/Pane Color property]]. This will mean that the [[Pane]]'s reference will be required. Use the [[Panel class/Panes() property\|Panel class/Panes[] property]] to obtain an array of references to all of the panes owned by a Front Panel. If only one pane exists, there will be only one element in the array.

			== Best Practices ==

			=== Organization ===
			*For simple [[VI\|VIs]], it is best practice to place inputs ([[Control\|controls]]) on the left side of the front panel and outputs ([[Indicator\|indicators]]) on the right side of the front panel in a manner that matches their position on the [[Connector Pane]].
			*For complex UIs see the page on [[User Interface\|User Interfaces]].

	== Advanced==		== Advanced==
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	=== Methods ===		=== Methods ===
	Front panel methods and be accessed via a [[Panel refnum data type\|panel refnum]] and an [[Invoke Node]] using the [[VI Server]]. See [[Panel class#Methods\|Panel Methods]].		Front panel methods and be accessed via a [[Panel refnum data type\|panel refnum]] and an [[Invoke Node]] using the [[VI Server]]. See [[Panel class#Methods\|Panel Methods]].

			== History ==

			{\| class="wikitable"
			! Version
			! Change(s)
			\|-
			\|[[File:LV8-2013.png\|frameless\|border\|64x64px\|LabVIEW 2011\|link=LabVIEW 2011]]
			\|In [[LabVIEW 2011]] the default background color of the Front Panel was changed to a lighter shade of gray "to complement the appearance of the controls and indicators on both the [[Controls Palette/Modern\|Modern]] and [[Controls Palette/Silver\|Silver]] palettes."<ref>"LabVIEW 2011 Features and Changes" by [[NI]] (http://zone.ni.com/reference/en-XX/help/371361H-01/lvupgrade/labview_features/)</ref>
			\|}

	== See Also ==		== See Also ==
	* [[VI]]		* [[VI]]
	* [[Block Diagram]]		* [[Block Diagram]]
			* [[Pane]]

			== References ==

	[[Category:User interface]]		[[Category:User interface]]