Control editor

Note: This article uses the term "control" interchangeably with "indicator".

The Control editor provides the ability to create and modify controls, type definitions and strict type definitions. It works like a front panel but it can only contain a single control and doesn't have a block diagram.

Ways to open the control editor

The control editor can be opened in multiple ways:

• By opening an existing control or control template file.
• From the Getting Started Window via the File menu option New..., by selecting Other Files >> Custom Control.
• From the right-click menu of a control via Advanced >> Customize....
• From the Front Panel of a VI via the Edit menu option Customize Control....

Purpose of the control editor

Examples of visual control customization on a front panel using a Push Button

The visual appearance of controls (their shape, coloring, visibility of elements, font and state) can be changed directly on the front panel of a VI. It is, however, not possible to change the fundamental parts (icons, images, relative positions, ...). This can only be done in the control editor.

Also, the control editor allows to store controls on disk for later re-use and to specify the type of control which changes how new instances of the control are related to each other:

• control (no relation)
• type definition (share logical configuration)
• strict type definition (share logical configuration and visual appearance)

Invalid control error

Invalid Control error in the control editor window (because it contains two controls)

An Invalid Control button appears at the menu bar when the control is invalid, for example when more than one control is on the front panel. Clicking the button opens the Error list dialog with further error details.

Editor modes

The control editor has two editor modes: Edit Mode and Customize Mode.

Ways to switch between Edit Mode and Customize Mode

There are multiple ways to switch between Edit Mode and Customize Mode:

• Clicking the Change to Customize Mode and Change to Edit Mode button, respectively.
• Using the Operate menu option Change to Customize Mode and Change to Edit Mode, respectively.
• Using the Window menu option Show Parts Window (forces the editor into Customize Mode, even if the window contains more than one control).
• The key-combination Ctrl+M is a shortcut to toggle between modes.

Edit Mode

Edit Mode is enabled by default when opening the control editor. In this mode controls can be customized the same way as on the front panel.

Customize Mode

Individual parts of a control (Push Button)

Individual parts of a control (Push Button) spread apart in the control editor

In Customize Mode individual parts of a control become disconnected and can be changed and moved. It is, however, not possible to add or remove parts (except pictures). Depending on the type (button, graph, list, ...) and style (Classic, Modern, System, Silver, NXG) of a control, the amount and type of parts can vary. It is therefore important to select the right type and style of control to ensure that the final control works as expected.

In Customize Mode each part is displayed inside a white rectangle that surrounds the part. Because parts need to be placed on top of each other to achieve the desired visual effect, the Control Parts window is used to select individual parts. Right-click menu options and the Import Picture to Clipboard... command can then be used to change or move the currently selected part.

When switching back to Edit Mode, all parts keep their current (relative) location, size and visual representation.

Control Parts window

This is the Control Parts window

The Control Parts window is part of the Control Editor and appears when selecting the Window menu option Show Parts Window. It contains a picture ring control with individual parts of the control and allows changing the position and dimension of the currently selected part.

Right click menu options

Option	Description
Copy to Clipboard	Copies the value of the currently selected part to the clipboard.
Import Picture from Clipboard	Only available if the clipboard contains a picture. Adds a picture from the clipboard as background for text items or as substitute for picture items. The item is resized to fit the imported picture.
Import from Clipboard at Same Size	This is the same as Import Picture from Clipboard but the picture is scaled to fit the size of the item.
Import from File...	Opens a file prompt to select a picture file. Adds the selected picture as background for text items or as substitute for picture items. The item is resized to fit the imported picture.
Import from File at Same Size...	This is the same as Import from File... but the picture is scaled to fit the size of the item.
Revert	Reverts the item to its last saved state.
Original Size	Restores the last saved size of the item.

Depending on the type of part, additional menu options are available:

Picture Item

Option	Description
Picture Item	Opens a preview of picture items. The current picture item changes to the selected item.
Independent Sizes	When enabled, the size of each picture is independent from each other. This option is disabled by default.

Label

Option	Description
Size To Text	When enabled, the size of the item automatically adjusts to fit the entire text.
Vertical Arrangement	Allows to change the direction of the text (None, Stacked, Clockwise, Counterclockwise). The default setting is "None".
Lock Label	Locks the label in place, so that moving the label moves the entire control. This option is disabled by default.

Text Item

Option	Description
Text Item	Opens a preview of text items.

Import Picture to Clipboard...

Opens a file dialog to select a picture that is imported to clipboard.

See also

• Control
• Type Definition
• Strict Type Definition
• Control Template
• CTL File Extension
• CTT File Extension

External links

• LabVIEW 2018 Help: Creating Custom Controls, Indicators, and Type Definitions
• LabVIEW 2018 Help: Creating Custom Controls and Indicators Using the New Dialog Box
• LabVIEW 2018 Help: Creating Custom Controls and Indicators from the Front Panel
• National Instruments Knowledge Base: Creating Custom Control or Indicator in LabVIEW
• LabVIEW Forum: "Create a custom control (combination of controls)"
• DMC: Basic LabVIEW UI Control Customization
• Creating Quality UIs with LabVIEW
• LabVIEW Forum: UI Interest Group
• National Instruments Knowledge Base: Creating a Boolean Button with Custom Appearance
• National Instruments Knowledge Base: Customize LabVIEW Boolean Controls with Bitmap Images or GIFs
• LabVIEW Forum: Custom Button Nugget