Control editor

The control editor is a special kind of editor that looks and behaves like the Front Panel of a VI without a Block Diagram. It may only contain a single control and can be used to create controls, type definitions and strict type definitions. One of its key features is control customization.

Note: In this article, the term "control" is used interchangeably with "indicator".

Control customization

Control customization is the act of changing the visual appearance of a control on the front panel of a VI or in the control editor.

Controls located on a front panel can be manipulated in their shape, coloring, visibility of elements, font and state. Depending on the type of control (button, graph, list, ...) additional options may be available. It is, however, not possible to change the fundamental parts (icons, backgrounds, locations, ...) of a control, unless it is opened in the control editor.

Ways to open the control editor

There are severals ways to open the control editor:

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

Invalid control error

An Invalid Control button appears on the menu bar if the control is invalid. Clicking the Invalid Control button opens the Error list dialog box with further error details.

Editor modes

By default the editor starts in Edit Mode, which provides the same customize options as on a front panel. To change the fundamental parts of a control, the editor must be switched into Customize Mode.

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

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

In Customize Mode, the Control Parts window, new right-click menu options and the Import Picture to Clipboard... options become available.

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.

See also

• Control
• Type Definition
• Strict Type Definition
• CTL 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