File or directory path that describes the location relative to the top level of the file system.
Active Window
Window that is currently set to accept user input, usually the frontmost window. The title bar of an active window is highlighted. You make a window active by clicking on it, or by selecting it from the Windows menu.
ActiveX
A framework from Microsoft that allows Windows applications to communicate with one another and to embed user interface components from one application into another. See also .NET.
A/D
Analog-to-digital conversion. Refers to the operation electronic circuitry does to take a real-world analog signal and convert it to a digital form (as a series of bits) that the computer can understand.
ADC
See A/D.
alignment grid
Grid lines that can be shown on the front panel and block diagram windows, which allow easy alignment of objects, at edit-time.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute.
apple events
A framework from Apple that allows Mac OS X (and earlier versions of Mac OS) applications to communicate with each other and with the operating system.
application builder
A component of LabVIEW that allows building stand-alone, executable applications. See also Build Specification.
array
Ordered, indexed set of data elements of the same type.
array shell
Front panel object that houses an array. It consists of an index display, a data object window, and an optional label. It can accept various data types.
artificial data dependency
Condition in a dataflow programming language in which the arrival of data, rather than its value, triggers execution of a node.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Refers to a seven-bit encoding scheme for alphanumeric characters.
asynchronous execution
Mode in which multiple processes share processor time. For example, one process executes while others wait for interrupts during device I/O or while waiting for a clock tick.
auto-indexing
Capability of loop structures to disassemble and assemble arrays at their borders. As an array enters a loop with auto-indexing enabled, the loop automatically disassembles it with scalars extracted from one-dimensional arrays, one-dimensional arrays extracted from two-dimensional arrays, and so on. Loops assemble data into arrays as they exit the loop according to the reverse of the same procedure.
automatic error handling
A LabVIEW feature that captures errors and displays a dialog, if an error occurs inside a subVI or function whose error cluster output is unwired on the block diagram.
automatic tool selection
If automatic tool selection is enabled and you move the cursor over objects on the front panel or block diagram, LabVIEW automatically selects the corresponding tool from the Tools palette.
automatic wire routing
If automatic wire routing is enabled, LabVIEW automatically tries to determine a route for a wire as you connect it to a terminal or node.
autoscaling
Ability of scales to adjust to the range of plotted values. On graph scales, this feature determines maximum and minimum scale values as well.
autosizing
Automatic resizing of labels to accommodate text that you enter.
autotool
See Automatic Tool Selection.
auto wiring
If auto wiring is enabled, LabVIEW will automatically wire block diagram objects that are placed in close proximity to each other, if they have inputs and outputs of that same type.
