Wrap It Up


Wrap It Up!

This chapter gave you some instructions on the art of graphical programming. We looked first at the front panel end: suggestions, guidelines, and reasons for making an exciting graphical user interface (GUI). Second, we focused on the block diagramprogramming solutions, performance, memory, and style.

Creating a good GUI is important for "selling" your program to your customer or your boss, as well as making it much easier to use. LabVIEW's "art" enhancements include decoration modules, align and distribution commands, and layered objects.

Custom controls and indicators can add value to your GUI by providing graphical simulation and animation tools. The Control Editor lets you modify standard LabVIEW controls and indicators and import picture files to represent the new objects.

The Help window is not just for you, the programmer. The end user can use the Help window to examine front panel object's descriptions. You can open or close the Help window programmatically.

Many common questions and problems arise when you are programming in LabVIEW. Some of the solutions were discussed in this chapter. You can find more ideas to solve your specific problem by consulting the LabVIEW Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (http://labviewfaq.org) and the resources listed in Appendix E, "Resources for LabVIEW."

When you need to improve the speed and/or memory performance of LabVIEW, follow the guidelines discussed in this chapter. Watch out always for unnecessary operations inside loops, especially with arrays.

Although for the most part LabVIEW VIs are platform independent, you do need to be aware of a few obstacles that can pop upsuch as DLLs or system-specific functions.

Finally, to be a good LabVIEW programmer, you need to be systematic in making modular VIs that are tested thoroughly. Good documentation is essential to making a quality, maintainable piece of software. Last but not least, learn to use LabVIEW's distinctive hallmark unknown to other languagesdataflowto your advantage.




LabVIEW for Everyone. Graphical Programming Made Easy and Fun
LabVIEW for Everyone: Graphical Programming Made Easy and Fun (3rd Edition)
ISBN: 0131856723
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2006
Pages: 294

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