Editing, Execution, and Debugging Tools

The VI toolbar contains the following tools. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for information about other tools
on toolbars.

Show Context Help Window—Displays the Step Into—Opens a node and pauses. TM
Context Help window.

Run—Runs the VI. Step Over—Executes a node and pauses at the

LabVIEW Quick Reference Card
next node.
Broken Run—Indicates that the VI contains errors. Step Out—Finishes executing the current node
Click the button to list errors. and pauses. LabVIEW Documentation Resources
Run Continuously—Runs the VI until you abort Text Settings—Changes the
or pause execution. font settings for the VI. Context Help
Abort Execution—Aborts execution of the Align Objects—Aligns objects along axes. When you move the cursor over LabVIEW objects, the Context Help window
top-level VI. displays basic information about each object. Select Help»Show Context
Pause—Pauses or resumes execution. Distribute Objects—Spaces objects evenly. Help to display the Context Help window.
Highlight Execution—Displays an animation of
the block diagram when you click the Run button.
Resize Objects—Resizes multiple front panel objects
to the same size.
LabVIEW Help
Includes information about LabVIEW programming concepts, step-by-step
Retain Wire Values—Saves data values that Reorder—Reorders objects if they overlap, including
pass through wires during VI execution. moving forward and moving backward. instructions for using LabVIEW, and reference information about LabVIEW VIs,
functions, palettes, menus, and tools. Access the LabVIEW Help by selecting
The Tools palette contains the following tools. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for information about other tools Help»Search the LabVIEW Help.
on the Tools palette.
Breakpoint Tool—Sets breakpoints on nodes and wires
to pause execution at that location.
Probe Tool—Creates probes on wires to display
intermediate values in a running VI.
LabVIEW Examples
LabVIEW searches among hundreds of example VIs you can use and
Data Type Terminals incorporate into VIs that you create. You can modify an example VI to
Boolean Waveform
fit an application, or you can copy and paste from one or more examples
Signed integers 8-bit
(0) (FALSE) into a VI that you create. Browse or search the example VIs by selecting
16-bit
String Digital
Help»Find Examples. You also can right-click a VI or function on the
32-bit
(empty string) waveform block diagram or on a pinned palette and select Examples from the
64-bit
Path Digital shortcut menu to display a help topic with links to examples for that
Unsigned integers 8-bit (<Not A Path>) VI or function.
(0)
16-bit Reference I/O name
32-bit
number
LabVIEW Web Resources
64-bit Enumerated Variant
type Includes a list of links to online National Instruments resources. Select
Floating-point Single Cluster Numeric Dynamic Help»Web Resources to access the LabVIEW resources at ni.com.
(0.0)
Double
Mixed data
Resources available to you include the following:
Extended Picture

Complex Array
Products and Services Support
Single 1D
floating-point Time stamp · Upgrades · LabVIEW support
(0.0 + i0.0) Double 2D
Extended
(12:00 a.m., · Training courses · Product documentation
1/1/1904,
Universal Time) · Seminars and user groups
Note Default values appear in parentheses ( ). NI Developer Zone
Solutions · Discussion forums
National Instruments, NI, ni.com, and LabVIEW are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the
Terms of Use section on ni.com/legal for more information about National Instruments trademarks. Other product
· Industry solutions · Example VIs
and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. For patents covering · Customer solutions
National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file
on your CD, or ni.com/patents. For a listing of the copyrights, conditions, and disclaimers regarding components used in
USI (Xerces C++, ICU, and HDF5), refer to the USICopyrights.chm.

© 1997–2005 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. Printed in Ireland.

*321353E-01*
321353E-01 Aug05 ni.com/labviewzone
Keyboard Shortcuts
You also can access this list of keyboard shortcuts in the LabVIEW Help.
Tools and Palettes Wiring
Ctrl Switches to next most useful tool. Ctrl-B Removes all broken wires.
Objects and Movement Shift Switches to Positioning tool. Esc, right-click, Cancels a wire you started.
Shift-click Selects multiple objects; adds object to current selection. Ctrl-Shift over Switches to Scrolling tool. or click terminal
KLJI (arrow keys) Moves selected objects one pixel at a time. open space
Single-click wire Selects one segment.
Shift-KLJI Moves selected objects several pixels at a time. Spacebar † Toggles between two most common Double-click wire Selects a branch.
Shift-click (drag) Moves selected objects in one axis. tools. Triple-click wire Selects entire wire.
Ctrl-click (drag) Duplicates selected object. Shift-Tab † Enables automatic tool selection. A While wiring, disables automatic wire
Ctrl-Shift-click (drag) Duplicates selected object and moves it in one axis. Tab † Cycles through four most common tools if routing temporarily.
you disabled automatic tool selection by Double-click Tacks down wire without connecting it.
Shift-resize Resizes selected object while maintaining aspect ratio. clicking the Automatic Tool Selection
Ctrl-resize Resizes selected object while maintaining center point. (while wiring)
button. Otherwise, enables automatic spacebar Toggles automatic wiring while
Ctrl-drag a rectangle Inserts more working space on the front panel or block diagram. tool selection. moving objects.
Ctrl-A Selects all items on the front panel or block diagram. KLJI Navigates temporary Controls and Shift-click Undoes last point where you set a wire.
Functions palettes.
Ctrl-Shift-A Performs last alignment operation on objects. Ctrl-click input on Switches the two input wires.
Enter Navigates into a temporary palette.
Ctrl-D Performs last distribution operation on objects. function with
Esc Navigates out of a temporary palette.
two inputs
Double-click open space Places a free label on the front panel or block diagram if automatic tool selection is enabled. Shift-right-click Displays a temporary version of the Tools
palette at the location of the cursor. spacebar Switches the direction of a wire
Ctrl-mouse wheel Scrolls through subdiagrams of a Case, Event, or Stacked Sequence structure. between horizontal and vertical.
† If automatic tool selection is disabled

Navigating Front Panels Debugging Text

and Block Diagrams SubVIs
Ctrl-L Steps into node. Double-click Selects a single word in a string.
Ctrl-E Displays block diagram or front panel. Ctrl-J Steps over node. Double-click Displays subVI front panel. Triple-click Selects an entire string.
Ctrl-# Enables or disables grid alignment. Ctrl-K Steps out of node. subVI
Ctrl-double-click Displays subVI block diagram and front Ctrl-J Moves forward in string by one word.
On French keyboards, press the Ctrl-I Moves backward in string by one word.
<Ctrl-"> keys. (Mac OS) Press the subVI panel.
Home Moves to beginning of current line
<Command-*> keys. in string.
Ctrl-/ Maximizes and restores window. File Operations Drag VI icon to Places that VI as a subVI on the End Moves to end of current line in string.
Ctrl-T Tiles front panel and block diagram Ctrl-N Creates a new VI. block diagram block diagram. Ctrl-Home Moves to beginning of entire string.
windows. Ctrl-O Opens an existing VI. Ctrl-End Moves to end of entire string.
Shift-drag VI Places that VI as a subVI on the
Ctrl-F Finds objects or text. Ctrl-W Closes the VI. Shift-Enter Adds new items when entering items
icon to block block diagram with constants
Ctrl-G Searches VIs for next instance of object Ctrl-S Saves the VI. in enumerated type controls and
diagram wired for controls that have
or text. Ctrl-P Prints the window. constants, ring controls and
non-default values.
Ctrl-Shift-G Searches VIs for previous instance of Ctrl-Q Quits LabVIEW. constants, or Case structures.
object or text. Ctrl-right-click Opens front panel of that VI.
Esc Cancels current edit in a string.
Ctrl-Shift-F Displays the Search Results window. block diagram
Ctrl-Enter Ends text entry.
Ctrl-Tab Cycles through LabVIEW windows. and select VI
Ctrl-Shift-Tab Cycles the opposite direction through Basic Editing from palette Ctrl-= Increases the current font size.
Ctrl-- Decreases the current font size.
LabVIEW windows. Ctrl-Z Undoes last action.
Ctrl-Shift-Z Redoes last action. Ctrl-0 Displays the Font dialog box.
Ctrl-Shift-N Displays the Navigation window. †
Ctrl-X Cuts an object. Ctrl-1 Changes to the Application font.
Ctrl-I Displays the VI Properties dialog box. Execution
Ctrl-C Copies an object. Ctrl-2 † Changes to the System font.
Ctrl-L Displays the Error list window. Ctrl-3 † Changes to the Dialog font.
Ctrl-V Pastes an object. Ctrl-R Runs the VI.
Ctrl-Y Displays the History window. Ctrl-. † Stops the VI. Ctrl-4 † Changes to the current font.
Ctrl-M Changes to run or edit mode. † In the Font dialog box
Ctrl-Run button Recompiles the current VI.
Help Recompiles all VIs in memory.
Navigating the Ctrl-Shift-Run
Ctrl-H Displays the Context Help window. button
VI Hierarchy Window
Ctrl-Shift-L Locks the Context Help window. Ctrl-L † Moves key focus inside an array or
Ctrl-D Redraws the window. Ctrl-? or F1 Displays the LabVIEW Help. cluster.
Ctrl-A Shows all VIs in the window. Ctrl-K † Moves key focus outside an array
Ctrl-click VI Displays the subVIs and other nodes that or cluster.
make up the VI you select in the window. Tab † Navigates the controls or indicators
Enter † Finds the next node that matches the according to tabbing order.
search string. Navigates backward through the
Shift-Tab †
Shift-Enter † Finds the previous node that matches the controls or indicators.
search string. † While the VI is running

† After initiating a search by typing in the VI Hierarchy window

Note The <Ctrl> key in these shortcuts corresponds to the (Mac OS) <Option> or <Command> key or (Linux) <Alt> key.

ni.com/labviewzone ni.com/labviewzone
Keyboard Shortcuts
You also can access this list of keyboard shortcuts in the LabVIEW Help.
Tools and Palettes Wiring
Ctrl Switches to next most useful tool. Ctrl-B Removes all broken wires.
Objects and Movement Shift Switches to Positioning tool. Esc, right-click, Cancels a wire you started.
Shift-click Selects multiple objects; adds object to current selection. Ctrl-Shift over Switches to Scrolling tool. or click terminal
KLJI (arrow keys) Moves selected objects one pixel at a time. open space
Single-click wire Selects one segment.
Shift-KLJI Moves selected objects several pixels at a time. Spacebar † Toggles between two most common Double-click wire Selects a branch.
Shift-click (drag) Moves selected objects in one axis. tools. Triple-click wire Selects entire wire.
Ctrl-click (drag) Duplicates selected object. Shift-Tab † Enables automatic tool selection. A While wiring, disables automatic wire
Ctrl-Shift-click (drag) Duplicates selected object and moves it in one axis. Tab † Cycles through four most common tools if routing temporarily.
you disabled automatic tool selection by Double-click Tacks down wire without connecting it.
Shift-resize Resizes selected object while maintaining aspect ratio. clicking the Automatic Tool Selection
Ctrl-resize Resizes selected object while maintaining center point. (while wiring)
button. Otherwise, enables automatic spacebar Toggles automatic wiring while
Ctrl-drag a rectangle Inserts more working space on the front panel or block diagram. tool selection. moving objects.
Ctrl-A Selects all items on the front panel or block diagram. KLJI Navigates temporary Controls and Shift-click Undoes last point where you set a wire.
Functions palettes.
Ctrl-Shift-A Performs last alignment operation on objects. Ctrl-click input on Switches the two input wires.
Enter Navigates into a temporary palette.
Ctrl-D Performs last distribution operation on objects. function with
Esc Navigates out of a temporary palette.
two inputs
Double-click open space Places a free label on the front panel or block diagram if automatic tool selection is enabled. Shift-right-click Displays a temporary version of the Tools
palette at the location of the cursor. spacebar Switches the direction of a wire
Ctrl-mouse wheel Scrolls through subdiagrams of a Case, Event, or Stacked Sequence structure. between horizontal and vertical.
† If automatic tool selection is disabled

Navigating Front Panels Debugging Text

and Block Diagrams SubVIs
Ctrl-L Steps into node. Double-click Selects a single word in a string.
Ctrl-E Displays block diagram or front panel. Ctrl-J Steps over node. Double-click Displays subVI front panel. Triple-click Selects an entire string.
Ctrl-# Enables or disables grid alignment. Ctrl-K Steps out of node. subVI
Ctrl-J Moves forward in string by one word.
On French keyboards, press the Ctrl-double-click Displays subVI block diagram and front Ctrl-I Moves backward in string by one word.
<Ctrl-"> keys. (Mac OS) Press the subVI panel. Home Moves to beginning of current line
<Command-*> keys. in string.
Ctrl-/ Maximizes and restores window. File Operations Drag VI icon to Places that VI as a subVI on the
End Moves to end of current line in string.
Ctrl-T Tiles front panel and block diagram block diagram block diagram.
Ctrl-N Creates a new VI. Ctrl-Home Moves to beginning of entire string.
windows. Ctrl-O Opens an existing VI. Shift-drag VI Places that VI as a subVI on the Ctrl-End Moves to end of entire string.
Ctrl-F Finds objects or text. Ctrl-W Closes the VI. icon to block block diagram with constants Shift-Enter Adds new items when entering items
Ctrl-G Searches VIs for next instance of object Ctrl-S Saves the VI. diagram wired for controls that have in enumerated type controls and
or text. Ctrl-P Prints the window. non-default values. constants, ring controls and
Ctrl-Shift-G Searches VIs for previous instance of Ctrl-Q Quits LabVIEW. constants, or Case structures.
object or text. Ctrl-right-click Opens front panel of that VI.
block diagram Esc Cancels current edit in a string.
Ctrl-Shift-F Displays the Search Results window.
and select VI Ctrl-Enter Ends text entry.
Ctrl-Tab Cycles through LabVIEW windows. from palette
Ctrl-Shift-Tab Cycles the opposite direction through Basic Editing Ctrl-= Increases the current font size.
Ctrl-- Decreases the current font size.
LabVIEW windows. Ctrl-Z Undoes last action.
Ctrl-Shift-Z Redoes last action. Ctrl-0 Displays the Font dialog box.
Ctrl-Shift-N Displays the Navigation window. †
Ctrl-X Cuts an object. Ctrl-1 Changes to the Application font.
Ctrl-I Displays the VI Properties dialog box. Execution
Ctrl-C Copies an object. Ctrl-2 † Changes to the System font.
Ctrl-L Displays the Error list window. Ctrl-3 † Changes to the Dialog font.
Ctrl-V Pastes an object. Ctrl-R Runs the VI.
Ctrl-Y Displays the History window. Ctrl-. † Stops the VI. Ctrl-4 † Changes to the current font.
Ctrl-M Changes to run or edit mode. † In the Font dialog box
Ctrl-Run button Recompiles the current VI.
Help Recompiles all VIs in memory.
Navigating the Ctrl-Shift-Run
Ctrl-H Displays the Context Help window. button
VI Hierarchy Window
Ctrl-Shift-L Locks the Context Help window. Ctrl-L † Moves key focus inside an array or
Ctrl-D Redraws the window. Ctrl-? or F1 Displays the LabVIEW Help. cluster.
Ctrl-A Shows all VIs in the window. Ctrl-K † Moves key focus outside an array
Ctrl-click VI Displays the subVIs and other nodes that or cluster.
make up the VI you select in the window. Tab † Navigates the controls or indicators
Enter † Finds the next node that matches the according to tabbing order.
search string. Navigates backward through the
Shift-Tab †
Shift-Enter † Finds the previous node that matches the controls or indicators.
search string. † While the VI is running

† After initiating a search by typing in the VI Hierarchy window

Note The <Ctrl> key in these shortcuts corresponds to the (Mac OS) <Option> or <Command> key or (Linux) <Alt> key.

ni.com/labviewzone ni.com/labviewzone
Editing, Execution, and Debugging Tools
The VI toolbar contains the following tools. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for information about other tools
on toolbars.

Show Context Help Window—Displays the Step Into—Opens a node and pauses. TM
Context Help window.

Run—Runs the VI. Step Over—Executes a node and pauses at the

LabVIEW Quick Reference Card
next node.
Broken Run—Indicates that the VI contains errors. Step Out—Finishes executing the current node
Click the button to list errors. and pauses. LabVIEW Documentation Resources
Run Continuously—Runs the VI until you abort Text Settings—Changes the
or pause execution. font settings for the VI. Context Help
Abort Execution—Aborts execution of the Align Objects—Aligns objects along axes. When you move the cursor over LabVIEW objects, the Context Help window
top-level VI. displays basic information about each object. Select Help»Show Context
Pause—Pauses or resumes execution. Distribute Objects—Spaces objects evenly. Help to display the Context Help window.
Highlight Execution—Displays an animation of
the block diagram when you click the Run button.
Resize Objects—Resizes multiple front panel objects
to the same size.
LabVIEW Help
Includes information about LabVIEW programming concepts, step-by-step
Retain Wire Values—Saves data values that Reorder—Reorders objects if they overlap, including
pass through wires during VI execution. moving forward and moving backward. instructions for using LabVIEW, and reference information about LabVIEW VIs,
functions, palettes, menus, and tools. Access the LabVIEW Help by selecting
The Tools palette contains the following tools. Refer to the LabVIEW Help for information about other tools Help»Search the LabVIEW Help.
on the Tools palette.
Breakpoint Tool—Sets breakpoints on nodes and wires
to pause execution at that location.
Probe Tool—Creates probes on wires to display
intermediate values in a running VI.
LabVIEW Examples
LabVIEW searches among hundreds of example VIs you can use and
Data Type Terminals incorporate into VIs that you create. You can modify an example VI to
Boolean Waveform
fit an application, or you can copy and paste from one or more examples
Signed integers 8-bit
(0) (FALSE) into a VI that you create. Browse or search the example VIs by selecting
16-bit
String Digital
Help»Find Examples. You also can right-click a VI or function on the
32-bit
(empty string) waveform block diagram or on a pinned palette and select Examples from the
64-bit
Path Digital shortcut menu to display a help topic with links to examples for that
Unsigned integers 8-bit (<Not A Path>) VI or function.
(0)
16-bit Reference I/O name
32-bit
number
LabVIEW Web Resources
64-bit Enumerated Variant
type Includes a list of links to online National Instruments resources. Select
Floating-point Single Cluster Numeric Dynamic Help»Web Resources to access the LabVIEW resources at ni.com.
(0.0)
Double
Mixed data
Resources available to you include the following:
Extended Picture

Complex Array
Products and Services Support
Single 1D
floating-point Time stamp · Upgrades · LabVIEW support
(0.0 + i0.0) Double 2D
Extended
(12:00 a.m., · Training courses · Product documentation
1/1/1904,
Universal Time) · Seminars and user groups
Note Default values appear in parentheses ( ). NI Developer Zone
Solutions · Discussion forums
National Instruments, NI, ni.com, and LabVIEW are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Refer to the
Terms of Use section on ni.com/legal for more information about National Instruments trademarks. Other product
· Industry solutions · Example VIs
and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. For patents covering
National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file
· Customer solutions
on your CD, or ni.com/patents. For a listing of the copyrights, conditions, and disclaimers regarding components used in
USI (Xerces C++, ICU, and HDF5), refer to the USICopyrights.chm.

© 1997–2005 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. 373353A-01 Aug05 ni.com/labviewzone