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Lesson 1 - Navigating LabVIEW
Lesson 1 - Navigating LabVIEW
Lesson 1 - Navigating LabVIEW
TOPICS
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What You Need to Get Started
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File Locations
Exercises LabVIEW
Root Directory <or>
Solutions Core 1
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Instructional Methods
Demonstration
s
Concept
Quizzes
Exercise
Development
Lecture Topic Exercise
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Getting the Most out of this Course
Ask questions!
Experiment with hands-on exercises to understand the
methods used
Explore solutions
Implementations explore a possible solutionyou may find
a better one
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New User Experienced User Advanced User
LabVIEW Performance
Certifications
Certified LV Associate Certified LabVIEW Certified LabVIEW
Developer Exam Developer Exam Architect Exam
Other Courses
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Course Learning Map
Lesson 3 Lesson 6
Managing File and Hardware
Implementing a VI
Resources
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Course Goals
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Lesson 1
Navigating LabVIEW
TOPICS
A. What Is LabVIEW? F. Searching for Controls, VIs
B. Project Explorer and Functions
C. Parts of a VI G. Selecting a Tool
D. Front Panel H. Dataflow
E. Block Diagram I. Building a Simple VI
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A. What Is LabVIEW?
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What Is LabVIEW?
A graphical programming environment used to develop
sophisticated measurement, test, and control systems.
LabVIEW:
Interfaces with wide
variety of hardware
Scales across different
targets and OSs
Provides built-in
analysis libraries
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LabVIEW Language Characteristics
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B. Project Explorer
Project Explorer Window
Files Types
Project Folders
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Project Explorer
Find, access, and organize
project files
Prevent, detect, and resolve
incorrect links
Deploy or download files to
targets
Manage code for build options
Executables, installers, and zip files
Integrate with source code
control providers
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LabVIEW Files
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Adding Folders to a Project
Virtual folder
Organizes project items and
does not represent files on disk
Auto-populating folder
Adds a directory on disk to the
project
LabVIEW continuously
monitors and updates the
folder according to changes
made in the project and on disk
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C. Parts of a VI
Front Panel
Block Diagram
Icon
Connector Pane
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Parts of a VI
VIs have 3 main components:
Icon/Connector pane
Block diagram
Front panel
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Parts of a VI Front Panel
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Parts of a VI Block Diagram
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Parts of a VI Icon/Connector Pane
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Using the Project Explorer and Starting a VI
DEMONSTRATION
D. Front Panel
Controls and Indicators
Object Styles
Object Types
Boolean
Numeric
String
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Front Panel
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Controls and Indicators
Controls Indicators
Input devices Output devices
Knobs, buttons, slides Graphs, LEDs
Supply data to the block Display data the block diagram
diagram acquires or generates
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Front Panel Object Styles
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Numeric Controls and Indicators
Numeric control
Increment/Decrement buttons
Numeric indicator
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Boolean Controls and Indicators
The Boolean data type represents data that has only two
options, such as True/False or On/Off.
Use Boolean controls and indicators to enter and display
Boolean (TRUE/FALSE) values.
Boolean objects simulate switches, push buttons, and LEDs.
Boolean Boolean
control indicator
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Strings
The string data type is a sequence of ASCII characters .
Use string controls to receive text from the user, such as a
password or user name.
Use string indicators to display text to the user.
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E. Block Diagram
Terminals
Nodes
Wires
Context Help
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Block Diagram
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Block Diagram
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Terminals
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Terminals for Front Panel Objects
Terminals are:
Entry and exit ports that exchange information between the
front panel and block diagram.
Analogous to parameters in text-based programming
languages.
Double-click a terminal to locate the corresponding front
panel object.
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View Terminals as Icons
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Nodes
Nodes are objects on the block diagram that have inputs
and/or outputs and perform operations when a VI runs.
Nodes
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Function Nodes
Functions are:
Fundamental operating elements of LabVIEW.
Do not have front panels or block diagrams, but do have
connector panes.
Has a pale yellow background on its icon.
Double-clicking a function only selects the function.
Functions do not open like VIs and subVIs.
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SubVI Nodes
SubVIs :
Are VIs that you use on the block diagram of another VI.
Have front panels and block diagrams.
Use the icon from the upper-right corner of the front panel as
the icon that appears when you place the subVI on a block
diagram.
When you double-click a subVI, the front panel and block
diagram open.
Any VI has the potential to be used as a subVI.
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Express VIs
Express VIs:
Are a special type of subVI.
Require minimal wiring because you configure them
with dialog boxes.
Save each configuration as a subVI.
Icons for Express VIs appear on the block diagram
as icons surrounded by a blue field.
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Node View Options
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Wires
Wires transfer data between block diagram objects.
Wires are different colors, styles, and thicknesses,
depending on their data types.
A broken wire appears as a dashed
black line with a red X in the middle.
Scalar
1-D Array
2-D Array
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Context Help
Displays basic information
about wires and nodes when
you move the cursor over an
object.
Can be shown or hidden in
the following ways.
Select HelpShow Context
Help from the LabVIEW menu.
Press <Ctrl-H>.
Click the following button on the
toolbar:
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LabVIEW Help
Contains detailed descriptions and instructions for most
palettes, menus, tools, VIs, and functions.
Can be accessed by:
Selecting Help
LabVIEW Help from the
menu.
Clicking the Detailed help
link in the
Context Help window.
Right-clicking an object
and selecting Help from
the shortcut menu.
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Examples
LabVIEW includes
hundreds of example
VIs.
Use NI Example Finder
to browse and search
installed examples.
Select HelpFind
Examples in the menu.
Click the example buttons in LabVIEW Help topics.
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Group Exercise 1-1
Concept: Exploring a VI
DISCUSSION
F. Searching for Controls, VIs, and
Functions
Palettes
Quick Drop
NI Global Search
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Searching for Controls, VIs, and Functions
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Controls Palette
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Functions Palette
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Searching with Quick Drop
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Global Search
Use the Search bar in the top right of the front panel and block
diagram windows to search palettes, LabVIEW Help, and
ni.com.
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Search for Controls, VIs, and Functions
DEMONSTRATION
Exercise 1-2
Concept: Locating Controls, Functions, and VIs
DISCUSSION
G. Selecting a Tool
Selecting a Tool
Block Diagram Clean-Up
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Selecting a Tool
A tool is a special operating mode of the
mouse cursor.
Create, modify, and debug VIs using the
tools provided by LabVIEW.
By default, LabVIEW automatically selects
tools based on the context of the cursor.
If you need more control, use the Tools
palette to select a specific tool.
Select ViewTools Palette to open the
Tools palette.
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Wiring Tips
Press <Ctrl-B> to delete all broken wires.
Right-click and select Clean Up Wire to reroute the wire.
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Wiring Tips Clean Up Diagram
Use the Clean Up Diagram tool to reroute multiple wires and
objects and to improve readability.
1. Select a section of your block diagram.
2. Click the Clean Up Diagram button on the block diagram
toolbar.
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Cloning and Moving Items
Clone an object in LabVIEW using the following steps:
1. Select the Positioning tool.
2. Press the <Ctrl> key while clicking an object.
3. Drag the copy to new location.
Move an object using the following steps:
1. Select the Positioning tool.
2. Click and drag the object to new location.
Note: Avoid cutting and pasting objects as this can impact related items.
For example, cutting and pasting a block diagram terminal also moves the
front panel object.
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Selecting, Editing, Resizing and Wiring
DEMONSTRATION
Exercise 1-3
Concept: Selecting a Tool
DISCUSSION
H. Dataflow
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Dataflow
LabVIEW follows a dataflow model for running VIs.
A node executes only when data are available at all of its
required input terminals.
A node supplies data to the output terminals only when the
node finishes execution.
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Dataflow Quiz
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Dataflow Quiz Answers
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Group Exercise 1-4
Concept: Dataflow
GOAL
Group Exercise 1-4
Concept: Dataflow
DISCUSSION
Group Exercise 1-4
Concept: Dataflow
DISCUSSION
Group Exercise 1-4
Concept: Dataflow
DISCUSSION
Group Exercise 1-4
Concept: Dataflow
DISCUSSION
I. Building a Simple VI
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Building a Simple VI
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Acquire Express VIs
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Analyze Express VIs
Statistics Express VI
Filter Express VI
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Present Express VIs and Indicators
Display Message Express VI
Report Express VI
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Building and Running a VI
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Exercise 1-5, Part A Group Exercise
Simple Acquire, Analyze, and Present Design
Scenario:
Acquire a sine waveform 0.1 seconds.
Determine the average value of the waveform.
Log the data.
Display the data to a graph.
GOAL
Exercise 1-5, Part A Group Exercise
Simple Acquire, Analyze, and Present Design
DISCUSSION
Exercise 1-5, Part A Group Exercise
Simple Acquire, Analyze, and Present Design
DISCUSSION
Exercise 1-5, Part B
Simple Acquire, Analyze, and Present VI
How do you determine the file path of the generated text file?
DISCUSSION
SummaryQuiz
1. Which function executes first:
Add or Subtract?
a) Add
b) Subtract
c) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz Answer
1. Which function executes first:
Add or Subtract?
a) Add
b) Subtract
c) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz
2. Which function executes first:
Sine or Divide?
a) Sine
b) Divide
c) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz Answer
2. Which function executes first:
Sine or Divide?
a) Sine
b) Divide
c) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz
3. Which of the following
functions executes first:
Random Number, Add or
Divide?
a) Random Number
b) Divide
c) Add
d) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz Answer
3. Which of the following
functions executes first:
Random Number, Add or
Divide?
a) Random Number
b) Divide
c) Add
d) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz
4. Which of the following
functions executes last:
Random Number, Subtract or
Add?
a) Random Number
b) Subtract
c) Add
d) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz Answer
4. Which of the following
functions executes last:
Random Number, Subtract or
Add?
a) Random Number
b) Subtract
c) Add
d) Unknown
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SummaryQuiz
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SummaryQuiz Answer
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