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Developing Modular Applications

Complete the exercise in this lesson to reinforce the concepts you learn in Lesson 4 of LabVIEW Core 1.

Exercises
Exercise 4-1

LabVIEW Core 1 Exercises

Temperature Warnings VIAs SubVI

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| 4-1

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Goal

Temperature Warnings VIAs SubVI

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Exercise 4-1

Create the icon and connector pane for a VI so that you can use the VI as a subVI.

Scenario

You have created a VI that determines a warning string based on the inputs given. Create an icon and a connector pane so that you can use this VI as a subVI.

Design

The Temperature Warnings VI contains the following inputs and outputs:

Table 4-1. Temperature Warnings VI Inputs and Outputs

Inputs

Current Temperature
Max Temperature
Min Temperature
Error In

Outputs

Warning Text
Warning?

Error Out

Use the standard connector pane terminal pattern to assure room for future expansion.

Implementation

1. Open Weather Warnings.lvproj in the <Exercises>\LabVIEW Core 1\Weather Warnings directory.

2. Open Temperature Warnings VI from the Project Explorer window. You created the Temperature Warnings VI in Exercise 3-1 and modified it in
Exercise 3-6.

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Lesson 4

Developing Modular Applications

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3. Connect the inputs and outputs to the connector pane as shown in Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1. Connector Pane Connections for Temperature Warnings VI

Connector PaneLocated in the upper right corner of the VI window, the connector pane displays potential terminals for the VI. The connector pane shown here
displays the standard pattern of terminals. You can right-click the connector pane and select Patterns to choose different terminal designs.

ConnectionsThe Context Help window displays the connections for the VI.

Using the Wiring tool, click the upper-left terminal of the connector pane.
Click the corresponding front panel control, Current Temperature.

Notice that the connector pane terminal fills in with a color to match the data type of the control connected to it.

Click the connector pane terminal below the Current Temperature terminal.
Click the corresponding front panel control, Max Temperature.

Continue wiring the connector pane until all controls and indicators are wired, and the Context Help window matches that shown in Figure 4-1.

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4. Create an icon.

Right-click the icon and select Edit Icon.

Use the tools in the Icon Editor dialog box to create an icon. Make the icon as simple or as complex as you want, however, it should be representative of the
function of the VI. Figure 4-2 shows a simple example of an icon for this VI.

Figure 4-2. Sample Warning Icon

Tip Double-click the Selection tool to select the existing graphic. Press the <Delete> key to delete the graphic. Then, double-click the rectangle tool to
automatically create a border for the icon.
Tip

Double-click the Text tool to modify fonts. You can select Small Fonts to choose fonts smaller than 9 points in size.

LabVIEW Core 1 Exercises

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Developing Modular Applications

Tip

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Select the Glyphs tab and filter the glyphs by the keyword warning. Then drag a warning glyph onto your icon.

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Lesson 4

5. Click OK when you are finished to close the Icon Editor dialog box.
6. Save and close the VI.

Test

Test the Temperature Warnings VI as a SubVI.

1. Add files to the Weather Warnings LabVIEW project as shown in Figure 4-3.

Figure 4-3. Weather Warnings Project

Add an auto-populating folder to the Weather Warnings LabVIEW project. LabVIEW continuously monitors auto-populating folders and updates the folder
in the Project Explorer window according to changes made in the project and on disk.

Right-click My Computer in the Weather Warnings project and select AddFolder (Auto-populating) from the shortcut menu.

Navigate to <Exercises>\LabVIEW Core 1\Shared Files and click the Select Folder button.
The Shared Files folder contains shared files that you use in this and future exercises.

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Add SubVI Tester.vi to the project.

Right-click My Computer and select AddFile from the shortcut menu.

Navigate to <Exercises>\LabVIEW Core 1\Weather Warnings\Test VIs\SubVI Tester.vi and click Add File.

2. Open the SubVI Tester VI and complete the block diagram as shown in Figure 4-4.

Figure 4-4. Test SubVI Block Diagram

1

Thermometer (Demo)Locate this VI in the Shared Files folder in the Project Explorer window, drag it to the block diagram and wire it as shown. This VI
generates sample temperature values.

Temperature WarningsBecause of the modifications you made to Temperature Warnings VI, you can use it as a subVI. Wire the Temperature Warnings VI
using the connections you just created.

Enum ConstantRight-click the Units (0:Celsius) input of the Thermometer (Demo) VI and select CreateConstant. Creating the enum constant from the
Thermometer (Demo) VI automatically populates the enum with the appropriate choices. Use the Operating tool to select Celsius.

OrUse the Or function to stop the VI if the user clicks the Stop button or if the Temperature Warnings VI outputs an error in the Error Out cluster.

3. On the front panel of the SubVI Tester VI, enter test values for the Max Temperature and Min Temperature controls.
4. Run the VI.

The Thermometer (Demo) VI generates sample temperatures, which the SubVI Tester VI displays on the Thermometer indicator.

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5. Notice how the string in the Warning Text indicator change as the temperature rises and falls.
6. After you have finished testing, save and close the VI.

End of Exercise 4-1

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