How to Link Subpalettes to HTML Files or Compiled Help Files in LabVIEW

If you link a subpalette on the Controls and Functions palettes to an HTML file or to a compiled help file, a link to that file appears in the Context Help window when you move the cursor over the subpalette icon or when you move the cursor over an open area of the subpalette.

In this video, we will learn how to link a subpalette to an HTML file or to a compiled help file. We will learn how to call and use the Edit Controls and Functions Palette Set dialog box; how to select Edit Palette Documentation option from the shortcut menu to display the Palette Documentation dialog box; how to navigate to the .chm, .hlp, .htm, or .html file that we want to link to; how to use the help tag section; how to use HTML or chm files as help files; for .chm files, how we can enter a .htm or .html filename or an index keyword in the Help Tag text box; how we can use a link to a bookmark within an HTML file; how we can use .hlp files and an enter an index keyword in the Help Tag text box; how to save changes; where the added help functionality will appear and how to use it.

How to add block diagram / front panel of a VI from the palettes in LabVIEW

In this video we will learn how we can add VIs or Functions to the Functions Palette in such a way that we can then place the block diagram contents of one VI on the block diagram of another VI straight from the Functions palette instead of calling it as a subVI; we will see how that can be achieved using palette editing using Edit Controls and Functions Palette Set dialog box; how we can insert VIs into the palettes, set it to place its block diagram contents, rather than placing it as a subVI.



We will also learn how we can any VI front panel or custom control to the Controls palette. Unlike adding custom controls, adding VIs allows us to add multiple controls or decorations to the front panel at a time and if the VI also contains a block diagram, the code is also added, instead of it being placed as a subVI.

How to Add VIs and Controls to the User and Instrument Drivers Subpalete...

In this video, we will learn how we add VIs and instrument drivers to user and instrument driver's palettes. We will learn how to prepare VIs and controls for inclusion in the palettes; how and where to place your folders for inclusion in LabVIEW palettes; what user.lib and instr.lib folders can be used for; how to make our palettes inside LabVIEW palettes; how to refresh palettes without relaunching LabVIEW by using edit palette set dialog; where and how our palettes appear; how we can use our VIs, controls from within our newly added palettes; how to remove these palettes, if no longer needed; lastly we will see the disadvantages of using this method, that is, placing objects manually inside Labview palette folders.

13 Quick Drop Keyboard Shortcuts to Make Your LabVIEW Programming a Snap

Quick drop is an awesome tool for searching for LabVIEW functions and controls, but it has these 13 gems hidden underneath your keyboard waiting to be discovered. Learn how you can make a tedious, repetitive programming task a breeze.



Ctrl-D - Creates controls and indicators for all unwired inputs and outputs of the selected block diagram object(s).

Ctrl-Shift-D - Creates constants for all unwired inputs of the selected block diagram object(s).

Ctrl-F - On the front panel, arranges controls and indicators to be consistent with the connector pane arrangement and resizes and moves the front panel to a consistent top-left location on the primary monitor.

On the block diagram, scrolls the block diagram to a reasonable location relative to the top-most and/or left-most block diagram object, and resizes and moves the block diagram to a consistent top-left location on the primary monitor.

Ctrl-W - Wires a row or multiple parallel rows of selected block diagram objects.

Ctrl-Shift-W - Wires a row or multiple parallel rows of selected block diagram objects and cleans up the selected objects.

Ctrl-R - Removes the selected block diagram object(s) and any wires and constants connected to the selected object(s), and connects wires of identical data types that were wired to the inputs and outputs of the deleted object(s).

Ctrl-T - Repositions the visible labels and captions of top-level front panel and block diagram objects to match the Default label position you specify in the Options dialog box.

You also can select multiple objects on the block diagram, display the Quick Drop dialog box, and press (Ctrl-T) to move the labels of only the selected objects.

Ctrl-Shift-T - Repositions the visible labels and captions of top-level front panel and block diagram objects, including terminals contained in subdiagrams, to match the Default label position you specify in the Options dialog box.

Ctrl-P - Replaces the selected front panel or block diagram object(s) with the object you select in the Quick Drop dialog box.

Ctrl-I - Inserts the object you select in the Quick Drop dialog box on the selected wire(s) on the block diagram.

Ctrl-Shift-I - Inserts a single instance of the object you select in the Quick Drop dialog box on multiple selected wires.

Ctrl-B - Changes the VI Server class of the selected Property Node(s), Invoke Node(s), and/or class specifier constant(s) to the class you enter in the Quick Drop window.

Ctrl-Shift-B - Changes the property or method of the selected Property Node(s) or Invoke Node(s), respectively, to the property or method name you enter in the Quick Drop window.

12 Keyboard Shortcuts for Making Wiring Easier in LabVIEW

In this video, we will learn how to use 12 useful keyboard shortcuts that will help you with wiring tasks in LabVIEW. Below is the list of shortcuts that I will be demonstrating in the video.



Ctrl-B - Deletes all broken wires in a VI. If you select a structure or area of the block diagram with broken wires, this shortcut deletes the broken wires in only the selected area.

Esc, right-click, or click terminal - While wiring, cancels a wire you started.

Single-click wire - Selects one segment.

Double-click wire - Selects a branch.

Triple-click wire - Selects the entire wire.

A - While wiring, temporarily disables automatic wire routing.

W - While wiring, toggles automatic wire connectivity when an object moving in and out of a structure is connected to an object in the structure.

Double-click - While wiring, tacks down wire without connecting it.

Spacebar - While wiring, switches the direction of the wire between horizontal and vertical.

Spacebar - While moving objects, toggles automatic wiring.

Shift-click - Undoes the last point where you set a wire.

Ctrl-click input on function with two inputs - Switches the two input wires.

How to use Navigation Window in LabVIEW

In this video, we will learn what the navigation window is and how to use it. We will see how to launch it, what its keyboard shortcut is; how to recognize the visible parts of block diagram or front panel in the navigation window and how to recognize the parts that are currently offscreen but can be navigated to from within the navigation window; how to navigate to currently off-screen parts of VI.

How to use Context Help in LabVIEW

In this video we will learn what context help is and how to use it; how to invoke it; how context help display is arranged; how context help window shows required, recommended and optional VI inputs and what they mean; how we can access detailed LabVIEW help from within context help; how to turn on or off the detailed view option; how to lock the context help window onto an object of choice (usually it dynamically updates its contents based on what lies underneath the mouse cursor).

How to use and set Shortcut Menus and Keyboard Shortcuts in LabVIEW

In this video, we will see LabVIEW's menus and their equivalent keyboard shortcuts. Another type of menu is known by various names, such as pop-up menus, context menus, shortcut menus or right-click menus. We will see how LabVIEW handles right-click menus when you select more than one element. Further, we will see where keyboard shortcuts are located and how they may be changed, or new keyboard shortcuts assigned to commands that don't already have an associated shortcut and how to restore the default shortcuts, should you need to.

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