Labview for Everyone: Graphical Programming Made Easy and Fun

Cover......Page 1
Contents......Page 8
About the Authors......Page 30
Preface......Page 32
Acknowledgments......Page 42
 What Exactly Is LabVIEW, and What Can It Do for Me?......Page 44
  How Does LabVIEW Work?......Page 46
  NI Example Finder......Page 51
  Activity 1-1: Temperature System Demo......Page 52
  Activity 1-2: Frequency Response Example......Page 57
  Activity 1-3: More Neat Examples......Page 59
 Using LabVIEW in the Real World......Page 62
 The Evolution of LabVIEW......Page 63
 What Is Data Acquisition?......Page 65
 What Is GPIB?......Page 67
 Communication Using the Serial Port......Page 69
 Real-World Applications: Why We Analyze......Page 70
 A Little Bit About PXI and VXI......Page 73
  Networking......Page 75
  Shared Libraries, DLLs, and CINs......Page 77
 LabVIEW Add-on Toolkits......Page 78
 LabVIEW Real-Time, FPGA, PDA, and Embedded......Page 79
 Wrap It Up!......Page 80
  Controls and Indicators......Page 82
 Block Diagrams......Page 84
  Wires......Page 86
  Dataflow Programming—Going with the Flow......Page 87
  Project Explorer Window......Page 88
  Adding Items to Your Project......Page 89
  Removing Items from a Project......Page 91
  Building Applications, Installers, DLLs, Source Distributions, and Zip Files......Page 92
  More Project Features......Page 93
 SubVIs, the Icon, and the Connector......Page 94
 Activity 3-1: Getting Started......Page 95
 Alignment Grid......Page 104
 Pull-Down Menus......Page 105
  Controls and Functions Palettes......Page 110
  Customizing the Palettes......Page 118
  Tools Palette......Page 119
 The Toolbar......Page 121
 Pop-Up Menus......Page 124
  Pop-Up Menu Features to Keep in Mind......Page 125
  Pop-Up Features Described......Page 126
  The Context Help Window......Page 129
 Express VIs......Page 131
 Displaying SubVIs as Expandable Nodes......Page 133
 Activity 3-2: Front Panel and Block Diagram Basics......Page 135
 Wrap It Up!......Page 140
  Placing Items on the Front Panel......Page 142
  Labeling Items......Page 143
  Editing Techniques......Page 147
 Activity 4-1: Editing Practice......Page 154
 Basic Controls and Indicators and the Fun Stuff They Do......Page 157
  Numeric Controls and Indicators......Page 158
  Booleans......Page 165
  Strings......Page 168
  Summary of Basic Controls and Indicators......Page 170
 Wiring Up......Page 171
  Automatic Wiring......Page 172
  Wiring Complicated Objects......Page 173
  Bad Wires......Page 174
  Wiring Tips......Page 175
  Moving Wires......Page 176
 Running Your VI......Page 177
  Activity 4-2: Building a Thermometer......Page 178
  Examples......Page 181
  Inserting an Object into Existing Wires......Page 182
  Moving an Object in Only One Direction......Page 183
  Configuring Your Preferences......Page 184
 Wrap It Up!......Page 185
  Activity 4-4: Very Simple Calculator......Page 186
 Loading and Saving VIs......Page 188
  Save Options......Page 189
  LLBs......Page 191
  Filter Rings......Page 194
  Fixing a Broken VI......Page 195
  Most Common Mistakes......Page 196
  Execution Highlighting......Page 197
  Suspending Execution......Page 199
  Using the Probe......Page 200
 Activity 5-1: Debugging Challenge......Page 201
 Creating SubVIs......Page 204
  Creating a SubVI from a VI......Page 205
  Relink to SubVI: Changing Connector Panes of SubVIs......Page 213
 Documenting Your Work......Page 214
  Creating Descriptions and Tips for Individual Objects......Page 215
  Documenting VIs in the VI Properties......Page 216
 A Little About Printing......Page 218
 Activity 5-2: Creating SubVIs—Practice Makes Perfect......Page 219
 Wrap It Up!......Page 222
  Activity 5-3: Find the Average......Page 223
  Activity 5-4: Divide by Zero (Who Says You Can't?)......Page 224
  The For Loop......Page 226
  The While Loop......Page 227
  Placing Objects Inside Structures......Page 228
  Activity 6-1: Counting the Loops......Page 231
 Shift Registers......Page 236
  Activity 6-2: Shift Register Example......Page 238
  Why You Need Shift Registers......Page 240
  Initializing Shift Registers......Page 241
  The Feedback Node......Page 242
  Converting Tunnels to Shift Registers (and Vice Versa)......Page 244
 The Case Structure......Page 245
  Adding Cases......Page 247
 Dialogs......Page 248
  Activity 6-3: Square Roots......Page 254
  The Select Function......Page 256
 The Sequence Structure—Flat or Stacked......Page 257
  Stacked Sequence Structures and Sequence Locals Are Evil......Page 258
 Timing......Page 261
  Activity 6-4: Matching Numbers......Page 262
  Express Timing Functions......Page 264
 The Timed Structures......Page 265
  The Timed Loop......Page 266
  The Timed Structure VIs......Page 267
 The Formula Node......Page 269
  Activity 6-5: Formula Fun......Page 272
 The Expression Node......Page 274
  The Main Loop......Page 275
  Handling Multiple Work Items in a While Loop......Page 276
 Wrap It Up!......Page 280
  Activity 6-7: Calculator......Page 282
  Activity 6-8: Combination For/While Loop Challenge......Page 283
  Activity 6-9: Dialog Display......Page 284
 What Are Arrays?......Page 286
 Creating Array Controls and Indicators......Page 287
  Array Scrollbars......Page 289
 Using Auto-Indexing......Page 290
 Two-Dimensional Arrays......Page 292
  Creating Two-Dimensional Arrays......Page 293
 Activity 7-1: Building Arrays with Auto-Indexing......Page 294
 Functions for Manipulating Arrays......Page 296
 Activity 7-2: Array Acrobatics......Page 301
 Polymorphism......Page 303
 Activity 7-3: Polymorphism......Page 305
 Compound Arithmetic......Page 307
  A Word About Boolean Arithmetic......Page 310
 All About Clusters......Page 311
  Creating Cluster Controls and Indicators......Page 312
  Cluster Order......Page 313
  Using Clusters to Pass Data to and from SubVIs......Page 314
  Replacing a Cluster Element......Page 315
  Unbundling Your Clusters......Page 316
  Activity 7-4: Cluster Practice......Page 317
  Bundling and Unbundling by Name......Page 319
  Activity 7-5: More Fun with Clusters......Page 321
 Interchangeable Arrays and Clusters......Page 323
  Comparison Function Modes for Arrays and Clusters......Page 324
 Error Clusters and Error-Handling Functions......Page 325
  Error Cluster Datatype......Page 326
  Propagating Errors: Error Dataflow......Page 327
  Generating and Reacting to Errors in SubVIs......Page 328
  Generating Errors in SubVIs......Page 332
  Giving Up: Displaying Error Messages to the User......Page 333
  Extra Tips for Error Handling......Page 334
 Wrap It Up!......Page 337
  Activity 7-8: Dice! Challenge......Page 339
  Activity 7-9: Multiplying Array Elements......Page 340
  Chart Update Modes......Page 342
  Single-Plot Charts......Page 344
  Wiring a Multiple-Plot Chart......Page 345
  Single-Plot Versus Multi-Plot Data Types: A Trick for Remembering......Page 346
  Clearing the Chart......Page 347
  Stacked and Overlaid Plots......Page 348
  Multiple Y Scales......Page 349
 Activity 8-1: Temperature Monitor......Page 350
  Single-Plot Waveform Graphs......Page 355
  Multiple-Plot Waveform Graphs......Page 357
 Activity 8-2: Graphing a Sine on a Waveform Graph......Page 359
 XY Graphs......Page 363
  Showing Optional Planes in an XY Graph......Page 366
 Chart and Graph Components......Page 368
  Playing with the Scales......Page 369
  The Plot Legend......Page 373
 Activity 8-3: Using an XY Graph to Plot a Circle......Page 375
  Using the Graph Palette......Page 377
  Graph Cursors......Page 378
  Graph Annotations......Page 380
 Activity 8-4: Temperature Analysis......Page 382
 Intensity Charts and Graphs—Color as a Third Dimension......Page 385
  Activity 8-5: The Intensity Graph......Page 387
  3D Graphs......Page 389
  Time Stamp......Page 393
  Waveforms......Page 397
  Waveform Functions......Page 400
  Activity 8-6: Generate and Plot a Waveform......Page 404
  Digital Data......Page 406
  Dynamic Data......Page 408
 Mixed Signal Graphs......Page 411
 Exporting Images of Charts and Graphs......Page 415
 Wrap It Up!......Page 416
  Activity 8-8: Max/Min Temperature Limit......Page 417
  Activity 8-9: Plotting Random Arrays......Page 418
  Choose Your Own Display Type......Page 420
  Single Line Strings......Page 423
  Tables......Page 424
  Listboxes......Page 425
 Using String Functions......Page 426
 Activity 9-1: String Construction......Page 431
 Parsing Functions......Page 432
  Match Pattern and Regular Expressions......Page 434
 Activity 9-2: More String Parsing......Page 440
 File Input/Output......Page 441
  Express Writing and Reading of Measurement Files......Page 442
  Writing and Reading Spreadsheet Files......Page 444
  Activity 9-3: Writing to a Spreadsheet File......Page 446
  Activity 9-4: Reading from the Spreadsheet File......Page 448
  More Writing and Reading of Files......Page 449
  Activity 9-5: Reading a Text File......Page 451
  Activity 9-6: Writing and Reading Binary Files......Page 453
 Wrap It Up!......Page 456
  Activity 9-8: Spreadsheet Exercise......Page 457
 DAQ and Other Data Acquisition Acronyms......Page 460
 How to Connect Your Computer to the Real World......Page 462
  Signal Classification......Page 464
  Signal Conditioning......Page 475
  Finding a Common Ground......Page 477
  Measuring Differences......Page 480
  Sampling, Aliasing, and Mr. Nyquist......Page 485
  In Conclusion......Page 487
  Choosing Your Hardware......Page 488
  Activity 10-2: Measurement System Analysis......Page 490
  Installing DAQ Device Driver Software......Page 491
  Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)......Page 492
  NI-DAQmx......Page 494
  Configuring NI-DAQmx Devices in MAX......Page 496
  Configuring Data Acquisition......Page 499
 Wrap It Up!......Page 503
 Solutions to Activities......Page 504
  Using the DAQ Assistant......Page 506
  Activity 11-1: Analog Input......Page 510
  Analog I/O Terms and Definitions......Page 513
  Digital I/O Terms and Definitions......Page 519
 NI-DAQmx Tasks......Page 524
  Creating NI-DAQmx Tasks in MAX......Page 525
  Referencing MAX DAQmx Tasks in LabVIEW......Page 526
  Generating Code from MAX DAQmx Tasks......Page 529
  Using NI-DAQmx Tasks in LabVIEW......Page 531
  DAQmx Timing and DAQmx Trigger......Page 542
  Multichannel Acquisition......Page 547
  Activity 11-7: Continuous Acquisition......Page 549
  Streaming Data to a File......Page 553
  Activity 11-8: Streaming Data to File......Page 554
  Counting Frequency and Events......Page 556
 Wrap It Up!......Page 561
 Instrumentation Acronyms......Page 564
  Using a GPIB Controller......Page 565
  Getting Ready for Serial Communications......Page 567
  Ethernet-Enabled Instruments......Page 570
 SCPI, the Language of Instruments......Page 571
  VISA Resource Strings......Page 572
  Configuring Your VISA Resources in MAX......Page 573
 Instrument Control in LabVIEW......Page 574
  Using the Instrument I/O Assistant......Page 575
  Instrument Drivers......Page 576
  Find Instrument Drivers from LabVIEW......Page 578
  VISA Functions......Page 580
  Advanced VISA Functions......Page 583
 VISA GPIB Versus Traditional GPIB Functions......Page 585
 VISA Serial Functions......Page 586
 VISA USB Functions......Page 588
 Create Your Own Instrument Driver: The Instrument Driver Wizard......Page 589
 Wrap It Up!......Page 592
 Local, Global, and Shared Variables......Page 594
  Local Variables......Page 595
  Activity 13-1: Using Local Variables......Page 600
  Activity 13-2: Fun with Locals......Page 603
  Activity 13-3: More Fun with Locals......Page 604
  Global Variables......Page 605
  Shared Variables......Page 612
 Property Nodes......Page 613
  Another Example......Page 619
  Activity 13-4: Using Property Nodes with Charts......Page 622
 Invoke Nodes......Page 624
  Activity 13-5: Using Invoke Nodes to Export an Image from a Graph......Page 625
 Event-Driven Programming: The Event Structure......Page 627
  The Timeout Event......Page 628
  Editing Events Handled by Event Structure Cases......Page 629
  Using the Event Structure......Page 631
  Activity 13-6: Playing with Events......Page 633
  Stopping While Loops That Contain Event Structures......Page 635
  Activity 13-7: Using the Event Structure to Read Data Value Changes......Page 638
  Advanced Concepts: Event Data Node and Event Filter Nodes......Page 642
  Advanced Concepts: Notify Events Versus Filter Events......Page 643
  Advanced Concepts: Dynamic Events and User Events......Page 644
 Type Definitions......Page 645
  Activity 13-8: Creating a Typedef......Page 647
 The State Machine and Queued Message Handler......Page 651
  The Standard State Machine......Page 652
  Activity 13-9: Using the Standard State Machine......Page 654
  The Queued Message Handler......Page 659
  Queues......Page 662
  Notifiers......Page 669
  Semaphores: Locking and Unlocking Shared Resources......Page 674
  Rendezvous......Page 678
  Occurrences......Page 682
 Structures for Disabling Code......Page 685
  The Diagram Disable Structure......Page 686
  The Conditional Disable Structure......Page 687
 Halting VI and Application Execution......Page 688
  System Controls and Colors......Page 689
  Drag and Drop......Page 691
  Tree Control......Page 694
  Activity 13-11: Capturing Mouse Events on a Tree Control......Page 697
  Tab Control......Page 699
  Subpanels......Page 703
  Splitter Bars......Page 704
  Scrollbars......Page 706
  Graphics and Sound......Page 707
 Wrap It Up!......Page 711
 A Word About Polymorphic VIs......Page 714
  Opening and Closing File References......Page 717
  Advanced File Functions......Page 718
  End of File......Page 720
  Activity 14-1: Reading a Text File......Page 722
  Activity 14-2: Writing and Reading Binary Files......Page 723
 Configuration (INI) Files......Page 728
  Opening and Closing Configuration Files......Page 729
  Writing and Reading Key Values......Page 730
  Activity 14-3: Storing Data in a Configuration File......Page 731
  Additional Configuration File Operations......Page 734
 Calling Code from Other Languages......Page 735
  Using the Call Library Function Node to Call DLLs......Page 737
  Activity 14-4: Calling a DLL in LabVIEW......Page 738
 Fitting Square Pegs into Round Holes: Advanced Conversions and Typecasting......Page 744
 You Can Be Anything: Variants......Page 751
  Using Variants: Creating Generic Software Components......Page 756
  ActiveX and the Variant Data Type......Page 758
  Activity 14-5: Read Text File by Page......Page 759
 Exploring Your Options: The LabVIEW Options Dialog......Page 762
  SubVI Node Setup Options (Are Evil)......Page 765
  Activity 15-1: Using SubVIs......Page 766
  VI Properties Options......Page 769
  Reentrant Execution......Page 774
  Keyboard Navigation......Page 777
 The VI Server......Page 781
  Enabling Remote Access to the VI Server......Page 784
  Properties and Methods, “By Reference”......Page 786
  Déjà Vu: Property Nodes and Invoke Nodes......Page 787
  Application References......Page 788
  VI References......Page 791
  Control References......Page 802
  Activity 15-9: Building an Emergency Abort Utility......Page 815
 Radices and Units......Page 816
  Radices......Page 817
  Units......Page 818
 Automatically Creating a SubVI from a Section of the Block Diagram......Page 822
  Custom Probes......Page 826
  The VI Hierarchy Window......Page 831
  Replacing Search Result Items......Page 833
  More Tools......Page 835
 Wrap It Up!......Page 837
  Configuring LabVIEW’s Built-in Web Server......Page 840
  Publishing to HTML with LabVIEW’s Web Server......Page 842
 Emailing Data from LabVIEW......Page 847
 Remote Panels......Page 848
 Self-Describing Data: XML......Page 849
  Shared Variables in LabVIEW Projects......Page 854
  Binding Controls and Indicators to Shared Variables......Page 859
  Programmatically Accessing Shared Variables Using DataSocket......Page 860
  .NET and ActiveX......Page 864
  AppleEvents......Page 873
  Pipes......Page 874
  TCP/IP......Page 877
  UDP......Page 881
 Databases......Page 882
 Report Generation......Page 883
  Express Report......Page 884
  Easy Text Report......Page 885
  Advanced Report Generation......Page 886
 Wrap It Up!......Page 892
 Why Worry About the Graphical Interface Appearance?......Page 894
 Arranging, Decorating, Resizing, Grouping, and Locking......Page 896
 Vive l’art: Importing Pictures......Page 898
 Custom Controls and Indicators......Page 902
 Adding Online Help......Page 908
 Pointers and Recommendations for a “Wow!” Graphical Interface......Page 911
 How Do You Do That in LabVIEW?......Page 916
  Curing Amnesia and Slothfulness......Page 922
  The Declaration of (Platform) Independence......Page 925
 Programming with Style......Page 926
  Document as You Go Along......Page 927
  One More Time: Dataflow!......Page 928
 Concluding Remarks......Page 929
Appendix A: CD Contents......Page 932
Appendix B: Add-on Toolkits for LabVIEW......Page 934
Appendix C: Open Source Tools for LabVIEW: OpenG......Page 938
Appendix D: LabVIEW Object-Oriented Programming......Page 942
Appendix E: Resources for LabVIEW......Page 962
Appendix F: LabVIEW Certification Exams......Page 966
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