New in LabVIEW 8: Mixed Signal Graph

The Mixed Signal Graph makes it easy to plot different types of data that share a common x-scale. This new graph accepts all of the data types accepted by the waveform graph, XY graph, and digital waveform graph. In addition, it accepts any cluster that contains any combination of these data types.

Description of the Mixed Signal Graph

Mixed Signal Graph

When you to add multiple plot areas to a mixed signal graph, each plot area has its own y-scale. All of the plot areas share a common x-scale. The mixed signal graph automatically creates plot areas when necessary to accommodate combinations of analog and digital data.

The plot legend on the mixed signal graph is comprised of tree controls and is displayed to the left of the graph plot areas. Each tree control represents one plot area. You can use the plot legend to move plots between plot areas. In the tree control, click the icon next to the name of the plot you want to move and drag it to another plot area, to the y-scale of another plot area, or into another tree control in the plot legend. You also can right-click the plot in the plot legend and select a different y-scale in the Y Scale item of the shortcut menu. Changing the value of the Y Scale item of a plot automatically moves the plot to the appropriate plot area.

You can use the multi-plot cursor on a mixed signal graph to report the values of multiple plots at a particular x value. The plots that a multi-plot cursor reports the values of are referred to as watched plots. Right-click the cursor legend and select the Create a Cursor»Multi-Plot item from the shortcut menu to create a multi-plot cursor. Right-click the cursor in the cursor legend, select the Watch item from the shortcut menu, and select the name of the plot you want the cursor to watch. You also can select the Watch»All Plots item from the shortcut menu to have the multi-plot cursor report the values of all plots.

How to use the Mixed Signal Graph

Complete the following steps to create a mixed signal graph:
1. Add a mixed signal graph to the front panel.
2. (Optional) Right-click the mixed signal graph and select the Add Plot Area item from the shortcut menu to add a plot area to the graph.

To remove a plot area from the graph, right-click the plot area you want to remove and select the Remove Plot Area item from the shortcut menu.

Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

Working with mixed signal graphs
I have made my own mixed signal graph since LV6.1. I thought the LV8.5 mixed signal graph could be useful as a replacement. But you can't hide either the digital part, or the analog part for when it is not needed programmatically. This is a very large failing. Please fix it.
- Bart Schroder, Cleverscope Ltd. bart.schroder@cleverscope.com - Jan 22, 2008