What's New in the LabVIEW 8.5 Touch Panel Module
PrintOverview
The LabVIEW 8.5 Touch Panel Module contains many new features and scheduled bug fixes. Below is a subset of new features and bug fixes in the latest version. For a complete list, see the LabVIEW Touch Panel Help and the LabVIEW 8.5 Touch Panel Module readme.
Table of Contents
- Ethernet-Based Application Deployment
- Reading and Writing Front Panel Data Using Data Binding
- Inline C Node Support
- Boolean Mechanical Action
- Scroll Bar Control
- Run Application VI
- XML Functions
- Blinking Boolean Controls and Indicators
- Text Justification For Controls and Indicators
- Bug Fixes
- More Information on the LabVIEW Touch Panel Module
Ethernet-Based Application Deployment
The Touch Panel Module includes the NI TPC Service, which is an Ethernet-based service that you can use to deploy, run, and debug Touch Panel applications. Use the NI TPC Service instead of ActiveSync if you are using Ethernet and need to deploy a Touch Panel application to multiple Touch Panel targets.
Reading and Writing Front Panel Data Using Data Binding
You can use data binding to read or write front panel data for network-published shared variables. You can use data binding with any front panel control or indicator that the Touch Panel Module supports. This new features simplifies the process of sending data to be displayed on the front panel by removing the need for any programming; front panel objects are connected directly to the network-published shared variables, and send and receive data to those variables without any instructions on the block diagram.
In the screenshots below, a chart named Data has been configured to read a waveform value from network-published shared variable. Once configured through the Properties menu for the chart, no wires are needed to bring data into the chart on the block diagram.
Inline C Node Support
You can use the Inline C Node to add inline C code to the block diagram. The Inline C Node is similar to the LabVIEW Formula Node with additional support and functionality for low-level programming and header files without the overhead of a function call. You can use the Inline C Node for short blocks of code that you cannot easily implement in graphical VIs.
The Inline C Node supports any C code, including assembly directives and #defines, that syntactically is between the curly braces in a C file. Syntax checking for an Inline C Node occurs at edit time, and red dots on the left bar of the Inline C Node indicate errors. Some errors, such as undefined functions or variables, cannot be detected until the generated C code for the VI is compiled. If errors occur, the build stops and you receive an error.
Boolean Mechanical Action
The Touch Panel Module now supports the six types of mechanical action for Boolean controls, which include Switch when pressed, Switch when released, Switch until released, Latch when pressed, Latch when released, and Latch until released.
Scroll Bar Control
The Touch Panel Module now supports scroll bar controls, which include vertical and horizontal scroll bars that you can add to any front panel control or indicator with scrollable data. The scroll bar control simplifies the process of navigating a large control or indicator. You can add associate a scroll bar control with a front panel control or indicator using a Property Node.
Run Application VI
You can use the Run Application VI to run a specified touch panel application. This VI allows you to easily call an application on the touch panel, either through a user command or hard-coded logic, without having to use a DLL call or the Inline C Node.
XML Functions
The Touch Panel Module now includes the Escape XML, Flatten To XML, Read From XML File, Unescape XML, Unflatten From XML, and Write to XML File VIs and functions. You can use these VIs and functions to manipulate LabVIEW data in XML format.
Blinking Boolean Controls and Indicators
Due to popular demand, the Touch Panel Module now supports blinking for all Boolean controls and indicators except system controls. By using a Property Node with the Blinking property enabled, you can configure a Boolean to blink as a means to display important warnings to an operator.
Text Justification For Controls and Indicators
You now can set the justification of text and underline text for buttons; enumerated type controls; and string, time stamp, and numeric controls and indicators.
Bug Fixes
The following items are the IDs and titles of a subset of issues fixed between the LabVIEW 8.2.1 Touch Panel Module and the LabVIEW 8.5 Touch Panel Module. If you have a CAR ID, you can search this list to validate that the issue has been fixed. This is not an exhaustive list of issues fixed in the current version of Touch Panel Module. More information on workarounds for other issues can be found in the LabVIEW 8.5 Touch Panel Module readme file.
| ID | Fixed Issue |
|---|---|
| 453A9C90 | Format Into String does not work with commas |
| 48AEN6XX | Array of Strings input to Fract/Exp String To Number function truncated to U8 |
| 46CA61GF | STOP doesn't allow executable to build |
| 48Q4HCVR | Executable hangs |
| 48AEG1C5 | Waveform Measurement VIs throw build-time error "missing VI or C file" |
| 41IF8RX1 | Errors when unbundling global cluster by name |
| 46I38U91 | Incorrect characters of String property |
| 47KE9UX1 | Semaphores need work |
| 498931J0 | Scan Value function fails to convert numeric string to specified data type |
| 4AAGC269 | CtrRef not recognized |
| 410CDBSQ | I16 cast or indicator problem |
| 437FK2KQ | Application build error if top-level is in a library |
| 45216SX2 | Issues with DAQmx task constants and arrays |
| 4779PV9M | Array indexing inconsistent behaviour |
| 4A2H6DX6 | Seconds to Date/Time function gives incorrect hour output |
| 4526Q3LL | Dial control needle tracks incorrectly |
| 3LH9O71R | Decoration draws incorrectly when behind tab control |
| 3FB8MM1R | Text justification on buttons is not supported |
| 452AC9OZ | Scale for thermometer controls does not correspond to the level correctly |
| 3QGDTR67 | Justification and underline style support |
| 4AHCKB69 | Array of Boolean controls crashes |
| 48N7HSJ6 | In application, waveform graph on tab control is lost |
| 47MCR7X1 | Event timeout not being fired |
| 48G91IYU | Top Row property for Listbox returns bad data |
| 48G94LYU | Ring control returns bad data when programmatically setting the Strings[] property |
| 493BB82A | Chart shows through tab control when writing to BG Color property |
| 49FGQVGF | Background color only limited to text |
| 47KAG7KQ | Graphs for TPC VIs are named as PDA graphs |
More Information on the LabVIEW Touch Panel Module
For more information on the LabVIEW Touch Panel Module, visit the LabVIEW Touch Panel Module web portal.
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