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Refer to the LabVIEW 8.6 Upgrade Notes for a complete list of new features and changes, for information about upgrade and compatibility issues specific to different versions of LabVIEW, and for upgrading instructions.

Refer to the readme.html in the labview directory for known issues, a partial list of bugs fixed, additional compatibility issues, and information about late addition features in LabVIEW 8.6.

Installing LabVIEW

(Windows) With LabVIEW 8.6 you can install LabVIEW and select modules and toolkits from the LabVIEW Platform DVDs. Refer to the Installing LabVIEW 8.6 section of the LabVIEW Release Notes for more information.

LabVIEW Documentation

The LabVIEW Quick Reference Card is reorganized to include keyboard shortcuts, online resources, and a documentation usage guide.

New Example VIs

Refer to the New Examples for LabVIEW 8.x folder on the Browse tab of the NI Example Finder to view descriptions for and launch example VIs added to LabVIEW 8.x.

Block Diagram Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements to the block diagram and related functionality.

Creating and Editing Express VIs

Select Tools»Advanced»Create or Edit Express VI to create or edit an Express VI using the Create or Edit Express VI dialog box. You can create an Express VI from an existing VI, from another Express VI, or from a blank VI. In previous versions of LabVIEW, this functionality is available only if you have the LabVIEW Express VI Development Toolkit installed.

Managing Breakpoints Using the Breakpoint Manager Window

You can right-click an object on the block diagram and select Breakpoint»Set Breakpoint from the shortcut menu to create a breakpoint. To disable a breakpoint and prevent the VI from pausing at the breakpoint without physically removing the breakpoint, right-click an object with a breakpoint and select Breakpoint»Disable Breakpoint from the shortcut menu. You can enable a disabled breakpoint by right-clicking an object with a disabled breakpoint and selecting Breakpoint»Enable Breakpoint from the shortcut menu. To remove a breakpoint, right-click an object with a breakpoint and select Breakpoint»Clear Breakpoint from the shortcut menu.

Use the Breakpoint Manager window to manage breakpoints in a VI. The Breakpoint Manager window allows you to disable, enable, and clear breakpoints in the VI hierarchy individually or all at once. Double-click a breakpoint in the Breakpoint Manager window to find the location of a specific breakpoint on the block diagram.

Select View»Breakpoint Manager to display the Breakpoint Manager window, or right-click an object and select Breakpoint»Breakpoint Manager from the shortcut menu. Select individual breakpoints or click the Select All button to select all breakpoints. Click the Enable or Disable buttons to enable or disable all selected breakpoints simultaneously.

Allowing Preallocation of Shared-Clone Reentrant VIs in Timed Structures

You can configure LabVIEW to either preallocate or share clones of a shared-clone reentrant VI within a Timed Loop or Timed Sequence structure. For example, if you place a shared-clone reentrant VI inside of a Timed Loop or Timed Sequence structure, you can set the structure to preallocate clones for instances of the reentrant VI you call within the structure. Instances of the reentrant VI that you call outside the structure continue to share clones. By default, LabVIEW preallocates clone VIs for timed structures. To conserve memory usage among shared-clone reentrant VIs, configure the timed structure to allocate clone VIs as needed. To set the allocation of a VI within a Timed Loop or a Timed Sequence structure, right-click the structure, select Shared Clone Allocation from the shortcut menu, and select one of the following options:

• Automatic—LabVIEW decides whether to set the structure as Preallocate or Allocate As Needed based on the context of the structure. LabVIEW will append the shortcut menu item with text that indicates the setting LabVIEW chooses. For example, if LabVIEW chooses Preallocate, the menu item becomes Automatic (Preallocate).
• Preallocate—LabVIEW creates a clone VI for each call to the reentrant VI within the structure. The Timed Loop or Timed Sequence structure displays an icon to indicate that LabVIEW is preallocating clones for any reentrant VI in the structure.
• Allocate As Needed—LabVIEW does not create a clone VI until you make a call to the reentrant VI within the structure. The Timed Loop or Timed Sequence structure displays an icon to indicate that LabVIEW is sharing clones for any reentrant VI in the structure.

Wiring Tunnels Automatically in Structures with Multiple Cases

LabVIEW can wire input and output tunnels in multiple cases of a structure automatically. Configure an input and output tunnel for automatic wiring by right-clicking the existing output tunnel and selecting one of the following options from the Linked Input Tunnel shortcut menu:

• Create & Wire Unwired Cases—LabVIEW automatically wires the tunnels in any existing cases that you have not wired previously. LabVIEW also wires the tunnels in any new cases you create.
• Create—LabVIEW automatically wires the tunnels in any new cases you create. Existing cases remain unwired.

If you select one of the previous options, LabVIEW associates, or creates a link between, the output and input tunnels. A white triangle glyph appears on both tunnels indicating LabVIEW linked the tunnels. Right-click a linked output tunnel and select Linked Input Tunnel»Find or Linked Input Tunnel»Clear from the shortcut menu to locate linked input tunnels or to remove the link between the tunnels, respectively.

Note  You cannot configure tunnels for automatic wiring on the Stacked Sequence structure.

Miscellaneous Block Diagram Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following miscellaneous block diagram enhancements:

• In LabVIEW 8.6, all comparison functions work with LabVIEW classes.
• LabVIEW 8.6 generates prototype information for Boolean controls and indicators on the connector pane of a VI that you build into a shared library. If you call the shared library in LabVIEW, LabVIEW handles the Boolean as an unsigned 8-bit integer. LabVIEW returns an error if the label of the control is Boolean. Boolean is not case-sensitive.

Front Panel Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements to the front panel and related functionality.

3D Graph Enhancements

(Windows) The 3D Surface Graph, 3D Parametric Graph, and 3D Curve Graph that shipped with LabVIEW 8.5 and earlier are renamed the ActiveX 3D Surface Graph, ActiveX 3D Parametric Graph, and ActiveX 3D Curve Graph, respectively. The ActiveX 3D graphs use ActiveX technology and VIs that handle 3D representation.

LabVIEW 8.6 includes an XControl version of the 3D graph that is available on all platforms. Use the 3D Surface, 3D Parametric, and 3D Line graphs to display 3D data on a 3D plot. Customize the appearance of a 3D graph XControl using the 3D Graph Properties dialog box. You can configure the general graph appearance; format the x, y, and z plots; format the graph axes; add value pairs; and add cursors.

Miscellaneous Front Panel Enhancements

A private data control cannot contain an XControl or a strictly typed XControl refnum.

Environment Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 introduces the following enhancements to the LabVIEW environment.

Error List Window Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes enhancements to LabVIEW class error reporting that might result in fewer unbroken class items listed in the Error List window.

Performance Enhancements

VI file size has decreased.

VI Hierarchy Window Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements to the VI Hierarchy window:

• The VI Hierarchy window displays LabVIEW classes and dynamic member VIs, XControls, shared libraries, .m files you reference from MathScript Nodes, Express VIs, and static VI references.
• To highlight the call chain of the VI, in the VI Hierarchy window right-click the VI icon of a paused VI and select Show Call Chain from the shortcut menu. The call chain is the chain of callers from the current VI to the top-level VI. When you highlight a hierarchy connection, the connection appears as a thick, red line.

Dialog Box Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following dialog box enhancements.

Warnings Dialog Box Enhancements

The Warnings dialog box is now the Load Warning Summary and Save for Previous Warning Summary dialog boxes. Click the Show Details button on either summary dialog box to open the Load and Save Warning List dialog box and view details for each warning category. You also can select Load and Save Warning List from the View menu to open the Load and Save Warning List dialog box.

The Load Warning Summary dialog box reports a list of warning categories for the top-level item you attempt to load.

The Save for Previous Warning Summary dialog box reports a list of warning categories for the top-level item you attempt to save.

Application Builder Dialog Box Changes

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following changes to the LabVIEW Application Builder:

• On the Additional Installers page of the Installer Properties dialog box, the Installer source location text box only displays the source location. You can no longer change the installer source location in this dialog box. If LabVIEW cannot find the installer source automatically, LabVIEW prompts you to locate the source manually later in the build process.
• When you build an installer that includes additional installers or components, you might be prompted with the Distributions Needed dialog box if LabVIEW cannot locate the installer you selected or any of the dependencies of the installer.
• (Windows) The Web service build specification allows you to build and deploy VIs in a LabVIEW project as Web services. Right-click Build Specifications in the Project Explorer window and select New»Web Service (RESTful) from the shortcut menu to display the Web Service Properties dialog box. LabVIEW Web services are available only in the LabVIEW Full Development System and the LabVIEW Professional Development System.

Shared Variable Properties Dialog Box Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements to the Shared Variable Properties dialog box:

• On the Variable page of the Shared Variable Properties dialog box, Bind to Source was renamed to Enable Aliasing. When you place a checkmark in the Enable Aliasing checkbox, you can specify the access type of the shared variable.
• The Use Buffering and Single Writer options on the Variable page were moved to the Network page of the Shared Variable Properties dialog box.
• The Description page of the Shared Variable Properties dialog box appears without the DSC module installed.

Options Dialog Box Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements to the Web Server: Configuration page of the Options dialog box:

• You can configure more than one interface for the LabVIEW Web Server. The Server Label option allows you to customize the name of a server interface and the Server Labels (Ports) listbox displays all interfaces currently configured for the Web Server.
• The IP Address of Listener specifies the IP address of the selected Web Server interface. The pull-down menu contains all addresses available on the local computer. The field does not automatically populate when using a LabVIEW Real-Time Module target.
• The Allow Access options configure available features for the selected Web Server interface. In the Allow Access section, you can activate remote front panels, scripting, Web services, static content, and snapshots.

LabVIEW 8.6 also includes the new Web Services: Security page of the Options dialog box, which allows you to configure security for LabVIEW Web services.

Miscellaneous Dialog Box Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following miscellaneous dialog box enhancements:

• The Conflict Resolution dialog box includes options to resolve conflicts LabVIEW detects during deployment. For example, this dialog appears if you deploy a VI to a target that is turned off. If you can resolve the conflict, a pull-down menu appears in the Conflict Resolution column. Select an option from the list to resolve the conflict. This dialog box also includes the Previous and Next buttons to highlight the previous or next item with a conflict in the Conflicts list.
• The Data Type page of the Numeric Properties dialog box and the Numeric Constant Properties dialog box and the Output Configuration page of the Numeric Node Properties dialog box include an Include overflow status checkbox that sets whether LabVIEW includes an overflow status with the fixed-point number.
• The Find Missing Items dialog box finds all items in a LabVIEW project that reference an item on disk that LabVIEW cannot find. Right-click the project root in the Project Explorer window and select Find Missing Items from the shortcut menu to display this dialog box.

Palette Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following palette enhancements:

Editing the Controls and Functions Palette Set Programmatically

You can use the Palette Editing VIs to create and edit palette sets programmatically. Use the Palette Editing VIs if you want to edit a large number of palettes, create new palettes, or validate the appearance of a palette after you edit it.

Refer to the labview\examples\Palette API directory for examples of editing the Controls and Functions palette set programmatically.

Miscellaneous Palette Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following miscellaneous palette enhancements:

• The VIs and functions that appeared on the XML palette are now available on the LabVIEW Schema palette. The LabVIEW Schema palette is a subpalette on the XML palette.
• When you upgrade, LabVIEW attempts to restore the palette format from the previously installed version of LabVIEW.

Miscellaneous Environment Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following miscellaneous environment enhancements:

• You can silently uninstall a LabVIEW-built installer and the files it installs by entering the following command in the command line window:
  
  uninst.exe /qb /x product name where product name is the name of the product you want to uninstall.
  
  If the product name you enter does not exactly match the name of the product, the uninstall fails without a prompt that notifies you of the failure. The uninst.exe file is in the C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\NIUninstaller directory. If the C:\Program Files\National Instruments\Shared\NIUninstaller directory is not the working directory, enter the complete path on disk to the uninst.exe file.
• (Windows) Use the fileVersionInfo.llb located in the labview\vi.lib\Platform directory to retrieve the version information of a stand-alone application or shared library programmatically. The VI is not available on the Functions palette.
• The Breakpoints option in the Operate menu no longer exists. Select View»Breakpoint Manager instead to manage breakpoints in a VI hierarchy.
• If you have a project library within a folder, the source control operations you perform now extend to items within the project library.
• _goopsup.llb was moved to the labview\vi.lib\Utility\ directory.

New and Changed VI, Function, and Node Enhancements

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following new and changed VIs and functions. Refer to the VI and Function Reference book on the Contents tab of the LabVIEW Help for more information about VIs, functions, and nodes.

New VIs and Functions

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following new VIs and functions.

Advanced Notifier Waiting Functions

The Advanced Notifier Waiting palette includes the following new functions:

• Wait on Notification from Multiple with Notifier History
• Wait on Notification with Notifier History

Application Control VIs and Functions

The Application Control palette includes the new Palette Editing palette with the following new VIs:

• Read Palette
• Refresh Palettes
• Write Palette

Comparison Functions

The Comparison palette includes the following new function:

• Fixed-Point Overflow?

Connectivity VIs and Functions (Windows)

The Connectivity palette includes the new Web Services palette with the following new VIs:

Note  The following VIs are available only in the LabVIEW Full and Professional Development Systems.

• Check If Session Exists
• Create Session
• Delete Session Variable
• Destroy Session
• Flush Output
• Get Session ID Cookie
• Read All Form Data
• Read All Request Variables
• Read All Session Variables
• Read Form Data
• Read Postdata
• Read Request Variable
• Read Session Variable
• Render ESP Template
• Set ESP Variable
• Set HTTP Header
• Set HTTP Redirect
• Set HTTP Response Code
• Set HTTP Response MIME Type
• Write Response
• Write Session Variable

The Web Services palette includes the new Utilities palette with the following new VIs:

• Escape HTTP URL
• Unescape HTTP URL

Fixed-Point Functions

The Fixed-Point palette includes the following new functions:

• Clear Fixed-Point Overflow Status
• Include Fixed-Point Overflow Status
• Remove Fixed-Point Overflow Status

Helpers VIs

The Helpers palette includes the Sensor Mapping Express VI in the LabVIEW Full and Professional Development Systems. Use the Sensor Mapping Express VI to map real-world data onto a 3D model.

Semaphore VIs

The Semaphore palette includes the following new VIs:

• Obtain Semaphore Reference
• Release Semaphore Reference

Queue Operations Function

The Queue Operations palette includes the following new function:

• Lossy Enqueue Element

XML VIs and Functions

The XML palette includes the new XML Parser palette with the following new VIs and functions:

• Close
• Get First Non-Text Child
• Get Next Non-Text Sibling
• Get Node Text Content
• Invoke Node (XML)
• Load
• New
• Property Node (XML)
• Save

VISA Advanced VIs and Functions

The VISA Advanced palette includes the following new node:

• VISA Property Node

Changed VIs, Functions, and Nodes

The following VIs, functions, and nodes changed in LabVIEW 8.6.

Advanced File VIs and Functions

The Advanced File palette includes the following changed function.

The Get Volume Info function includes the sector size (bytes) output that indicates the size of the smallest physical storage unit on disk. If you open a file without buffering, you must make the amount of data in that file a multiple of the given sector size. You can disable buffering if you set the disable buffering input of the Open/Create/Replace File function to TRUE.

Comparison Functions

The Comparison palette includes the following changed functions:

• In Range and Coerce—Supports the fixed-point data type.
• Max & Min—Supports the fixed-point data type.

File I/O VIs and Functions

The File I/O palette includes the following changed function.

The Open/Create/Replace File function includes the disable buffering input that allows you to specify if LabVIEW opens, creates, or replaces the file without buffering.

Disable buffering to speed up data transfers in certain situations. For example, if you stream large amounts of data or store data in a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), disable buffering to force LabVIEW to write data directly to disk.

LabVIEW Schema

The LabVIEW Schema palette includes the following changed functions:

• Flatten To XML—Supports LabVIEW classes and the fixed-point data type.
• Unflatten From XML—Supports LabVIEW classes and the fixed-point data type.

Numeric Functions

The Numeric palette includes the following changed functions:

• Divide—Supports the fixed-point data type.
• Reciprocal—Supports the fixed-point data type.
• Square Root—Supports the fixed-point data type.

Report Generation VIs

The Report Generation palette includes VIs that have inputs and outputs that are specific to the LabVIEW Report Generation Toolkit. The VIs ignore these inputs and outputs unless you install the Report Generation Toolkit. The Report Generation palette also includes the following additionally changed VIs:

• Append Horizontal Line to Report—The default value of the width input is changed from pixels to percentage.
• Append Report Text—Includes a format string input that specifies the number formatting to use when LabVIEW converts the numbers to characters.
• Append VI Block Diagram to Report—All instances include an alignment input that sets the alignment of the image in a report.
• Append VI Hierarchy to Report—All instances include an alignment input that sets the alignment of the image in a report.
• Append VI Icon to Report—All instances include an alignment input that sets the alignment of the image in a report.
• Append VI List of Controls to Report—All instances include an alignment input that sets the alignment of the image in a report.
• Append VI List of SubVIs to Report—All instances include an alignment input that sets the alignment of the image in a report.
• New Report Line—Includes a number of lines input to specify how many lines the VI adds to the report.
• Save Report to File—Includes a Prompt to Replace? input that determines whether the VI displays a dialog box if you specify an existing filename.

Spectral Analysis VIs (Not in Base Package)

The Spectral Analysis palette includes the following changed VI.

The STFT Spectrograms VI includes a time-freq config input that specifies the configuration of the frequency bins and determines the number of columns in STFT Spectrogram {X}. This VI also includes an energy conservation? input that specifies whether to scale STFT Spectrogram {X} so that the energy in the joint time-frequency domain equals the energy in the time domain.

Call Library Function Node

The Call Library Function dialog box includes the following changes:

• The Data type pull-down menu of the Parameters tab includes the Signed Pointer-sized Integer and Unsigned Pointer-sized Integer numeric data types. If you use these two data types, the Call Library Function Node adapts to the specific operating system it is being executed on and returns data of the appropriate size to the library function. On 64-bit platforms LabVIEW translates these numeric data types to 64-bit integer types. On 32-bit platforms LabVIEW translates the numeric data types to 32-bit integer types.
• The Call Library Function Node supports the use of the * wildcard to make the Library name or path reference platform independent between 32- and 64-bit Windows. A single instance of the * to the left of the extension translates to 32 on a 32-bit Windows platform and 64 on a 64-bit Windows platform. For example, myLibrary*.dll translates to either myLibrary32.dll or myLibrary64.dll. A double instance of * addresses situations where the library name did not previously reference the platform but the new library name does. For example, myLibrary**.dll translates to myLibrary.dll on a 32-bit platform and myLibrary_64.dll on a 64-bit platform.

Shared Variable Node

The Shared Variable node includes the following changes:

• Includes the option to enable the ms timeout control and timed out? indicator for network-published Shared Variable nodes configured to read data.
• Shared variables exhibit performance enhancements in LabVIEW 8.6 when working with a large amount of shared variables on a block diagram.
• The time-triggered variable, available on supported targets when you install the LabVIEW Real-Time Module, appears separately from standard shared variables. Right-click a supported target and select New»Time-Triggered Variable from the shortcut menu to create a time-triggered variable.

Miscellaneous VI, Function, and Node Changes

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following miscellaneous VI change.

The method input of the Sort Complex Numbers VI contains a renamed value. Magnitude is renamed Magnitude, Real, Imaginary. The method input also contains a new value Magnitude, Phase Angle. Magnitude, Real, Imaginary sorts the elements with respect to their magnitude first. For the elements with the same magnitude, the VI sorts them by their real parts and then by their imaginary parts. Magnitude, Phase Angle sorts the elements with respect to their magnitude first. For the elements with same magnitude, the VI sorts them by their phase angle. The phase angle is in the ranges of –pi to pi.

New Classes, Properties, Methods, and Events

LabVIEW 8.6 includes new VI Server classes, properties, methods, and events. Refer to the LabVIEW 8.6 Features and Changes»New VI Server Objects topic on the Contents tab of the LabVIEW Help for a list of new classes, properties, methods, and events.

XML Parser Properties and Methods

Refer to the XML Parser Properties and Methods topic for a list of new properties and methods you can use with the XML Parser VIs and functions.

3DPC_SurfacePlot Properties

Refer to the 3DPC_SurfacePlot Properties topic for a list of new properties you can use with the 3D graph.

Cleaning Up the Block Diagram Automatically

Select Edit»Clean Up Diagram to automatically reroute all existing wires and rearrange objects on the block diagram to generate a cleaner layout. To configure the clean up options, select Tools»Options to display the Options dialog box and select Block Diagram: Cleanup from the Category list. You can configure LabVIEW to automatically move controls to the left side of the containing diagram and indicators to the right side of the containing diagram, place a specified number of pixels between block diagram objects and wires, and compact the block diagram layout.

Placing Objects Using Quick Drop

Use the Quick Drop dialog box to search for a block diagram or front panel object by name and place it on the block diagram or front panel without navigating through the Controls or Functions palettes. (Windows and Linux) Press the <Ctrl-Space> keys or select View»Quick Drop to display the Quick Drop dialog box. On Chinese keyboards, press the <Ctrl-Shift-Space> keys. (Mac OS) Press the <Command-Shift-Space> keys to display the dialog box.

Editing the Properties of Multiple Objects

You can select multiple objects on the front panel or the block diagram and edit any properties the objects share. To select multiple objects, use the Positioning tool to drag a selection rectangle around all of the objects you want to edit or hold down the <Shift> key while clicking each object. Right-click an object from the selection and select Properties from the shortcut menu to display the Properties dialog box. The Properties dialog box only displays tabs and properties that the objects you select share. Select similar objects to display more tabs and properties. If you select objects that do not share any common properties, the Properties dialog box does not display any tabs or properties.

LabVIEW Web Services (Windows, Not in Base Package)

LabVIEW 8.6 allows you to publish a VI as a Web service. Web services provide a standardized method for servers to deploy applications that any HTTP client can access. LabVIEW Web services support clients across most major platforms and programming languages and allow you to easily implement and deploy Web applications over a network using LabVIEW.

You can activate Web services through the Web Server: Configuration page in the Options dialog box. To build and deploy a Web service, right-click Build Specifications in the Project Explorer window and select New»Web Service (RESTful) from the shortcut menu to display the Web Service Properties dialog box. LabVIEW Web services are available only in the LabVIEW Full Development System and the LabVIEW Professional Development System.

NI Distributed System Manager

(Windows) LabVIEW 8.6 includes the NI Distributed System Manager, which replaces the Variable Manager as the unified tool to manage shared variables. Use the System Manager to create and monitor variables, processes, I/O servers, and Web services. Also, use the System Manager to interact with the Shared Variable Engine and to manage security and aliases.

LabVIEW MathScript Enhancements (Not in Base Package)

LabVIEW 8.6 introduces the following enhancements and changes to MathScript.

Note  Select Tools»MathScript Window to display the LabVIEW MathScript Window.

New MathScript Functions

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following new MathScript functions. You can use these functions in the LabVIEW MathScript Window or the MathScript Node.

MathScript Class	Function
advanced	sphbesselh, sphbesselj, sphbessely
approximation	csaps, lsqcurvefit
audio	auread
commands	keyboard
filter design	gaussfir, yulewalk
filter implementation	cconv
integration	quad
ode	odeset, radau5
plots	imagesc, xlim, ylim, zlim
spectral analysis	buffer, cpsd, mscohere, pburg, pcov, peig, periodogram, pmcov, pmusic, pwelch, pyulear, rooteig, rootmusic, specgram, spectrogram, tfestimate
pde	pdeelliptic
support	warning, xlsread, xlswrite
waveform generation	stepfun
windows	taylorwin

LabVIEW MathScript on Mac OS and Linux

The LabVIEW MathScript Window and the MathScript Node are available on Mac OS and Linux. However, some functions are not available on these operating systems. The following table displays the MathScript functions that are not available on Mac OS or Linux. The x indicates that the function is not available on that operating system.

Note  The getfileproperty function, the load function, the save function, and the setfileproperty function are available on Mac OS and Linux. However, you cannot use these functions with binary measurement files (.tdm or .tdms).

MathScript Function	Mac OS	Linux
aich	x
aiwf	x
aoch	x
aowf	x
calllib	x	x
dioread	x
diowrite	x
dos	x	x
ginput	x	x
gtext	x	x
libfunctionsview	x	x
libisloaded	x	x
loadlibrary	x	x
pause	x	x
system	x	x
unloadlibrary	x	x
waitforbuttonpress	x	x

Debugging Enhancements for MathScript Nodes

LabVIEW 8.6 includes the following enhancements for debugging MathScript Nodes:

• You can use execution highlighting, single-stepping, and breakpoints to debug a script in a MathScript Node.
• The gray region on the left side of the MathScript Node displays the following:
  • Red error glyphs next to lines of script that contain an error
  • Warning glyphs
  • Breakpoints
• When you select a MathScript Node error in the Error list window and click the Show Error button, LabVIEW highlights the line of script that contains the error.

Script Highlighting in MathScript Nodes

Script highlighting uses colors to distinguish between different parts of a script in a MathScript Node. These colors improve the readability of the script and help you debug a script that contains errors or returns unexpected data. For example, script highlighting allows you to see when a user-defined function or a variable overrides a built-in MathScript function. Script highlighting is enabled by default, except for MathScript Nodes that were last saved in a previous version of LabVIEW and that use custom colors.

To enable or disable script highlighting for a particular MathScript Node, right-click inside the MathScript Node and select Enable Script Highlighting or Disable Script Highlighting from the shortcut menu. To enable or disable script highlighting for all MathScript Nodes and to customize the script highlighting colors for MathScript Nodes that have script highlighting enabled, use the MathScript: Script Highlighting page of the Options dialog box.

Miscellaneous MathScript Enhancements and Changes

LabVIEW 8.6 include the following miscellaneous MathScript enhancements and changes:

• The VI Hierarchy window displays .m files you reference from MathScript Nodes.
• The delete function includes an obj input that allows you to delete a plot object and remove the object from the Variable List in the LabVIEW MathScript Window.
• The filter function includes a 'direct' input that directs LabVIEW to use a direct convolution instead of a Fourier transform.
• LabVIEW MathScripts compile faster in both the LabVIEW MathScript Window and the MathScript Node due to performance improvements.
• If a VI contains a MathScript Node, LabVIEW deletes all undo information when you save or run the VI.

Managing Overflow for Fixed-Point Numbers

Overflow conditions can occur when you perform an arithmetic operation on fixed-point numbers or when you use the To Fixed-Point function to convert numeric data to fixed-point data. To determine whether overflow occurs, you can configure a fixed-point number to include an overflow status. When you include an overflow status with a fixed-point number, LabVIEW allocates additional storage space to track whether the fixed-point number is the result of an operation that overflowed.

After you configure a fixed-point number to include an overflow status, you can display an overflow status LED on fixed-point controls, constants, and indicators. This LED lights up when the overflow status of the fixed-point number is TRUE. You also can use the Fixed-Point Overflow? function to determine the overflow status of a fixed-point number. Use the Fixed-Point functions to manipulate the overflow status of a fixed-point number.

Merging LLBs (Not in Base Package)

In the LabVIEW Professional Development System, use the Select LLBs to Merge dialog box to merge and resolve the differences between an LLB and two revisions of that original LLB.

Select Tools»Merge»Merge LLBs to display the Select LLBs to Merge dialog box. Specify the original LLB in the Base LLB field. Specify the two revised LLBs in the Their LLB and Your LLB fields. Click the Merge button to merge the selected LLBs and open the Merge LLBs dialog box. Resolve any differences between the revisions of the LLB and click Close and Save to save the merged LLB.