Version 8.6 Features and Changes (Statechart Module)

LabVIEW 8.6 Statechart Module Help
June 2008

NI Part Number:
372103B-01

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Refer to the readme_Statechart.html file in the labview\readme directory for information about system requirements and installation instructions, for a complete list of new features and changes, and for known issues.

The following sections describe the new features in the LabVIEW Statechart Module 8.6.

Changing Function Icon Styles

You can change the icon style of a Statechart Communication function on the block diagram. You can right-click a Statechart Communication function and select Icon Style»Custom Icon to display the function with the custom icon of the statechart diagram. You also can right-click a Statechart Communication function and select Icon Style»Configuration to display the function with a list of configuration information.

Displaying the Name of the Current Active State

You can configure the Run Statechart function to display the name of the current active state. Right-click the Run Statechart function and select Configure from the shortcut menu to display the Configure dialog box. The Statechart Active States option specifies to display the name of the current active state.

Displaying Current Active States for Diagrams

You can configure the Run Statechart function to display current active states for diagrams. Right-click the Run Statechart function and select Configure from the shortcut menu to display the Configure dialog box. The Statechart Diagram Display option specifies to display current active states for diagrams. You can choose to display current active states for one diagram, N diagrams, or all diagrams.

Debugging Statecharts on Real-Time Targets

You now can debug statecharts on real-time (RT) targets. Right-click a Run Statechart function and select Debug Statechart to debug a statechart on an RT target. This action is valid only when you have linked the Run Statechart function to a statechart. By default, statechart debugging on RT targets is disabled. You can enable statechart debugging on RT targets by using the Statechart Code Generation page. Enabling statechart debugging on RT targets might increase the code size of the statechart.

Viewing State Configuration in the Context Help Window

You can move the cursor over a state to view the state configuration in the Context Help window. The Context Help window displays the entry action, exit action, and static reactions of the state.

Saving Statecharts for a Previous Version of LabVIEW

You can save a statechart for a previous version of LabVIEW. Select File»Save for Previous Version in the Project Explorer window to display the Save for Previous Version dialog box. Select the version of LabVIEW and save the statechart.

Generating Statechart Code from the Project Explorer Window

You can generate LabVIEW code for a statechart from the Project Explorer window. After you create or update a statechart, right-click the .lvsc file in the Project Explorer window and select Generate LabVIEW Code from the shortcut menu to generate LabVIEW code that corresponds to the statechart.

Using the View Option of the Statechart Communication Functions

In the caller VI, right-click a Statechart Communication function and select View»Statechart to display the Project Explorer window that contains the .lvsc file. Right-click the Statechart Communication function and select View»Statechart Diagram to display the Statechart Editor window.

Deselecting All Triggers

Deselecting all triggers enables a transition or static reaction to react to any triggers in the Triggers list and to any new triggers that you create. You can deselect all triggers by clicking the Deselect All Triggers button in the Triggers/Groups page of the Configure Transition dialog box or Configure State dialog box.

Using New Statechart Module Examples

Refer to the labview\examples\Statechart\ directory for example VIs that demonstrate common tasks and concepts using the LabVIEW Statechart Module. You also can access these VIs by selecting Help»Find Examples and selecting Toolkits and Modules»Statechart in the NI Example Finder window.

Refer to the LabVIEW 8.6 Features and Changes topic for more information about new features in LabVIEW 8.6.