《2. Customize a Virtual Instrument (VI)》.pdf

Customizing a VI Approximate Time You can complete this exercise in approximately 30 minutes. Background You can choose one of many LabVIEW template VIs to use as a starting point when building VIs. However, sometimes you need to build a VI for which a template is not available. This tutorial teaches you how to build and customize a VI without using a template. Overview In the following exercises, you will open a blank VI and add structures and Express VIs to the block diagram to build a new VI. You will build a VI that generates a signal, reduces the number of samples in the signal, and displays the resulting data in a table on the front panel. 1 Completed Exercise 2 Step-by-Step Instructions 1. Opening a Blank VI If no template is available for the VI you want to build, you can start with a blank VI and add Express VIs to accomplish a specific task. Complete the following steps to open a blank VI: a. In the Getting Started window, click the Blank VI link in the New section or press the Ctrl-N keys to open a blank VI. A blank front panel and block diagram appear. You also can open a blank VI by selecting File » New VI or by selecting File » New and selecting Blank VI from the Create New list. b. You can right-click any blank space on the front panel to display a temporary version of the Controls palette. The Controls palette appears with a thumbtack icon in the upper left corner. Click the thumbtack to pin the palette so it is not temporary. 3 2. Adding an Express VI that Simulates a Signal Complete the following steps to find the Express VI you will use and add it to the block diagram: a. Click the Show Context Help Window button on the front panel or