LabVIEW Idea Exchange
Expression Node, Formula Node and now MathScript Node (notwithstanding the Formula Express VI), there is no lack of tools to do algebra in LabVIEW.
Well, my experience with the formula node or the MathScript node is that they are great, but they take space on the diagram. Especially if you want to see the whole thing without to fight with the scrollbar selection tool (which I 50% of the time mistake for the selection tool - or the opposite- resulting in a mess).
You are basically pasting a whole bunch of text language real estate on a piece of G code, and that just does not fit.
I would suggest at least to provide the option to encapsulate them into a nice icon-like object that would for instance look like the expandable "Compound Arithmetic" function.
Instead of this:
we would have this on the diagram:
with access to the formula node by right clicking.
Of course, the real power of this thing would be that you would first expand the "Compound Formula" node to create the desired number of inputs, connect the input wires, right click the object and choose "open formula node", and it would have already set the input names correctly! I guess one could also envision having an option to predefine the number of outputs, but ultimately, this would be adjusted in the formula node itself and should be reflected on the diagram, with the proper number of inputs and ouptuts reflecting the innards of the formula node.
Cherry on the cake: hovering over the "Compound Formula" node would reveal the names of inputs and outputs, and possibly the formula node itself...
Feel free to add functionality to the thing.
Remember, the idea is to not clutter the diagram with a large text appendix or a small illegible one.
I guess the same would be desirable with the Mathscript node or for string formatting and manipulation...
