References obtained in Load App.vi become invalid

[colin.campbell]

I'm using the same splash screen launching code that comes with the AF example projects, and I've noticed that if I obtain a reference in the Load App.vi (notifier, etc) that is bundled into my actor, it becomes invalid once the Splash Screen.vi finishes executing.

Does anyone know why this is happening?

Using LV2017

[drjdpowell · Accepted solution]

That is standard LabVIEW behavior for all references.   They are closed automatically when the VI hierarchy that create them stops.   Your launcher owns them, so they were closed when it stopped.

[colin.campbell]

Good to know, thanks

[AristosQueue (NI)]

Notice Powell said "hierarchy". If a reference is opened in a subVI, it is usable by its caller and all the other subVIs of that caller. The launcher uses a trick to create a separate running hierarchy, which is why the launcher can completely unload from memory and the rest of the app keep running.