float representation compatibility

[EricPeeters]

Hello,

I m experiencing an issue with the float representation in Labview 8.0. Actually I am trying to control the motion of 2 steppers motors via the RS232 serial interface. And the command I must send to the motion controller looks like that: "1PA2.567" where "1" is the axis number, "PA" the command and "2.567" the targeted position in mm. The problem I have is the float a represented with a "," and not a "." in Labview 8.0, so the command I send is "1PA2,567" and of course this not work very well. So my question is quite simple: is there any option somewhere I can turn the float representation to the desired one (a point instead of a comma)? I have of course used the "find and replace" VI to replace the comma with a point in the string I send but it should have a clean solution...

Thanks in advance for answering me,

Eric

[J.R.]

Hello Eric,

I think the best way to solve your problem is changing the Regional Languages and Options of Windows >> Regional Options >> Customize and under the tab "Number" change the decimal symbol from ',' to '.' .

Otherwise there is no other solution except which you employ (using a sring and replace the ',' by an '.' .

Best Regards,

[daijoubu]

You could also use %.; in your format specifier to force it to use the '.' instead of the ','.  Take a look at this discussion in the LabVIEW forum.

[Albert.Geven]

The problem you experience is generated by the default setting of LabVIEW to use a localised decimal point.

If you switch that off in the options you have a normal system. Everybody in Europe is having problems with this one.
Our American friends simply were too friendly when they defaulted this option to use a localised decimal point
and afterwards invented a lot of software with %. to use a localised decimal point togetehr with a normal decimal point.
I have seen only one instrument that had the option to change the decimal point and we decided to never use that.

success, you are not alone in this struggle

[EricPeeters]

I had already tried to force the format with "%." but it changed nothing. So I have changed the Regional Settings and it worked... Thank you very much for answering me.

Eric

[daijoubu]

Are you sure you had the format string correct?  It works correctly on my system using LabVIEW 7.1 and windows XP SP2.  The format string should look like this for a single floating point number:
%.; %f

 It's even an option if you right click on the Format Into String.vi and select Edit Format String.