So... I have some RT code that is being updated, and pulled out of the Stone Ages of LabVIEW. It was originally written for an old FieldPoint controller operating in "headless" mode, and used the "publish" and datasocket methods for communications and external control. I had to get clever way back then, and put together a parsing/unparsing system for strings to send sets of data back and forth between the controller and any HMI or other computer attached.
Now, I'm completely rewriting the code for a cRIO system, and doing my best to leverage all of the strengths of the latest LabVIEW versions. I have already done an intermediate stage, where I converted from the publish/datasocket method to using network shared variables for my strings, so I could keep some of the original control and calculation logic. Now, however, I'm going back to the drawing board for most of the program, with only some of the proven logic being held over into the new version. And, as I'm putting together the data structures I need for both internal control and external communication, I'm in a bit of a quandary...
I have come upon a data structure dilemma: should I use individual shared variables for my data, or assemble associated data into clusters? My original program had a string (essentially a flattened cluster) for each sensor in use (up to 4), one for the system parameters and states, and one for the control parameters and states. There was a certain advantage to keeping the data compartmentalized like that, it kept things organized and forced me to avoid too many random references of each data point. And it kept the number of communications channels limited to just a handful. Mimicking this structure with cluster shared variables would be easy. But, I'm not sure it's the best or most network-efficient method.
I know the bundling/unbundling will add some processor time in my code, that is not new to me (it will still be much faster than my old parsing routines). But, if I have individual data points being thrown around, I can access them easily from things like Data Dashboard (which is great, but far too limited to be able to grab items in clusters and such). Having all of my data points individually available would make my project messier, but open up easier access. It would also dramatically increase the number of data points being thrown around on the network at any one moment. For reference, I would probably have a maximum of 100 data points at one time, made up of a combination of integers, floats, booleans, integer arrays, boolean arrays. Or I would have a maximum of 8 clusters that would contain those data points.
Any suggestions on which way I should lean? Are there any advantages/disadvantages between shared clusters like the ones I need vs. the number of individual shared variables I would need using the alternative methods? Network traffic and efficiency are always a concern, particularly since this is a "headless" cRIO in a control situation that must maintain a fast scan rate...
Thanks for any help. I'm so stuck on this fence, and I can't figure out which side to fall off!
