Building a GUI with a front panel like Windows

[NI_user_student]

Hello fellow Engineers!
I would like some useful insights from all of you. I would like to build a GUI which has a tool bar panel with 'File', 'Edit', and so on. And, when I click on, say, 'Edit', I would like to have a  pull down menu with many options. Each option that I click would run a separate VI. I have implemented this with a enum variable and an event driven construct. But, then the front panel does not look like the way I want it. I would like some ideas on how to implement a front panel that looks a lot like what we see on Windows.

I await some useful insights and advice from all of you.

Yours sincerely,

Aparna.
Student,
Uni,Ulm.

[andre.buurman@carya]

Could you post a screenshot of your interface?

André

[falkpl]

Does this interface have to be dynamic in nature or do you know the values of the toolbar icons in advance?

[Kenny_K]

I am not quite sure by what you mean "looking more like windows".

What I would consider the Windows "Front panel", has a task bar, and a bunch of icons that link to other directories and "vis", if you accept that LabVIEW analogy.

If you want to change the look of your front panel to be more Windows esk, use the system controls and indicators, you can add any decorations you would like.

As far as I know, you can customize the menu bar (File, edit, etc) as far as what options are availible, but not the look of the bar (color, etc).

[GerdW]

Hi Aparna,

you can easily create your own menu (in LV7.1: Edit -> Run-Time Menu...)

You can control this menu in the block diagram by menu functions (LV7.1: Application Control -> menu) or using the event structure (there are menu events available).

Then it can look like this (at least on WinXP):

Message Edited by GerdW on 09-24-2007 02:38 PM

[falkpl]

Tool bars and menu bars are different.  Are you looking for a menu tool bar or both?

[tst]

Other than using the menu VIs, you should also use the system controls and colors, so that your application will adapt to the OS and theme.

However, if you do this, you should make sure that everything in your UI uses system style settings.

[Graziano]

Hi All!
   it seems to me that the "GUI like windows" escription fits into menu.  I'd just like to complete Gerd's post with pointing at examples: in my LV (7.1) you find simple menu examples in Examples --> Building User interfaces --> Menus and toolbars

   In particular, Meny selection demo and Meny selection with events are quite simple: look at that: is what you were looking for?

   Have a nice day!

graziano