....
> Regarding the colors, you've overwhelmed me with choices. I
> eventually get a color by left clicking and then right clicking, and
> then sometimes a box of colors appears and after a few minutes of
> clicking around I can sometimes get the right color and sometimes not.
> The books seem to have as many choices as you've given me. Is there a
> procedure somewhere on how to do it, Step 1, click on this, Step 2,
> click on this and is it left or right click? The book is not clear.
> Of course, my books are two years old and are for Version 5.1. We
> are now using 6.0 and I understand Version 6.1 is different yet. One
> wonders sometimes if the entire computer industry takes lessons from
> Bill Gates and changes just for the sake of change. As you as you
> learn it, it is different. I'll agree some changes have been good. I
> like the way the pallettes stay in place now and aren't instantly
> covered up as they were on Ver 5.1.
>
There are several ways to load colors into the paintbrush tool depending
on how you wish to use it. I can see how this was overwhelming, so see
if this helps.
1. If it isn't already visible, show the tools palette using the Window
menu.
2. Click on the paint brush tool, the bottom most item in the palette.
3. Right click on a part of the control you need to recolor. This will
show the color selection menu.
4. Select the color you want to use. Moving the mouse over the various
squares will preview the original object using that color.
5. Click and release on the color square you wish to use.
You have now changed the color of part of the control and made that
color be the current color in the brush tool. The squares in the tool
palette next to the brush will show the color you selected and the color
that will be applied on left clicks with the brush tool.
To color other parts of the control, place the tip of the brush on them
and left click.
If you accidentally choose or apply the wrong color, use undo to put it
back. Undo is under the edit menu and uses Ctl-Z as a shortcut, similar
to other application.
As for changes to the LV UI, it isn't Bill Gates, but users of the
product that affect the direction and speed of change. You will notice
some changes, such as the LV6 and LV6.1 color picker offering a more
complete set of colors, but the clicks and tools work the same. The
procedure you are using hasn't changed much since LV2.5, which was
released 9.5 years ago. Other posts have recommended additional books
such as LabVIEW for Everyone. I'd agree that they should be worth your
time and money, and of course you can ask questions here as well.
Finally, in addition to your local DSM discussed previously, you should
ask about a local user group meeting where you can meet and learn from
other LV users in your local area.
Greg McKaskle