Exporting Simplified Image in LabVIEW 8

[Marc_A]

First of all, I'm very happy to see that LV 8 includes support to programmatically export an image of a graph in .emf format.  What I don't understand is why the functionality was changed.  In 7.1, when you exported an image of a graph, it included anything on top of the graph.  This was useful for me, as I have a program that adds information to the graph and labels up to 16 stacked plots.  However this information doesn't show up when I use LV 8.  I'm wondering if there is any way to change this behavior.

If not, I hope to see another option in the export image invoke node of a waveform graph that allows me to change this behavior.  Something like, "include foreground objects." 

Thanks for any help

[alipio]

Hi Marc

Perhaps you can use create annotation (front panel) or annotation list (property) to label your plots. emf keeps this annotations.

Hope it helps

Alipio

[Marc_A]

Thanks for the reply.  I know about the annotations, but that doesn't really help me.  The program I already have written has up to 16 stacked plots and a string array on the left hand side to label them as well as strings above the plot with other information.  I have a button to print the chart by creating a report and appending a front panel image.  However it's in .jpg format and doesn't look nearly as good as it could if it were .emf.  I'd like to be able to save the chart as an emf and append that to a report.  The ability to do this was added to LV 8, but at the same time the functionality of the Export Simplified Image was changed without any explanation as to why.  I just wish they had added an option to be able to export it how I want instead of simply changing it.

[Andy F.]

Marc,

I can't offer any reasons why the functionality was changed, but I can speculate a little.  The Export Simplified Image method was referring to just the graph, so any controls/indicators over that graph technically shouldn't show up.  I know that this doesn't help you, but I may be able to offer some solutions for you.  The first would be to use the PNG format instead of the JPG.  I have found that it just looks a lot better.  You could also try to create a custom graph that is simplified already which would allow you to replicate a exported simplified image.  If you had other controls/indicators on the front panel that you would like to display but not record, you could always create a subVI that acts as a pop-up with the graphical information that you created and take a shot of that front panel.  I hope that these suggestions help!

Andy F.

[Marc_A]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I've used PNG, but it's still just a screenshot.  If you've seen the clarity of an emf, you'll see how a jpg or png just doesn't compare.  The emf produces a vector image of a very thin line that shows all of the data in great detail as opposed to a pixelated screenshot.

I also understand that the way it works now is the way it should have technically worked all along.  What I'm saying is that it's annoying that they just changed it without documenting any kind of reason why.  I'm hoping that someone with some say in the matter sees this and implements an option like I described in my first post.  A boolean parameter on the invoke node to toggle the behavior would be perfect.

[Andy F.]

Marc,

I can understand where you are coming from.  PNG is still a screenshot, and EMF is much clearer that is very true.  As for adding a option to include foreground options, that seems like a good suggestion.  What I would suggest would be to create product suggestion for that feature.  We take these suggestions seriously, and it may make it into the next version of LabVIEW.  If you are interested here is the link:

Contact NI

Click on the link under Product Feedback and you can enter a suggestion. 

Thanks!
Andy F.

[Marc_A]

Suggestion sent.  Thanks for your help Andy.  I just hope this gets added, it would make my graph printouts so much nicer looking 🙂