How can I construct a custom PDA dialog?

[Bandit]

Hi,

I need to display a PDA dialog along the lines of "Do you want to save the data, Yes/No?

The two button dialog in LabVIEW is ideal, but on the PDA module you can't set the button text. OK and Cancel don't cut it, as this dialog presents one option at the start of a process. The process continues whether or not you save the data. The cancel button creates the impression that the whole process could be cancelled, not just the file save.

Does anyone know if it's possible to create a custom dialog? Everything I try displays as a full size screen, I have found nothing I can adjust to appear like a pop-up dialog box.

Doas anyone know how this can be done, or is it a non starter?

I'm using LabVIEW and PDA module 8.5 (for Windows mobile, not the Palm version)

Thanks.

Bandit

[GrahamG]

Hi Bandit

Yes it is possible within labVIEW. The principle of creating a popup dialog box is creating a subVI and changing the window appearance to call the front panel with limited options available.

To do this go into the VI properties either in File>>VI properties or Ctrl I. From here go to the window appearance tab and either select dialogue box or custom and then customize the options that you would like.

To ensure that you have a small pop-up and not a full screen I would recommend resizing your subVI front panel whether on manually by dragging or by changing the window size options in the VI properties again. Remember here to have selected the do not show scroll bars in appearance.

When This VI runs now in your program it should call the front panel and then close it again afterwards.

The method above is a generic for labVIEW which I have not tried on a PDA. If you can confirm that you have done the above and are sure that your size settings are correct and it still is not functioning as a proper dialogue box then I will look further into setting it up on your PDA.

Best regards

[Bandit]

Hi Graham, thanks for your swift reply.

You have pretty much outlined how I would go about this on a PC with LabVIEW.

On the PDA I had already resized the window and tried the dialog and custom appearence options but missed your point about the scroll bars. I have now tried de-selecting the options to show horizontal and vertical scroll bars. Sadly this hasn't helped. I can call the dialog vi from the main vi, but it's full screen. I have tried de-selecting the other custom options too. The only things I left selected in the end were 'show front panel when opened' and 'close afterwards if originally closed'. I have tried default and modal window behaviour settings. I still get a full screen panel.

If you could take a further look at how to do this on a PDA I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

Bandit.

[Ben]

I have seen a tab-control (with tabs hidden) used to get this effect.

At dialog time, switch the the dialog tab.

When done, switch back to the normal display tab.

Ben

[Bandit]

Hi Ben, thanks for your advice.

It's an interesting alternative, I'd prefer a 'proper' dialog if I can get it, but I'll take a look and see how this idea would integrate onto my front panel. It may be that the tab would be usefull fo a couple of other things too as it happens.

Regards

Bandit 

[GrahamG]

I have to say that this does sound like a good solution. I am trying to get hold of a PDA to set this up myself but as a work around I would try this out. I will see what I can do for you keep me posted as to whether this tab control will integrate ok.

[Bandit]

I have now had chance to test the idea of using a tab control to achieve this functionality.

It works, but in my opinion, for my applicaton, it looks sloppy. The reason is that unlike tabs on the PC, you can't hide the actual tabs on the PDA. As I don't want to see (or indeed have room for) tabs for 'Normal' display or Dialog, for what I want to do this solution isn't suitable.

Please let me know if you turn up another solution to the problem.

Regards,

Bandit

[LabViewGuruWannabe]

I have been looking into this as well. It seems that no matter what you set the "Button labels" to in the PDA dialog screen, all you can get is OK or CANCEL. This may be a Windows Mobile constraint. I haven't tried it yet on my Win CE device, but I will tonight or tomorrow.

Another option I'm going to try is using a picture control, with the appearance of custom buttons, and then hide or show that picture. Don't know yet if that will work, but if it does, then we would be able to have the pop-up dialog look much better than the standard message dialog.

[JeffOverton]

Do subpanels work on PDAs?

[Bandit]

Is that different to a subvi, as suggested by Graham G?

I have managed to knock something together using a custom control. It's crude. I'll post it for interest.

Bandit.