How can I make an invisible control?

[Bob_Schor]

I have an application where the Front Panel is black, most controls are invisible.  The task is a "button-pushing" task -- a button appears on the screen and the subject has to press it (if it is green) or not press it (if it is red).  I'd like to place an "invisible" Stop button in the upper left hand corner, so that I can click there to stop the application, but want the control "invisible" so the subject doesn't press it ("oooh, what's this?" ... push ...).

What "almost" works is to change the color of the Stop boolean control to black.  Unfortunately, these nice LabVIEW controls have shading that gives them a nice 3-D appearance, and the shading is visible.  Suggestions?  [I tried a black "square LED", and this is even worse, in terms of shading, than the Stop button].

Bob Schor

[Bob_Schor]

Before someone suggests it, you can't simply make the control "invisible" via its property sheet, since if you do, you can't use it!  I want to be able to activate the control by "clicking in the secret spot" ...

[Dennis_Knutson · Accepted solution]

Just color it to transparent. That's the 'T' in the upper right corner of the color palette.

It might be more robust to use some key combination since the end user might randomly click on the front panel or leave the control visible but require a password to operate it.

[Bob_Schor]

Figured it out!  Don't make the control "black", make it transparent!  Then it really does disappear, but is still "clickable".  Slick!

[johnsold]

Transparent is probably your best choice, but if you do decide to color a control the same as your panel, try the Classic style controls because they do not have the shading effects.

Lynn