How do I write messages to the Front Panel?

[Alexil]

I am using Labview version 5.0. I need to write messages such as instructions or test results into a dialog ring on the front panel. How do i go about doing it? Or is there a better way to do so without a dialog ring? Thanks!

[Gorka Larrea]

Right click on the ring dialog and select create property node, in this, use strings property to write in the array of strings you want to write on it. As long as i don't know which is your application, i can't say if you have a better option than using this.
Good luck

[Albert.Geven]

Alternatives for a dialog ring are the helpwindow when you have filled in the descriptions and maybe a simple string indicator that you fill with hints or testresults.

[Ben]

Using LV 5.0 limits your options.

You can place a string indicator on the front panel which can be populated from various locations within your code using locals. Make sure you are using proper data flow techniques to ensure the correct messages is displayed at the correct time.

If the events that should trigger the display or control the contents of these messages are only available in running sub-VI's, you will have to add an independent loop to the HMI VI. This loop can periodicly read from a queue, LV2 global or traditional global. If it finds a message, it will write the same to the indicator, if it doesn't, it can go back to sleep for another 1/2 second.

Now, these running sub-VI's can write to the queue (global etc.) any time they have a message to display.


That's it for pre LV6 techniques. If you have LV6 there is a better solution. When the HMI starts up, it can get a control refnum for the string indicator, and pass it to all appropriate sub-VI's. Thes sub-VI's can then write their messages directly to the indicator, therby elliminating the independent loop in the main HMI.

I hope this gives you some ideas,

Ben