How do probes get named?

[wildcatherder]

When I implement a probe on a wire, sometimes I see a name associated with it in the probe window; other times there is just the word "probe".  I would like to be sure all my probes have names because those little numbers are not easy to find nor remember.

What determines whether a probe has a name associated with it?  Can I "force" a name by adding an indicator or something?

[tbob]

The probe name corresponds to the object label that supplies the data to the wire beign probed.  If the label is blank, then the name is "probe".  It seems as if the outputs of primitive functions (like add and subtract), the labels do not carry over to the probe names.

[wildcatherder]

A lot of these lines come out of Boolean functions, which don't have names.  So how would I "force" a name for a probe?

[tbob]

I don't see any way to force probe names on function outputs.  Perhaps this can be a new feature suggestion.  The probe name should be the same as the output label.  Like for the AND function, the probe name should be "x .and. y?".  Also, while you are making a suggestion, the probe name should be changeable inside the probe window to avoid duplicate names.  I don't know how handy this would be though.  It might not get much of a priority level.  The numbers show exactly where the probe is located, and is much smaller to display than a name, causing much less clutter.

[wildcatherder]

I have tried turning labels on and off but I still don't see an "output name" as probe name from functions like ">0"

I wouldn't suggest doing away with the numbers; it's the Probe Watch Window where I need distinct names.

It appears this is one of those questions with no satisfactory answer.

[RavensFan · Accepted solution]

Kind of a hack, but you can put a typecast on the wire.  Wire in a constant of the same datatype.  So if it is a boolean wire, put in boolean constant as to what you are typcasting to.  But show the label on the constant and give it a meaningful name.  Now you've typecast from an unnamed boolean wire to a named boolean wire.  When you put a probe on the wire after the typecast, it will have the meaningful name.

If you need to change the name of the wire, you will change the label on the constant, then have to delete and recreate the probe.

When you are all done debugging, you can go and delete the typecast and the constant.

[smercurio_fc]

If you REALLY wanted to you could use the Type Cast function to name your wire:

EDIT: I see Ravens Fan had the same idea!

[tbob]

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@smercurio_fc wrote:

If you REALLY wanted to you could use the Type Cast function to name your wire:

EDIT: I see Ravens Fan had the same idea!

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I think I will stick to the numbers.

[NIquist]

Don't forget you can right-click the probe and: "Find Wire".

Edit:  That's with the regular probes.  I don't know if it works in the Probe Watch Window.