LabVIEW 8.6 propositions on how to build application that acts like reader form specified field dependent on which values been selected

[Zguljo]

Hello everyone!

I am newbie to LabVIEW with some previous experience programming in different languages.

My goal is to build the application that upon my selection needs to give specific values from previously filled and prepared file.

For example, I have different types of operations (milling, drilling, turning..) and different grades (type) of steels (Uddeholm steel grades: NIMAX, IMPAX...and about 40 of them). For every operation there are different input data (Coated insert, uncoated). Based of those information application should give out cutting speed and feed rate data that are stored in some file. I understand I can do it in Excel spreadsheet or LV spreadsheet, I would prefer LV because of portability to systems without Office installed on them. I also understand that all those issues concerning input data for output results I can easily solve with case scenario.

Main issue is decision between different types of files that I can easily address like 2D matrix to get required data, which and how to do it.

I would like to know what I should acknowledge first before doing any further work?

And does someone have some simply prepared VI on which I can work my way on?

If you are willing to help me with guides I would be happy to answer any of your questions.

Vedran Galeta

[smercurio_fc]

There is no "LV spreadsheet" per se, unless you're thinking of the Read/Write Spreadsheet File functions. These operate on simple text files that are formatted using delimeters to separate columns of data, and an EOL character to separate rows. Thus, in this sense you can store your data as simple text files and use these functions to read them directly into a 2D array. Examples ship with LabVIEW to show you how to use these functions.

On a more general note, you should probably start by working out the general architecture of your program. What will it look like? Will there be a continous process running? How is it supposed to respond to external inputs and/or user inputs via the front panel. What kind of hardware are you dealing with. There's lots of examples that ship with LabVIEW, and you can find lots more in the Developer Zone. Some key articles dealing with code architecture are the ones dealing with state machines and the producer-consumer architecture.

To learn more about LabVIEW it is recommended that you go through the tutorial(s) and look over the material in the NI Developer Zone's Learning Center which provides links to other materials and other tutorials. You can also take the online courses for free.

[Zguljo]

Thank you very much for your reply.

This application that I am working on is completely static due to communication. It simply needs to provide entry in table depending on selected inputs in front panel, and of course display it front panel. I know what I need to do, as well as the structure. Only thing that I don't know yet how to do it in LabVIEW.

When I mentioned "LV spreadsheet" I meant on read from file option, you got that right.. 🙂 The thing is that now I have large amounts (not large in acquisition data point of view, 5 spread sheets, with 45 rows and 15 columns) of data saved in Excell, and my goal would be to get that data in LabVIEW application, for the ease of access. And still leave that xls file as is, due to all connections that he have with smaller xls files. So in compact version of the story I am going to use save as comma separated (or tab, that depends of course) values from Excell with or without extra editing of created file in order to load that file into prepared program structure in LabVIEW. After I manage to do that, of course I will work my way for all other extras that I am gonna put eventually in program structure. So this would be like a backbone, I know it sounds simple. As a matter of fact I would probably be finnished allready in VB but highest demand is to do this in LabVIEW, and I am fully down with that. 🙂

Regards,

Vedran