LabVIEW tabbing behavior

[Kenneth]

I have a LabVIEW application with some typedef clusters. I am trying to make the user experience simple. The opportunity is to fix the tabbing order between the elements of a cluster.

My VI is a configuration dialog and a problem exists with the tabbing behavior. The VI has a tab control. I have three clusters on a particular tab with two elements each. The elements are numeric high and low limits.
I want the user to tab between the six (6) limits (3 clusters x 2 limits each).

The problem is that I can tab between the clusters. Or I can tab between the elements in a cluster. But I have to use a funky-key (TM) combination, which is probably a gang-like gesture in some major US city, in order to get to the elements in another cluster.

At this point, I know how to "tab" to the next cluster of elements:
0. Start at the 2nd element in the first cluster 1. funky-key combo up; 2. Tab to the next cluster; 3. funky-key combo down.
Did I mention I need to translate this behavior to Spanish?

My solution, unless the wizards at NI can help, is to replace every cluster in my configuration dialog with independent controls in order to get the desired behavior. Kick the clusters, along with COBOL and FORTRAN back to the rock pile.

I thought about intercepting a key down event and filtering tab events to do the right thing. But that becomes a problem with the number of clusters in the tab control. Also, I don't know what features might be added, and it bypasses the default tabbing order, so it does not seem to be a realistic solution from a code management perspective.

Another thought, is related to something LabVIEW can do. On the cluster, I can see an option under Advanced >> Key Navigation, >> "Tabbing moves into contents". However it is grayed out. A maniacal sound, not unlike laughter, emanates from my speakers as I read through the help for that checkbox. The help for "Tabbing moves into contents" states that the feature is only for tab controls, i.e. not clusters. Is there an INI file setting to expand this capability???

So the next-to-the-best solution is to ask NI to build a special LabVIEW version that allows me to select that checkbox when a cluster is selected so that the user experience is 11X better. This exceeds NI's current goal of 10X for test 😉

Any thoughts or other ways to solve this problem come to mind? Waiting for your insight into this conundrum.

[johnsold]

Kenneth,

Since you are using a configuration dialog VI for the user interface and, apparently, other VIs for the processing, perhaps separate controls for the user interface will provide a good experience for the user. You could then write the data to cluster indicators and pass that to your other VIs. The indicators could be hidden so they are not part of the user experience. Not quite as elegant but quite functional. If you want to visually group the elements, use decorations which look somewhat like clusters. (The users don't need to know whether the borders are merely visual guides or part of the controls).

Lynn

[Kenneth]

Thanks for the response!

Separate controls with visual grouping by decoration is the solution I have implemented. However, the configuration controls are not in a separate dialog VI, they reside on a tab control in the main application's HMI. I bundle the elements into a cluster, but only because I need that data as a "cable" for subVI calls elsewhere.

I am stretching the use of clusters as both a data type and a user interface element. It is frustrating to see an option/feature that makes sense, i.e. tabbing into contents, but which is not available.

regards,
Kenneth

[KileenC]

Hi Kenneth,

The disabled tabbing behavior property has been documented and NI R&D is working on fixing the issue. For now, I have written an example program that will allow you to tab into a cluster from front panel tabbing. It's attached below.

Let me know if you have any questions.