Linking graphical objects

[m-s]

Hello

In my application, I have a double loop, over parameters x and y. I have a subVI that implements the y loop for one value of x. In that subVI, I have a real time plot that shows the quantity being measured as a function of x and y. I wish to "link" this plot upwards into the front panel which calls that subVI. Is this possible ?

If I place this realtime plot in the front panel, it won't be real time anymore - I would have to wait for the y loop to complete in that subVI in order to update the results.

Thanks.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Yes. In the main VI, you can create the chart and pass a reference to it to the subVI. In the subVI, you wire the reference to a value property and the indicator in main will get updated at the same time. What I do is right click on the indicator and select Create>Reference. I then right click on the reference and select Create>Control. I cut this control from the main VI and paste it onto the subVI. In the subVI's diagram, you can then right click on the reference and select Create>Property>Value.

[Darren]

Another way to do this, as I described in this weekly nugget, is to Ctrl-Drag the actual chart into a control reference control.  I used to do it the way Dennis described, until I learned about the Ctrl-Drag trick.

-D

[Dennis_Knutson]

How did I miss this one? This works much better.

[m-s]

Thanks for the responses.

On the front panel of the main VI, I have copied over the chart from the front panel of the subVI. Then created a control refnum and ctrl + drag'ed the chart onto the control refnum, followed by right click + show control.

Now, as far as wiring is concerned, it is obvious that the main VI chart has to be an indicator, not a control. So, I right clicked and changed it to an indicator. Now what kind of indicator do I need from the subVI to wire to the input of this indicator ?

Sorry about the confusion and if I have misunderstood what you explained.

[Dennis_Knutson]

Here's an example that will hopefully explain a little bit better. The main VI passes a reference to a chart on it's front panel. The subVI has a control reference as an input and writes to a value property node of the reference. When you run the main, as the subVI runs, you will see the chart update. Note that you do not have to have a chart in the subVI or wire a vale returned from the subVI to the indicator in the main. Having either is optional. There are shipping examples of control references tha you may also want to look at.