What is a connector pane pattern?

[zhedahht]

I'm blocked when I try to create SubVIs, since I don’t understand what a Connector Pane Pattern is. In the LabVIEW Help document Fundamentals > Creating Vis and SubVIs > Create SubVIs > Building the Connector Pane, there is such a section:

Each rectangle on the connector pane represents a terminal. Use the rectangles to assign inputs and outputs. The default connector pane pattern is 4 × 2 × 2 × 4. If you anticipate changes to the VI that would require a new input or output, keep the default connector pane pattern to leave extra terminals unassigned.

I’m not sure what a connector pane pattern is, and what does 4 × 2 × 2 × 4 stand for. Can anyone please help to provide me some explanation? Any help will be sincerely appreciated. Thank.

[JohnMc19]

Hi zhedahht,

A connector pane is useful when placing a sub.vi on a block diagram. You give it connectors that are linked to terminals in the sub.vi such as 'error in/error out' or 'data_in', this allows for code to be simpified and free up space on a bloack diagram. 

'4x2x2x4' is the default pattern for a connector pane, it means 4 terminals on the left-hand side (normally for inputs), 2 terminals on the top and bottom and 4 terminals on the right-hand side (normally for outputs).

To see the connector pane of a VI you have open simply right click on the icon in the top right-hand corner of the VI then select - 'Show connector'

More help is found here: Connector pane

Regards,

[zhedahht]

Thanks your quick response.

For: '4x2x2x4' is the default pattern for a connector pane, it means 4 terminals on the left-hand side (normally for inputs), 2 terminals on the top and bottom and 4 terminals on the right-hand side (normally for outputs). Can you clarify a bit more: are 2 terminals on the top and bottom, for error in/out, or both for outputs?

[JohnMc19]

It is all customisable, you can set them to whatever front panel controls/indicators you have in your VI.

Standard labview programming would be to have error in on the bottom left-hand connector, error out on the bottom right-hand side.

Thanks,

[zhedahht]

Thanks for your explanation. Now I get your point.

Will you please help me on the following issue:

After I develop a subVI, and save it into a *.vi file, how can I use it another VI? I can't find the subVI in the Controls and Functions palette.

I know it's a silly question, but I'm blocked by it for a long time. Your help will be sincerely appreciated by me, a LabVIEW novice.

[billko]

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After I develop a subVI, and save it into a *.vi file, how can I use it another VI? I can't find the subVI in the Controls and Functions palette.

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Right-click on the block diagram.  Select "Open a VI."  (I think?  It's so automatic for me I've forgotten exactly what it says.)  Then navigate to your VI.  You can then slect it and drop it onto your block diagram.  (The only way to wire it up is if you have connectors, which I believe you probably set up already, since you asked about the connector pane. 🙂 )

[thinnker]

Hi

Open block diagram of your main vi.

Right click -->select a VI --->browse for it where you saved it in your PC.

Then ok.

i attatched the screen shot. It will be useful to you.

Regards,

Hari

[billko]

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Open block diagram of your main vi.

Right click -->select a VI --->browse for it where you saved it in your PC.

Then ok.

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Haha why didn't I think of that?

[JohnMc19]

You can even drag and drop the file onto the block diagram from a windows explorer window!

[RavensFan]

These are pretty basic LabVIEW questions.

I would recommend looking at the online LabVIEW tutorials
LabVIEW Introduction Course - Three Hours
LabVIEW Introduction Course - Six Hours