When developing in LabVIEW, how do you manage the large number of windows?

[jncuevas]

Hello everyone,

When you're developing complex systems in LabVIEW, how do you manage the large number of windows on your computer?
I often end up with dozens of windows as I open a vi (new window), open the block diagram (new window), open a sub-vi (new window), open that block diagram (new window), open that block diagram (new window) and repeat until I reach the code that I am looking for.
Once I have all of these windows open there a couple problems:
1)  Every LabVIEW window is now in the way of other applications that I need to use while I'm working.
2)  When I want to jump around in the code, I have to search through all of the LabVIEW windows, which often look very similar.
It seems like I'm missing something because other people say this is a non-issue.  Or is it just that other people get used to working in the mess of windows?

[daveTW]

Hello,

you need space on your monitor. And better than space on your monitor is more space on your monitor... (grandaddy omong the jokes 😁)

I work since ages with two monitors, having all the front panels on the left one, the BDs on the right one. LabVIEW stores the positions of the windows, so they open there again.

1) On Windows configure the Taskbar so the buttons are not grouped, this should keep the overview for the first 10 windows on each monitor. Normally/offten I don't need the FPs while debugging the code, so they can be minimized. That's why there is enough space for the other Apps.

2) Jumping around is easier with Ctrl+E, if you better recognize the BD or the FP. Another helping principle is to use the stored data of controls in open FPs. If you have a problem with a certain SubVI or you have to examine the algorithm with special kind of input data, you can stop the execution in this SubVI, change your BD- code and execute only this SubVI with the stored controls data. I consider this a unique feature of LabVIEW.

And yes, you get used to it.

[jncuevas]

Thank you for the suggestions!  I think they will help.  Monitor space is not an issue for me, but your suggestions might help me make better use of the space.

[zou]

On any VI FP, from menu bar => Window => All Windows... (or Ctrl+Shift+W), will give you a list of all opened VI.

[jncuevas]

That seems like another great suggestion!  Thank you.

[Petru_Tarabuta]

In addition to Ctrl + E and Ctrl + Shift + W (both of which are extremely useful), Ctrl + W is great at closing VI windows quickly.

[raphschru]

I use Ctrl+E (switch between block diagram and front panel) and Ctrl+Shift+E (view the current VI in the project tree) all the time, I even mapped these shortcuts on my additional mouse buttons. I mostly open VIs from the project tree or by double-clicking subVIs in block diagrams.

[altenbach]

Typically, very few VIs are under active development, so going to a subVI by opening everything along the call chain creates a pile of windows. You can easily follow the call chain in the VI hierarchy window and open the subVI from there directly.

Of course if you plan to rename the subVI, many callers will have unsaved changes when you try to close the project.

[Yamaeda]

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@jncuevas wrote:

Hello everyone,

When you're developing complex systems in LabVIEW, how do you manage the large number of windows on your computer?
I often end up with dozens of windows as I open a vi (new window), open the block diagram (new window), open a sub-vi (new window), open that block diagram (new window), open that block diagram (new window) and repeat until I reach the code that I am looking for.
Once I have all of these windows open there a couple problems:
1)  Every LabVIEW window is now in the way of other applications that I need to use while I'm working.
2)  When I want to jump around in the code, I have to search through all of the LabVIEW windows, which often look very similar.
It seems like I'm missing something because other people say this is a non-issue.  Or is it just that other people get used to working in the mess of windows?

---

That's a constant struggle. If i click my way down the way you describe i sometimes close windows 'above' just to limit the number i have, else the "All windows" mentioned is very useful, both for finding and closing other windows. Dropping some notes with e.g. #note and use the Bookmark tool to keep track of where some functions are or where i where.

[RTSLVU]

I have three monitors in my development station, that helps a lot.But also minimizing the windows I am not using and closing VI's immediately when I am done "passing through" their block diagram to get to a sub-vi.