create references for multiple type def controls in State Machine architecture

[asukumari]

I am trying to understand how the following can be done, I am trying to recreate a similar step in my application to default all fields ( controls and indicators ) to their default initial values. Why is it important to create the UI references as shown in the figure below and how to  do it if I have multiple controls?

[paul_cardinale]

Are you trying to do this?

[asukumari]

Yes, I just figured it out now that all values of the VI can be re-initialized by doing it your way.

But why does the example have such elaborate method if it tries to accomplish the same thing?

[Ben]

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@asukumari wrote:

Yes, I just figured it out now that all values of the VI can be re-initialized by doing it your way.

But why does the example have such elaborate method if it tries to accomplish the same thing?

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The answer may be found in the other states where sub-VIs may have to touch the GUI elements or register for Events associated with those controls.

Passing that cluster to sub-VIs will allow them to access the methods that are specific to those GUI objects.

You can browse this album to see images of code that I have developed that uses a similar approach. As you browse through those images, please note there are links to the threads were I used those images to answer questions.

Ben

[BertMcMahan · Accepted solution]

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@asukumari wrote:

Yes, I just figured it out now that all values of the VI can be re-initialized by doing it your way.

But why does the example have such elaborate method if it tries to accomplish the same thing?

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The example shown can reinitialize controls to other states than simply their default value. If you store values to a file, those values can be initialized each time the program is run. It's very useful (virtually mandatory) for lots of built applications where you want user settings to persist between runs.

[asukumari]

Your album with images was an excellent approach to explain this concept. It helped me to understand the concept.