custom controls--ctl vs. ctt

[Dottie]

Labview 7.0 on Windows 2000. I have a data acqusition application that uses strict type defs to organize data related elements. One of these has two files, a .ctl file and a .ctt file. And some of the usages in my application seem to go with one and some the other, so that when I change a characteristic of the strict type def and "apply changes", I create a bunch of broken wires. I cannot find documention about what the difference is between these, nor do I have any idea how I created them. Is there any "easy" way to consolidate them? I've already discovered I can't just copy from one to the other.

[Mads]

A .ctt is a control template. Use it as a template to create other controls (.ctls) based on it. If a control is set to be a typedef that's not the same as it being a template (has some similarities though)...

In everyday use it's the .ctl that you should use and edit. Just change the ending of the file name if you don't want it to be a template/want it to be a template.

Creating the files is done from the customize control interface. When editing a control (select it and choose customize control from the edit menu) you can save the control either as a control or a template.

[Feroz]

Hi Dottie,

Just to add to Mads' answer (which is right on the ball), please take a look at these instructions:

Creating a Control Template
Complete the following steps to create a control template.

Select File»New

Select Control Template from the Create new options in the New dialog box.

Click the OK button to display the Control Template workspace.

Build the control template as you would any other custom control but include only the components you intend to reuse.

Select File»Save to save the template as a control template file (.ctt).

Creating a Custom Control from a Template
Complete the following steps to create a custom control from a control template.

Select File»New.

Select Start from template in the New dialog box.

Type a path to a control template or click the button to the right of the text box to browse for a control template file (.ctt) in the Choose a template VI to open dialog box. The path to the template and a description of the template, if available, appear in the New dialog box.

Click the OK button.

If needed, modify the control template.

Select File»Save to save the control template as a custom control.

I hope this helps.

Feroz
National Instruments