file dialog express VI - replace or create with confirmation option

[DonRoth]

Does anyone else here think that this express VI should have built in replace or create with confirmation option like the Open/Create/Replace File function?

Don

[tbob]

I think that all Express VIs should be obliterated, except for Elapsed Time express vi.   Express VIs were invented to market Labview as a rapid development language.  Now its reputation is such that we developers are expected to produce in an unreasonable amount of time.  Express VIs are very limited compared to discrete functions. 

Be a real programmer and use the discrete functions like Open/Create/Replace.  It has the option you are looking for.

[Dennis_Knutson]

I agree that many Express VIs have limited functionality but in this case, the Express Dialog is nothing more than a wrapper around the old file dialog function and an easy way to configure it. It's purpose (both old and new) is to give more options than the Open/Create/Replace such as pattern and start path. When doing a file write, it would be appropriate to do a Open/Create/Replace after the dialog.

[DonRoth]

The File Dialog Express VI is one of the only, if not the only, express VI I use.  Let me tell you why I started using it awhile back.  The 'old' version of Open_Create_Replace File.vi (~ < LabVIEW 7.1/8?) allowed one to specify pattern and default name, whereas the newer version does not.  The file dialog express VI allows these options also.  So yes, the best thing is to do a Open/Create/Replace (current version) after the express dialog after Dennis suggests.

Don

[Coq_Rouge]

You can find the old open\create\replace file.vi here  "......\National Instruments\LabVIEW 2010\vi.lib\_oldvers\_oldvers.llb\Open_Create_Replace File.vi" Using the old File Dialog function.

The help for the old File Dialog is somewhat funny. As it claim is is not supported any more, but is still the core of the new Express VI. The only thing they did was to remove it from the palette. Why

The good thing is that in the Labview 2010 information they do not mention Express VIs at all. In the 2009 version they bragged about X new EXpress VIs. So perhaps after many years of complaining they do see the fact that Express VIs are not so great after all.

[DonRoth]

Ultimately, the best space-saving solution is to go back to the old version of Open/Create/Replace - not sure why this one has been retired.  Good find.

Thanks,

Don

[tbob]

One of my pet peves with express vi's is that they take up too much room.  However, that can be solved by changing the view to an icon style.  Still, if I need the extra functionality, I will use the old version of Open_Create_Replace.

Large                          smaller              smallest (but not by a lot)

[tbob]

How about that.  The File Dialog express vi's block diagram is a call to another express vi, subFile Dialog.vi!!!!    One express vi calling another express vi?  Why couldn't they just put the old Open_Create_Replace inside the first express vi?

[DonRoth]

I guess we could make a subVI out of the left side if we really wanted to if we were not able to get access to the retired version.

[CLSmith]

Hey all,

I think this is a pretty valid concern. It would be a good thing to take to the Idea Exchange to get on the radar of R&D and other users.

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