multiple images

[LuisM]

I am new to LabView and I need to do a simulation program. The problem I am having is:
I have lets say a drawing of a valve and I need to make that image change to represent the valve closing by changing the picture lets say 6 times( 6 stages) from closed to open. if it was only open and closed I could use a customized indicator and import the image but how do I do it if I need to have 6 different images to represent the 6 stages? thanks in advance.

[Poormanphysics]

Hello Luis:

Have you tried working on Picture Control VIs? Since custom controls can really just give you a two state output better or flexible toolkits are what you need to fulfill your requirement of animated multisequence action. Another approach is to shoot your valve in sequence using an IMAQ Framegrabber and use IMAQ Vision VIs or have a picture of the valve be taken in sequence on a digital camera save it by JPEG or BMP and design a custom code in LabVIEW using IMAQ vision.

[zou]

You can use a pict ring indicator. It's on ring/enum palette.

Put a pict ring control on your front panel, then from menu bar, select Edit -> import picture from file, to import your image. Right click on the pict ring, select "import picture". Repeat 6 times. Then change control to indictor.

George Zou
http://gtoolbox.yeah.net

[LuisM]

Hi Dr Berns
I tryed to work withthe picture VIs but the help on them is not the best...
They seem to be the ideal solution for my problem can you direct me to some example code ?
thanks for your help.
regards
Luis

[Ben]

HI LuisM,

Go with George's suggestion. The techniques outlined by George Zou were used in the demo I posted here


http://exchange.ni.com/servlet/ProcessRequest?RHIVEID=101&RPAGEID=137&HOID=5065000000050000001457010...


In that example I used about 25 images but you can get by with less.

30 frames per second will look smooth, so figure out how long you want the valve to move and start drawing!.

Have fun (the example is supposed to be funny and enlightening).

Ben


Ben Rayner
Certified LabVIEW Developer
www.DSAutomation.com

[LuisM]

I Ben
the extension of this file is .llb, is this a valid LabView extension ?
I will try this method and see if I can get it going.
my approach to this was to build a main VI with the main schematic drawing of the system and then use sub VIs to just change the valves and switchs but the idea of changing the hole screen at once seems a good idea if I can get it smooth enought.
thanks
Luis

[Ben]

A .llb is a library for LV.

I usualy avoid /llb's but that example was intended for demonstrating dynamic instanciation of VI's. That meant I had to make sure all the support file where present to work correctly. The .llb was just a convienent way of solving the problem when I posted the example.

".llb"'s can be thought of as a LV folder (becuase that is what they are!).

Ben

[LuisM]

Hi Ben
the picture ring is perfect, but the idea I had in the beginning based on your example, to change the whole screen at the same time is not feasible.
I need to have also controls on the Screen.
the question is how can I take the frame( the sunken frame around it) out of the picture ring to make it blend with the rest of the screen? if I can achieve this I can just put a pic. ring for each of the valves and switchs independent of each other.
thanks
Luis

[Ben]

Use the paint brush tool to color the frame tansparent.

Ben

[Greg_McKaskle2]

> I need to have also controls on the Screen.
> the question is how can I take the frame( the sunken frame around it)
> out of the picture ring to make it blend with the rest of the screen?
> if I can achieve this I can just put a pic. ring for each of the
> valves and switchs independent of each other.

Color the border of the ring transparent using the coloring tool. You
may need to right-click, then put the cursor over the T in the upper
right, then tap a key on the keyboard to change both foreground and
background colors.

Anyway, the pict ring was put into LV pretty much for multistate
indicators like valves and pumps. Enjoy.

Greg McKaskle