.vit? transparent window? (Was Re: How can I dynamically "create" controls)

[Rudolf Potucek]

I am VERY curious about this approach. I am interested in creating a
modular user interface, where I can change the appearanc of parts of the
front panel to do the same function but for different user needs. I played
with encapsulating these into VIs with their own front panels and opening
those panels in the right place on screen, but the disadvantage is that
LV5.1.1 keeps raising the window of the currently active VI so it becomes
practically impossible ot enter values into numeric controls because the
focus keeps changing.

With the method you are mentioning is there a way around that problem?

Rudolf


Michael Sachs

> There actually is a crude way to create new control inst
ances. You must
> use a .vit that contains a single control and then use vi server to create
> the needed instances making each one appear as a transparent child window
> on the parent vi. I have done this and it can be made to work, it is just
> a pain in the ass.

[AIR]

Hi,

You could use windows OS to make the sub VIs MDI childs of the parent VI.
But as Michael said, this will be a PITA.

Regards,

Wiebe.



"Rudolf Potucek" wrote in message
news:a442ij$1epk$1@nserve1.acs.ucalgary.ca...
> I am VERY curious about this approach. I am interested in creating a
> modular user interface, where I can change the appearanc of parts of the
> front panel to do the same function but for different user needs. I played
> with encapsulating these into VIs with their own front panels and opening
> those panels in the right place on screen, but the disadvantage is that
> LV5.1.1 keeps raising the window of the currently active VI so it becomes
> practically impossible ot enter values into numeric controls because the
> focu
s keeps changing.
>
> With the method you are mentioning is there a way around that problem?
>
> Rudolf
>
>
> Michael Sachs
>
> > There actually is a crude way to create new control instances. You must
> > use a .vit that contains a single control and then use vi server to
create
> > the needed instances making each one appear as a transparent child
window
> > on the parent vi. I have done this and it can be made to work, it is
just
> > a pain in the ass.
>
>

[viScience]

Actually, it is fairly simple to make a child window, George Zou's Gtoolbox
has a vi to do that and it works very simply. You can also use another vi
from George that can drag a vi that does not have a titlebar, he make one
special that can be moved using right mouse clicks instead of left ones that
might act on the state of the control instance.

Good Luck,

Mike Sachs

"Rudolf Potucek" wrote in message
news:a442ij$1epk$1@nserve1.acs.ucalgary.ca...
> I am VERY curious about this approach. I am interested in creating a
> modular user interface, where I can change the appearanc of parts of the
> front panel to do the same function but for different user needs. I played
> with encapsulating these into VIs with their own front panels and
opening
> those panels in the right place on screen, but the disadvantage is that
> LV5.1.1 keeps raising the window of the currently active VI so it becomes
> practically impossible ot enter values into numeric controls because the
> focus keeps changing.
>
> With the method you are mentioning is there a way around that problem?
>
> Rudolf
>
>
> Michael Sachs
>
> > There actually is a crude way to create new control instances. You must
> > use a .vit that contains a single control and then use vi server to
create
> > the needed instances making each one appear as a transparent child
window
> > on the parent vi. I have done this and it can be made to work, it is
just
> > a pain in the ass.
>
>