UI Interest Group Discussions
Mouse Over Array Highlight Demo (Opcode x48 Picture Control)
Starting in LabVIEW 2020 there is a VI which will allow for alpha levels of picture controls. This can take a 32 bit PNG image, and apply alpha layer information, making semi-transparent objects on the front panel. It is found here:
National Instruments\LabVIEW 2020\vi.lib\picture\PNG\Draw Flattened Blended Pixmap.vi
Using this I have a dialog for selecting files that looks like this with mouse over feedback.
Download the zip, extract, and run the Main - Recent Files Dialog.vi. This will show you the files in your documents folder, with a filter on All Files, Text Files, or PNG Files. Mouse over the file you want and you can single click to select it. This isn't all that special on it's own, but the code itself is fairly simple. I wanted a dialog that shows recently saved files, with a filter, but have a mouse over effect, and work with different sized controls. I also wanted the Abbreviated Path feature, which handles shortening the path on it's own. I started down a path of a single 2D picture control showing all the controls. But then I would have to deal with scrolling, and the abbreviating I would have to do on my own, or stitching text together, and then what do I do if I want to handle different fonts, or different array types? I also thought about using a MCLB, or table, but those seemed pretty ridged.
I made what I think is the easiest solution. The control is just an array of paths which keeps the data type simple and easy. But then the trick is I have a 2D picture control, set to be semi transparent, and I will move and resize it on mouse move over the selected item. Now scrolling is still handled natively. And this can work on other array types, and can work with more dimensions with a bit of code, making it more generic. This might be a good candidate for a QControl.
Sorry for the poorly documented, code, and various tools which were normally found in multiple packages I made over on VIPM.IO. This isn't meant to be a full solution, but instead to highlight the opcode x48, allowing to have a 2D picture control be semitransparent, on top of normal LabVIEW front panel controls. I think this is a wonderful hidden feature in LabVIEW (maybe even a gem?). And to highlight the alpha layer even more, I've attached a video showing a loading GIF on the front panel of the VI placed behind all controls.
