Week 2

Introduction to LabVIEW

You Will Learn:

A. What a virtual instrument (VI) is

B. The LabVIEW environment
C. LabVIEW Help Options

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 The Virtual Instrumentation Approach

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 Virtual Instrumentation Applications
• Design
– Signal and image processing
– Embedded system programming
• (PC, DSP, FPGA, microcontroller)
– Simulation and Prototyping
– And more …
• Control
– Automatic controls and dynamic systems
– Mechatronics and robotics
– And more … A single graphical development platform
• Measurements
– Circuits and electronics
Design Prototype Deploy
– Measurements and instrumentation
– And more …

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 LabVIEW Graphical Development System

• Graphical programming environment

• Compile code for multiple OS and devices
• Useful in a broad range of applications

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What Is LabVIEW?
— 圖型化的程式開發環境，用來開發，量測，測試及控制相關程式

LabVIEW:
• 與各式各樣的硬體溝通
• 在不同的硬體與作業系統執行
• 內建擷取，分析，呈現的函式
庫
Starting a VI Getting Started

開啟舊的 VI/ 專案

建立新的 VI/ 專案

近期開啟的檔案

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Project Explorer
開發大型程式或專案
管理多個 VI 及 subVI ，將
LabVIEW 與 non-
LabVIEW 檔案包在一起
Compile to EXE, DLL,
Installer
Deploy to PDA,
FPGA, RT system
程式較大或需要有規劃的整理，就會需
要用到專案來管理

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VI ：構造
人機介面 (Front Panel)
程式方塊圖 (Block Diagram)
圖示 / 連接器面板 (Icon/Connector Pane)

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LabVIEW Programs Are Called Virtual Instruments
(VIs)
Each VI has 2 windows

Front Panel
• User interface (UI)
– Controls = inputs
– Indicators = outputs

Block Diagram
• Graphical code
– Data travels on wires from controls
through functions to indicators
– Blocks execute by data flow

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 Controls Palette
(Place items on the front panel window)

Control:
Numeric
Customize
Palette View

Indicator:
Numeric Slide

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Front Panel ：
Front Panel Toolbar & Controls Palette
控制面版

View » Controls Palette

或
空白處按右鍵

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Controls and Indicators
Controls Indicators
Input devices Output devices
Knobs, buttons, Graphs, LEDs
slides Display data the
Supply data to the block diagram
block diagram acquires or
generates
Front Panel ： Controls & Indicators
Boolean
Numeric

String

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Numeric Controls and Indicators
The numeric data in a control or indicator can
represent numbers of various types, such as
integer or floating-point.( 數值可為整數或浮點數 )

Numeric control
數值控制
Increment/Decrement buttons
增減按紐

Numeric indicator
數值顯示
Boolean Controls and Indicators
布林資料型態僅只有兩種，如 True/False 或 On/Off.
使用布林元件輸入或顯示布林資料 (TRUE/FALSE).
布林元件就像開關 (switches), 按鈕 (push buttons), 燈號
LEDs.

Boolean Boolean
control indicator
Strings( 字串 )
字串資料類型為一串 ASCII 字元 .
使用字串控制元件接收使用者輸入文字，如名字或密碼等 .
使用字串顯示元件顯示文字給使用者 .
VI ： Front Panel
人機介面 ( 使用者介面 )
 Control (Input)
 Indicator (Output)
Control Indicator

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Front Panel
執行與停止 字型設定 物件對齊工具 尋找
Front Panel Object Styles
Controls Palette
Contains the
controls and
indicators you use
to create the front
panel.
Navigate the
subpalettes or use
the Search button
to search the
Controls palette. 空白處按右鍵
Front Panel ：
Shortcut Menus & Property Dialog Box
物件上按右鍵

修改物件來修改屬性
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練習 1 ：熟悉如何建立 Front Panel

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Block Diagram ：
Front Panel Toolbar & Functions Palette
函數面版

除錯工具

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 Functions (and Structures) Palette
(Place items on the block diagram Window)

Structure:
While Loop

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Block Diagram
執行與停止 整線工具
Functions Palette
Contains the VIs,
functions, and
constants you use to
create the block
diagram.
Navigate the
subpalettes or use
the Search button to
search the Functions
palette. 空白處按右鍵
Block Diagram
程式方塊圖 ( 圖形化程式語言 )
Terminal( 接點 )
 Control & Indicator
Constant( 常數 )
Node( 節點 )
 SubVI( 副程式 )
indicator
 Function( 函數 )
control
 Structure( 結構 )
Wire( 接線 )
Context Help

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Terminals

Same label name

練習 2 ：梯形面積計算
公式： ( 上底＋下底 ) × 高 ÷ 2 ＝ 梯形面積

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Block Diagram ：術語
Terminal( 接點 )
Constant( 常數 )
Node( 節點 )
Function( 函式 )
SubVI( 副程式 )
Structure( 結構 )
Wire( 接線 )
Tips
<Ctrl> + E Front Panel 及 Block Diagram 中切換

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Nodes
Nodes are objects on the block diagram that have
inputs and/or outputs and perform operations when
a VI runs.

Nodes
Function Nodes
Functions are:
Fundamental operating elements of LabVIEW.
Do not have front panels or block diagrams,
but do have connector panes.
Has a pale yellow ( 淺黃色 ) background on its
icon.
Double-clicking a function only selects the
function.
Functions do not open like VIs and subVIs.( 最底層 )
Block Diagram ： SubVI( 副程式 )
SubVI Node
具有 Front Panel 與 Block Diagram
Icon & Connector Pane
內建 & 自創
Express VIs
功能較強大的內建 VI
對話框

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Wires
Wires transfer data between block diagram
objects. 接線傳送物件間的資料
Wires are different colors, styles, and
thicknesses, depending on their data types. 不同
資料型態有不同顏色與外觀
A broken wire appears as a dashed
black line with a red X in the middle.
Floating-point Integer String Boolean

Scalar
1-D Array
2-D Array
Wires
 Data Types Found in LabVIEW

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Dataflow Programming
• Block diagram execution
– Dependent on the flow of data
– Block diagram does NOT execute
left to right
• Node executes when data is available to
ALL input terminals
• Nodes supply data to all output terminals
when done

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Debugging Techniques
• Finding Errors

Click on broken Run button.

• Execution Highlighting Window showing error appears.

Click on Execution Highlighting button; data flow is

• Probes animated using bubbles. Values are
displayed on wires.

Right-click on wire to display probe; it shows data as

it flows through wire segment.

You can also select Probe tool from Tools palette and
click on wire.

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練習 3 ：建立程式區

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Block Diagram ：
Tips on Nodes & Movement
Create Control/Indicator/Constant

Replace
複製 <Ctrl+ 拖曳物件 >
物件依單軸方向移動 <Shift+ 拖曳物件 >

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VI ： Icon/Connector Pane
將 VI 使用為 subVI 時
Icon: VI 的圖示代表
Connector Pane: VI 的輸入與輸出

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Block Diagram ： Wire (cont.)
自動型別轉換

斷線

Tips
<Ctrl>+B 自動移除斷線
<Ctrl>+R 執行
<Ctrl>+ . 停止

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Front Panel or Block Diagram View\Tools
Palette
指定滑鼠游標的操作
工具面版

自動選項工具

操作工具 標籤工具

定位工具 彈出工具

接線工具 捲軸工具

斷點工具 取色工具

著色工具 探針工具

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Status Toolbar

Run Button

Continuous Run Button

Abort Execution

Additional Buttons on the Diagram Toolbar

Execution Highlighting Button

Retain Wire Values Button
Step Function Buttons

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 Context Help Window
• Help»Show Context Help, press the <Ctrl+H> keys
• Hover cursor over object to update window

Additional Help
– Right-click on the VI icon and choose
Help, or
– Choose “Detailed help” on the context
help window

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 Tips for Working in LabVIEW

• Keystroke Shortcuts
– <Ctrl+H> – Activate/Deactivate Context Help Window
– <Ctrl+B> – Remove Broken Wires from Block Diagram
– <Ctrl+E> – Toggle between Front Panel and Block
Diagram
– <Ctrl+Z> – Undo (also in Edit menu)
• Tools»Options… – Set Preferences in LabVIEW
• File»VI Properties – Configure VI Appearance,
Documentation, and so on

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 Homework
• Install LabVIEW
• Find a VI example from the LabVIEW and
explain the purpose of the program

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Examples
LabVIEW includes
hundreds of example
VIs.
Use NI Example Finder
to browse and search
installed examples.
Select Help»Find
Examples in the menu.
• Click the example buttons in LabVIEW Help topics

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Wiring Tips – Clean Up Diagram

Use the Clean Up Diagram tool to reroute multiple

wires and objects and to improve readability.
1. Select a section of your block diagram.
2. Click the Clean Up Diagram button on the block diagram
toolbar.

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Block Diagram- 資料流
Block Diagram( 程式方塊圖 )
 資料流槪念
 由左而右執行
 所有 Input 到了才會執行

由左向右執行
Summary—Quiz
1. Which function executes
first: Add or Subtract?
a) Add
b) Subtract
c) Unknown

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Summary—Quiz Answer
1. Which function executes
first: Add or Subtract?
a) Add
b) Subtract
c) Unknown

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Summary—Quiz
2. Which function executes
first: Sine or Divide?
a) Sine
b) Divide
c) Unknown

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Summary—Quiz Answer
2. Which function executes
first: Sine or Divide?
a) Sine
b) Divide
c) Unknown

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Dataflow – Quiz
Which node executes first?
a) Add
b) Subtract
c) Random Number
d) Divide
e) Sine

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Dataflow – Quiz Answers
No single correct answer.

Which node executes first?

a) Add – Possibly
b) Subtract – Definitely not
c) Random Number – Possibly
d) Divide – Possibly
e) Sine – Definitely not

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Group Exercise Concept: Dataflow

Which Express VI executes last?

Group Exercise Concept: Dataflow

Which Express VI executes last?