jcarmody

QUOTE (Omar Mussa @ Oct 31 2008, 05:49 PM) Omar, Thanks for your help. Would you mind if I asked a question re: Sequence: Wait? I did this in the other program I mentioned because it requires the operator to perform a timed operation not controlled by my software. I didn't want to wait in a state without handling UI events. The sequence needs to continue once the operation completes; how could I handle this without going through Idle? Am I misapplying the JKI State Machine? I appreciate the time you spent on your response and I'll definitely refer back to your suggestions and take the advice. Jim Ashwin, I hope I didn't hijack your post. Perhaps I misunderstood your original post and you won't need a state machine. Jim

QUOTE (TobyD @ Oct 31 2008, 03:53 PM) Rats, I meant to make them all hyperlinks. Sorry 'bout that! You can find it http://forums.lavag.org/sensor-calibration-test-t12296.html&pid=53827#entry53829' target="_blank">here.

QUOTE (kmc @ Oct 31 2008, 01:49 PM) Ashwin, You were about ten minutes too early! I just got back to this thread after spending some time in LabVIEW to see your latest post. Anyway, I think I understand your assignment but don't think that your approach is adequate. I think this is a perfect application for a JKI State Machine (I love the JKI State Machine!!! :worship: ). The only thing that would make me deviate from a JKI State Machine would be the DAQ part; I'd probably need to make some sort of a Producer and use the JKI State Machine as the consumer. Regardless, you have a lot going on and it would be akward to stuff it all into a Sequence Structure (never use 'em myself, 'cept to give myself something to wire to when I'm enforcing data flow on objects w/o inputs). So... I've made a start at this but don't want to go too far. First of all because it's your assignment and I don't want to either do too much of it for you or lead you down a bad path (more likely?). Secondly, I don't think I have enough information to continue. Please take a look at what I've done and see if it could be developed into a solution to your problem. The "Macro: Initialize" state is where I put the sequence; you can tell what I have in mind by looking there. If you haven't seen the JKI State Machine yet (why not!?!?!?), take a look at the tutorials on their web site. (I think I have the link around here, somewhere... ) There's a bunch left to do; for example, you'd probably want an indicator to prompt the operator on what's expected. The point I left off was simulating the DAQ so I could evaluate the inputs at each station, but that's not too difficult. Let me know if this helps and if I can help further. Best wishes, Jim :question: To the JKI folks & others that are familiar with the JKI State Machine, would you comment on what I've done? I've read the discussions here and on JKI's site, and I've (nearly) finished an application at work based on this (just working on getting Software Quality Assurance approval). I've gotten my feet wet and would like to learn more. I've added some states to let me sequence through test steps. I've added a "Sequence: Wait" step that causes the program to loop for a specified time so other operations can continue ("Sequence: Wait >> 10" will loop for ten seconds before continuing to the next step). I've added a "Sequence: Wait for button" that will wait until a named button is pressed during a particular test step. "Sequence: Wait for button >> pbx" will loop, holding this place in the sequence, until a button labeled "pbx" is pressed. I'll probably add the option to specify a final state using a command argument. It doesn't handle the event; it just waits until it's pressed. I've put a cluster of control references outside the main loop (so I can set indicators w/o resorting to local variables) and I've added target & elapsed time indicators to the Front Panel. Do you think I'm OK with these approaches? Thanks, Jim Download File:post-7534-1225478032.zip

Hi Anthony, First of all QUOTE We fired him in September.Seriously, though. My experience with functional specs tends to make me agree with the first article, but specifically with this point: QUOTE Functional specs only lead to an illusion of agreement My situation has me building test equipment that must meet a customer-approved ATP, which is written in stone and the basis for a functional spec. The trouble begins when we start to get requests from our internal customer (the Design Engineering group) for features beyond the ATP requirements. I've seen success with a "Statement of work" - "Statement of understanding" process where the customer writes what they want (the SOW), we read it and respond with our understanding of what they wrote (the SOU). They read our SOU and modify their SOW and we go 'round and 'round until we're sure that we have an understanding (as sure as we can be, anyway). I can't see how to build test equipment without a good document at the beginning, whether it's called a 'functional spec' or 'requirements document'. I began a thread here looking for help (got some good pointers, too). I'd need to learn to manage the process at the beginning of the project so I can satisfy all my customers (ATE delivered on-time, within budget and slick). Thanks for the link. Jim

QUOTE (crelf @ Oct 24 2008, 11:08 PM) I like them, but I can't change the background. I'd like that to be transparent, like the fifth button . Thanks, Jim

QUOTE (crelf @ Oct 20 2008, 09:53 AM) No... But, I use it! There are only two of us using LabVIEW; the other guy uses LabWindows. QUOTE You're on a team - do you share any code? Not really... I've used VIPM to package some of my own reusable bits, but haven't shared them. QUOTE How do they control versioning, rollback to previous versions, etc? These aren't fun questions QUOTE Yes - having SCC exoerience will help you with the CLA. Even if it's only with Subversion? I recognize the need for this, among other things; I started http://forums.lavag.org/requirements-document-t12141.html&p=52947#entry52947' target="_blank">another thread about requirements documents last week. Thing is, I've got a long way to go before I can lead an effort to change these things, but I'm reading/trying/learning to position myself to improve myself first, then I can be better able to affect the team.

QUOTE (ivan00 @ Oct 20 2008, 08:07 AM) Delete the Index Array function and wire a zero to the shift register. The first element in the output array will be the first element of the input array (minus zero). Jim http://lavag.org/old_files/monthly_10_2008/post-7534-1224507877.png' target="_blank"> PS - You're welcome; this stuff is fun for me!

QUOTE (crelf @ Oct 18 2008, 03:08 PM) I'm on a team of developers that doesn't use SCC, but I use Tortoise SVN for my work. My question is not how this will benefit me, but whether my experience with it will help when I sit for the CLA exam (someday, perhaps next year, not sure when, not nearly ready...). The stuff I read from NI mentions $oftware that I don't have. Thanks, Jim

Hi Ivan, Welcome to the forum. I've found it to be a great resource with fantastically capable and willing members. I'm hooked; I hope you find what you need, too. Good luck. Jim

QUOTE (ivan00 @ Oct 20 2008, 01:17 AM) Is this what you're looking for? The first loop is just to make an array of data to play with. The second loop indexes through the first array and uses a shift register to make the n-1 element available to each iteration. "n-1" doesn't make sense for the first element in the array so I initialized the Shift Register with the first element of the array, making the first time through the loop result in zero; seemed like the right thing to do http://lavag.org/old_files/monthly_10_2008/post-7534-1224496217.png' target="_blank"> Jim PS - if you post your code as a png file you'll make it easier for us to see. My first thought was that I shouldn't open the Word doc because it could have a virus. I hope it wasn't a mistake...

QUOTE (alfa @ Oct 20 2008, 03:12 AM) I RESEMBLE that remark!

QUOTE (crelf @ Oct 13 2008, 12:40 PM) I do want to talk further about this, but I want to make sure I'm not getting in over my head. I'm accustomed to receiving specifications, not writing them, so I'd like to get someone else's perspective. I'm going to discuss this with the senior test guys and my manager; we'll see if they're as interested as I am. Thanks, Jim

5.57 It's stuff like this that makes it hard to deny that I'm getting old.

Hi, I work in a Test Engineering department on the Manufacturing/Operations side of the "wall", with Design Engineering on the other side. There is a disconnect in the way the Design teams specify their requirements and we end up shooting at moving/unclear targets; the result being that our ATEs are often delivered behind schedule and over budget. We'd like to make a generic requirements document that would gently guide them toward providing a specification that we can hang our hats on. If we can accomplish this early in the process we might have a shot at controlling scope-creep. Granted, late design changes will require us to readjust, but we'd be able to specifically say how much time & money will be required to comply if we had a good plan. Another area to consider (that I've been hurt by) is custom test equipment purchased by the Design team that gets thrown over the wall when the product is ready for production. I'm about to release one ATE for limited production use after spending > 200 hours reverse-engineering and modifying the software to the latest test requirements. I'd like to be able to get Design Engineering to follow our guidelines when working with an outside vendor, at least if they're going to use "future production use" as part of their justification for the purchase. Our design team is in the process of quoting a new piece and I'd like to get my two cents in early. I recall having an NI District Sales Manager give us a presentation on the help they offer folks developing large projects (it's impressive). One of the biggest things I took away was his point that a missing specification is a big risk at the outset of a project. I've sure seen the truth in this. Do you have a template that you would share with me? I'd appreciate any advice you can offer, and I'll compile whatever help I receive and post it back here. Thank you, Jim PS - Our walls aren't very high and we do have cross-functional teams working on all development projects. I'm just trying to help guide our operation toward Standard Work in this area.

I recognized the poster's name in this thread. It's a small world, after all!

QUOTE (Shaun Hayward @ Sep 26 2008, 09:09 AM) I just joined a http://forums.ni.com/ni/board/message?board.id=170&thread.id=359065' target="_blank">thread on the NI LabVIEW forum where I learned that you can use the database connectivity toolkit if you install an ODBC driver for SQLite. I guess I should have known that...

QUOTE (Mike C @ Sep 25 2008, 09:28 PM) Michael, I'm curious about why you're interested in this product. Do you have a specific need or is this an exercise to learn a new technology? I'm all for learning new things :thumbup: (except, perhaps MS isn't my favorite source :thumbdown: ) I'd recommend SQLite for a small database without onerous licensing that you can include with your application. There's a http://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-1254' target="_blank">toolkit on ni.com that I've had some success with. Anyway, good luck with your project. Please forgive me if I'm way off base. jm

QUOTE (JiMM @ Sep 23 2008, 08:32 AM) "WARNING!!! It is never safe to look directly at the Sun because the Sun’s rays can damage your eyes. It is safe to study the Sun’s surface if you use a telescope to project the Sun’s image onto a piece of paper." I don't know what would make it safe to study Michael Moore's new movie. But, I could imagine projecting something...

QUOTE (mballa @ Sep 22 2008, 12:37 PM) THIS IS FANTASTIC!!! Thank you! I love it. jm

QUOTE (JiMM @ Sep 22 2008, 01:06 PM) We're supposed to be http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Not-Empire-Patrick-Buchanan/dp/089526272X' rel='nofollow' target="_blank">a republic, not an empire. My kids are taught that in school; they go to school in the room over our garage. On the curriculum this year: Lego Mindstorm robot programming. :thumbup:

QUOTE (rolfk @ Sep 22 2008, 08:30 AM) I think I'd prefer a monarchy. At least then there's a possibility that the government would want to maintain a sustainable economy; he's not likely to loot it to the point that there's nothing left to pass to his oldest son. The incentive in a Democracy is to get as much loot as you can before loosing office. :thumbdown: No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session. ~ Gideon J. Tucker Jm

QUOTE (rolfk @ Sep 22 2008, 05:31 AM) :question: What did I do to deserve this?

QUOTE (jcarmody @ Sep 19 2008, 10:28 AM) That's how I'd do it before kicking myself for making it harder than it needs to be. Just use a shift register in a while loop. http://lavag.org/old_files/post-7534-1221938729.vi'>Download File:post-7534-1221938729.vi Jm

I'm interested in buying Peter Blume's book, so I'd like to solicit opinions from people that have read it. Is it an excellent resource? I don't want to spend $80 on anything less. I'm a CLD/CPI with two years of full-time LabVIEW experience. I currently work as a Test Engineer taking on large projects and would like to improve myself. I've seen a lot of stuff over the years (all two of them!) that I wouldn't be proud of. I don't want to make the same mistakes, and I do want to pursue CLA certification. Would you recommend any other books instead? In addition to? Thank you, Jm

QUOTE (Pollux @ Sep 19 2008, 10:59 AM) It tells me I'm a Bilge Rat. I've always known this, it's just nice to hear somebody else say it for a change.