[CR] Improved LV 2009 icon editor

PJM_labview · August 15, 2009

index.php?app=downloads&module=display&section=screenshot&id=91

Name: Improved LV 2009 icon editor

Submitter: PJM_labview

Submitted: 15 Aug 2009

File Updated: 29 Aug 2011

Category: LabVIEW IDE

LabVIEW Version: 2009

License Type: BSD (Most common)

This is a version of the LabVIEW 2009 Icon Editor that has several cosmetic improvements (along with some bug fixes).

Feel free to try it.

Note: The installer does backup the existing icon editor that will be restored (if you were to uninstall this version).

Change Log:

Version 1.7:

[New Feature] Add a condensed pixel font (called: "Pixel Font: PF1") that allow for longer text to be entered.
[bug Fix] Synchronize the "Edit>>Show Terminal" menu with the "Show Terminal" check box.
[bug Fix] CAR 186982: "[iE] Wrong Icon is loaded in Icon Editor".

Version 1.6:

[New Feature] CTRL Key will show the color picker while the text tool is selected.
[bug Fix] Mouse coordinate drawing in icon was off by (3,3) pixels (the picture control edge thickness).

Version 1.5:

[New Feature] Add a "Merge All User Layers" button.
[New Feature] Optimize glyph display by removing unnecessary blank space between glyphs (went from 6x6 grid to 8x8 grid).
[New Feature] Automatically update the "glyph path string" as the mouse move over the glyphs.
[bug fix] Car 183609: Glyph path string is not reset when a glyph is dropped (or when a new category is selected).
[bug Fix] Scrolling the glyph array should not update the glyph path string.
[bug Fix] "Glyph path string" should not be click-able (disable it).
[Change / Bug Fix] Picking white color (255,255,255) result in grayish (246,246,246) color selected. Now the resulting color is (254,254,254).

Version 1.4:

[Cosmetic Change] Major redesign of the layer control visual aspect.
[bug Fix] The text marker (^) is hidden behind other objects.
[bug Fix] CAR 182992 File save (template or glyph) failed if the hierarchy has folder with a dot in its name.
[bug Fix] Flush glyph filter when changing glyph category.
[New Feature] Glyph filter works only on the visible category and does not reset the category to all anymore.

Version 1.3:

[bug Fix] Selection and glyph drop was broken in the original IE.
[bug Fix] If you paste text into an empty line, the icon is not updated.
[bug Fix] If you paste text into an non empty line (while the content is selected) the clipboard content is append to the selected existing content (the existing selected content should be wiped out).
CAR 182828: Manual User Input always cancels even when ok is pressed.

Version 1.2:

[New Feature] This package does stop the IE if it is running prior to installing it.
[New Feature] This package does compiled the IE after installation.
[New Feature] This package does backup the existing Icon Editor prior to install the new one.
[New Feature] This package does restore the previously installed IE upon un-installation.
[New Feature] This package also include the original IE UI in LVrootresourcepluginsOriginal lv_icon.vi (rename it to lv_icon.vi to use it).
[NI Bug Fixes]
- 151661 - This change fixes the copy/cut ability of the icon. If a region is selected and/or a layer is selected, copy and cut is enabled.
- 161032 - No limit on arrow keys moving text
- 175010 - When moving a selection and changing a layer, the operation is performed on the new layer
- 179582 - Glyph layer moves after deleting a selection (first edit to the layer)
- 179799 - If the bottom layer got deleted, the user layers list is not updated properly
- 179392 - Icon editor open on secondary screen when working with two screens
- 179000 - Switching the tab doesn't actually unselect the layer
- 179001 - CTRL - A followed by pressing the delete key doesn't delete all selected layers
- 179007 - The key binding is messed up. The mirror tool has set as the toggle key, whereas the OK button should have to set the focus.
- 179179 - Control activates dropper and not the move tool when pasting an image
- 180161 - It is possible that multiple icon layers are copied in reverse order and neither template nor text layer are considered at all
- 182276 - Icon glyphs do not handle standard transparency

Version 1.1:

UI Reorganization (toolbar on the left among other things) [Note: This required code changed since the existing code was relying on hard coded constants].
Edit the color selector double arrow (/|->) to remove unsightly pixel and add transparency.
Conform to UI design by using system color in the background instead of white.
Add a system frame (from a string control background) to the icon image (instead of the round decoration) [Note: this may not be too great on Mac or Linux]
Hide glyph scrollbars when not needed.
Edit the layer "eye" to use alpha transparency (not so great result as it is, but I think it is better).
Edit the layer preview by adding a system frame around it (from a string control background).
Add a "Show Terminals" check box on the panel for quick access (similar to the previous icon editor).
Change the icon preview so it is rendered in 8-bit (instead of 24-bit).

You will need VI Package Manager to install the modified icon editor.

PJM

Click here to download this file

PJM_labview · August 17, 2009

New Version available:

Version 1.4:

[Cosmetic Change] Major redesign of the layer control visual aspect.
[bug Fix] The text marker (^) is hidden behind other objects.
[bug Fix] CAR 182992 File save (template or glyph) failed if the hierarchy has folder with a dot in its name.
[bug Fix] Flush glyph filter when changing glyph category.
[New Feature] Glyph filter works only on the visible category and does not reset the category to all anymore.

Get if here.

PJM

PJM_labview · August 21, 2009

New Version available:

Version 1.5:

[New Feature] Add a "Merge All User Layers" button.
[New Feature] Optimize glyph display by removing unnecessary blank space between glyphs (went from 6x6 grid to 8x8 grid).
[New Feature] Automatically update the "glyph path string" as the mouse move over the glyphs.
[bug fix] Car 183609: Glyph path string is not reset when a glyph is dropped (or when a new category is selected).
[bug Fix] Scrolling the glyph array should not update the glyph path string.
[bug Fix] "Glyph path string" should not be click-able (disable it).
[Change/ Bug Fix] Picking white color (255,255,255) result in grayish(246,246,246) color selected. Now the resulting color is (254,254,254).

Get it here.

PJM

Shaun Hayward · August 26, 2009

Quick question: Could you add to the downloads a link to the original icon editor in case people want to uninstall your version?

crelf · August 26, 2009

Quick question: Could you add to the downloads a link to the original icon editor in case people want to uninstall your version?

The original icon editor is property of NI so we can't (and shouldn't) host it here, and I don't think a page exists where you can download it separately from the LabVIEW install.

Shaun Hayward · August 26, 2009

The original icon editor is property of NI so we can't (and shouldn't) host it here, and I don't think a page exists where you can download it separately from the LabVIEW install.

Ah, I'm guessing that's why the link dissapeared from the original thread then

Michael Aivaliotis · August 26, 2009

I think that if you uninstall it, VIPM restores the old version. I think that's how PJM_labview built the package.

PJM_labview · August 26, 2009

I think that if you uninstall it, VIPM restores the old version. I think that's how PJM_labview built the package.

Yes, version 1.2 or greater of the installer automatically backup the existing icon editor prior to installing the new one (uninstalling it will restore the backup version).

Note: If you already have modified the existing icon editor then the modified icon editor will be backup.

This is part of the release note, but I will make that more obvious.

Theoriginal icon editor is property of NI so we can't (and shouldn't) hostit here, and I don't think a page exists where you can download itseparately from the LabVIEW install.

According to NI (on the Enhanced Icon Editor group): "The Icon Editor is 99.9% open source."

What this mean exactly I am not entirely sure (since no license is attached to this statement).

PJM

crelf · August 27, 2009

According to NI (on the Enhanced Icon Editor group): "The Icon Editor is 99.9% open source."

That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! I actually LOLed when I read that

Yair · August 27, 2009

It means that most of the VIs shipping with the IE are not password protected. I don't know if 99.9% is an accurate number, but it probably drives the point through better than 97.7%.

PJM_labview · September 2, 2009

I have been toying around with a more radical UI design change.

First of all, I am not a big fan of tab control. Secondly, I want to try to get a UI customizable enough that it can cater to as many people as possible.

Here is what I came up thus far (note: this is mostly just a UI mock up and it has very little functionality).

Please comment.

PJM

crelf · September 2, 2009

I have been toying around with a more radical UI design change.

...and how much are you going to sell this to NI for?

PS: I love the VIPM logo on the desktop in the background - it reminds me of a transformers logo, which could be thought of as appropriate...

Yair · September 2, 2009

It's certainly impressive from a technical standpoint

Although I personally feel that the tabs do make sense for the IE (you go through the tabs in order) and I'm not generally a fan of how palettes work in graphics software, I do feel that the modifications you made do kind of work in the IE as well. They certainly don't seem to get in the way of accomplishing the task. The cusomizing options are a good thing.

John Lokanis · September 2, 2009

Cool. How did you do that?

I like it but would suggest you have the pallets 'snap' to a grid of some sort so we don't have to nudge then around. Or, let us lay them out and then choose a menu item to 'snap and align' them.

Where can I get a job playing around with LabVIEW GUI stuff all day and still get paid? :lol:

PJM_labview · September 3, 2009

...and how much are you going to sell this to NI for?

I was not planning to, but now that you mention it...

It's certainly impressive from a technical standpoint

It is actually pretty easy to get that behavior.

Cool. How did you do that?

Pretty easily using the control mouse down and mouse up along with pane mouse move. See here for a bit more info (although this outline a performance issue).

I think the UI "runtime reorganization capabilities" did mask some UI design concern that I have. For instance the current icon editor use a tree control to select the glyph category or template category. I replaced it by a ring control. Any comments about that?

Any other usability comments with this new design?

PJM

ooth · September 3, 2009

@PJM I love how you made it so you can move the individual windows anywhere that you like. Keep up the excellent work!

Daklu · September 3, 2009

That is very cool. Any plans to have the different panes snap into position near the edges of the containing window?

crelf · September 3, 2009

Suggested improvement from yenknip on the LabVIEW Idea Exchange:

Having now gotten used to the new icon editer, it is a fantastic improvement on the old one: templates and layers are awesome.
I do however miss the line tool + shift key drawing a 45 degree line.

Also, I think that a user-configurable 'development colour' for the transparent colour might be useful. I find the white and grey checkered pattern doesn't stand out much - if I could set it as some garish luminous colour then I could see what is transparent as I draw the icon.

This development transparent colour might even be stretched to the front panel colours - if one uses an old style cluster box or similar with a transparent border and fill (for aesthetic reasons) then it can be a little trickey to find the border to drag it around. (This might be better suited to a new idea if anyone agrees)

Eugen Graf · September 3, 2009

Hello!

Thank you for doing this Project.

I don't know if it was just discussed here, but why the IE opens on the second monitor?

Is that due to the FP.Center Method? If I remove this or replace them with FP.Open, than LV hangs on calling IE.

Edited September 3, 2009 by Eugen Graf

PJM_labview · September 13, 2009

New version available:

Version 1.6:

[New Feature] CTRL Key will show the color picker while the text tool is selected.
[bug Fix] Mouse coordinate drawing in icon was off by (3,3) pixels (the picture control edge thickness).

Get it here.

PJM

Shaun Hayward · September 14, 2009

I've got a bit of a strange thing happening (just in case it's the culprit, I'm on Vista Business)...

If I open up a VI's icon, copy a selection, go straight to another VI and try edit it's icon (to paste the copied selection), I end up with the wrong icon in the editor:

http://screencast.com/t/l8LZAe8Ee

When I open the icon of the second VI, there is a very brief moment where the correct icon is shown before it is replaced with the previous VI's icon. Its also worth noting that clicking OK causes the previous VI's icon to be applied to the current VI, and that I do not get as far as Edit->Paste on the second icon.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Shaun

PS. X-Post to NI Icon Editor discussion as this seems to happen with both this and the regular NI icon editor: http://decibel.ni.com/content/message/8079#8079

Daklu · September 17, 2009

Bug: Show Terminals checkbox does not update.

If I use Ctl-T or the Edit menu to show/hide the terminals, the checkbox under the canvas does not get updated. Clicking the checkbox still toggles the terminal view so it ends up being out of synch.

-------------------------

UI Suggestions:

-On the Layers tab the control box is centered in the pane with lots of whitespace around it. You could fit at least one more layer in there, maybe two. Less scrolling = better.

-On the Layers tab move the active controls to the left side of the tab. Most of the user's mousing will be on the left side of the editor. It pays to not make them move the mouse long distances.

-------------------------

Functionality Suggestions:

-Hotkeys to switch between tools? (Bonus points for user-definable hotkeys!)

-Lockable user layers?

PJM_labview · September 17, 2009

Bug: Show Terminals checkbox does not update.

If I use Ctl-T or the Edit menu to show/hide the terminals, the checkbox under the canvas does not get updated. Clicking the checkbox still toggles the terminal view so it ends up being out of synch.

Good Catch, I will put that on my list.

UI Suggestions:

-Onthe Layers tab the control box is centered in the pane with lots ofwhitespace around it. You could fit at least one more layer in there,maybe two. Less scrolling = better.

Ya, I though so do, but the way the layer are implemented (each layer is a cluster and there are a fix amount [meaning this is actually not an array]) this will require quite a bit of work.

UI Suggestions:

-On the Layers tab move theactive controls to the left side of the tab. Most of the user'smousing will be on the left side of the editor. It pays to not makethem move the mouse long distances.

You mean the move, delete, create ... layer buttons?

Functionality Suggestions:

-Hotkeys to switch between tools? (Bonus points for user-definable hotkeys!)

Interesting idea.

Functionality Suggestions:

-Lockable user layers?

Good idea too.

PJM

Francois Normandin · September 23, 2009

Hi Philippe,

About the "Show terminals"... there is also a bug [Low priority] when we rotate the terminals. I don't know if there's a way to know if it's been rotated programmatically? Anyway, here's a screenshot.

It's really unusual that I'd use a different connector pane than the 4x2x2x4...

PJM_labview · September 28, 2009

François,

Good catch.

You should probably report that to NI there (http://decibel.ni.com/content/groups/enhanced-icon-editor-2009) because I think this is an issue with already existing underlying IE code.

Thanks

PJM

[CR] Improved LV 2009 icon editor

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