[CR] Find References XNode

[hooovahh]

Name: Find References XNode

Submitter: hooovahh

Submitted: 03 Feb 2015

Category: XNodes

LabVIEW Version: 2012

License Type: BSD (Most common)

Description

 

This zip contains an XNode which makes finding references to objects easier.  The core of the attached XNode is a modified version of the Find References by Label VI that can be found in the vi.lib.  This VI will return the first match of a control that has the label provided.  This modified version has the ability to find all references that match a label given a string which the label contains, starts with, ends with, or it can be an exact string.  So for instance it can find all objects that start with "Numeric".

 

This XNode still has the ability to return a single scalar reference like the original, which can be done by right clicking the XNode and un-selecting "Find All References".  By default it returns an array of references found.

 

If multiple references are chosen, the order of those references can be changed.  An enum is used to change the sort method from String Sort, Numeric Sort, Sort from Left to Right, Sort from Top to Bottom, or Sort from Top to Bottom then Left to Right.  This is most useful when you have controls on a front panel arranged in a grid.

 

Another improvement over the native function, is the output reference type is changed to a selected class.  Right click the XNode and go to Select VI Server Class to select an object type.  There is also a browse button which brings up a dialog where the list can be alphabetized, and a simple string can help find the type desired.

 

Other features of the native function are still provided like using caption labels on controls, and searching the front panel, block diagram, or other owning reference types.

 

Demonstration

 

Below is a video showing the basic operation of the XNode.  It demonstrates how to find control references, and how the sort, and search features work.  It then shows that the same technique can be used to find any object type on the block diagram too.

 

http://screencast.com/t/gFBen503rg

 

XNode Disclaimer

 

NI does not provide support XNode development.  It is an experimental technology and neither I, nor NI can be held accountable for unexpected operation.

 

For an introduction to XNodes read Adam Rofer's "XNodes - A Crash Course" presentation (http://lavag.org/files/file/56-xnodes-a-crash-course-powerpoint).

 

Dependencies

 

OpenG Error Library-4.2.0.23

OpenG Array Library-4.1.1.14

OpenG String Library-4.1.0.12

OpenG LabVIEW Data Library-4.2.0.21

Click here to download this file

[Antoine Chalons]

looks great! does it work with FP decorations?

[hooovahh]

looks great! does it work with FP decorations?

Oh you just had to ask didn't you.  Well I was going to reply without trying it cause I assumed it would work...turns out it doesn't.  It doesn't take much to make it work.  You have to modify the Search Filter 1D Array of String to return the item as always matching, if the search string is empty.  I'll look into adding this to the next version.

 

EDIT:  Another advantage of this is then the label input can be optional.

[hooovahh]

Okay new version posted with the changes I mentioned earlier so now it supports objects without labels.  Sorting still works with objects without labels.

[gb119]

I really liked this, so I couldn't resist a minor hack - I added a search method that lets you specify a regular expression (also made the method selector a type def to make it easier to add even more methods. The only downside wasn't that I can't inline the Search Filter 1D Array of strings because I've added an XNode in there in the form of the PCRE search vi - so it'll have killed performance a little.

Find References XNode 1.0.2.1.zip

[hooovahh]

Yeah I can't remember why I didn't make that method a type def.  Regular expression is a good improvement too.  Just in most of my situations I have controls named a specific way if I want their references.  Like maybe I'll have all controls starting with "Initialize:" for controls that should be shown during an initializing state.  Then I can find all controls that start with "Initialize:" and disable them all at once.