Printing VI has trouble with updating graph attributes

[Mike Ashe]

Hi All,

At my current client's lab they are having problems with printing test result graphs to HTML. They typically have two almost identical VIs with graphs. The first one is the operator's GUI, colored, lots of buttons, etc. This displays properly. When it comes time to print the test reports they send both data and graph attributes, such as scales, etc, to a simplified version of the graph VI. This second VI has a white background, all the operator's buttons have been removed, a few new summary tables usually get added, then they tell this VI to print it's front panel to HTML. Been there, done that.

The finished HTML reports often show that the second, white, VIs sometimes do not have the correct graph scaling. The data looks correct, but the scales are way off. I have not yet been asked to look at the code, but that is probably coming soon. I have been asked to ask my LabVIEW contacts for general ideas related to this technique.

Unfortunately the code is on a secure system in a secure lab, so I cannot post an actual VI from the project. I seem to recall seeing similar problems on a project long ago and the solution(s) involved keeping the printing VIs open and the order that data and attributes were applied, etc.

The code is very very legacy and cannot be replaced at this time & budget, I may be asked for help in finding a quick modification solution. Any thoughts, sequence of steps, things to remember to check, etc are appreciated.