Any suggestions for a better way to get user input than this?

[george seifert]

I need to get info from the user regarding a test sequence. I put the attached control in an array so they can setup several different parameters for a test. They'll select a Type which then determines the additional info needed. So for each entry in the Type enum I have one or more separate inputs. It looks a little clumsy because there are a number of inputs. I could pare down the number of additional inputs and have some of them do double duty, but that would add to the confusion I think. Ideally only the required additional inputs would appear based on the Type selected (or maybe the required additional inputs could change color).

I know someone's going to say this sounds like a job for Xcontrol, but they confuse the heck out of me. Also I don't know how or if they would work in an array. Any suggestions would be welcome -even votes for Xcontrol.

George

Download File:post-2786-1163688073.ctl

[ned]

Maybe you could try an alternate interface. Instead of showing the user an array of steps, have a listbox showing the steps that have been created, and one single cluster control. The user could set up the cluster, and then insert that set of parameters into the list of steps. See the attached mock front panel. When the user selects an existing step from the list, update the cluster control (using a local variable). You'd need to maintain a list of the steps that have been created by putting an array of clusters into a shift register.

As for for activating only the appropriate controls, see the attached block diagram image. Note that on the front panel I've moved each set of parameters into its own sub-cluster. When the user selects a type of test, it automatically enables the appropriate sub-cluster of parameters, and disables the rest.

I hope I've provided enough detail for you to implement this, if you like this approach.

[george seifert]

Thanks. Lots of good stuff there to consider.

George