1. LabVIEW Crash Course
Presented by:

2. Goals of Crash Course Become Familiar with the Interface
Become Familiar with Basic Commands
Become Familiar with Basic Elements

3. Crash Course Parts Section 1: Introduction Presentation
Section 2: Worksheet

4. What is LabVIEW? Laboratory Virtual Instrumental Engineering Workbench
LabVIEW is a graphical language
It works just like block diagrams
LabVIEW consists of two environments
Backpanel/Block Diagram
Frontpanel
-1986 for Apple Macintosh
-Understanding block diagram programming important – seen in real world

5. Back Panel This is where you build your Programs
All blocks and programming elements go here

6. Block Explanation Blocks are called VIs
VIs come in a variety of shapes and sizes
VIs are connected to each other by wires
VI= virtual instruments
Signal Simulator -> String -> ???? -> Adder

7. Block Explanation VIs are setup so data moves from left to right
Each data type has its own wire color
Constants, Controls, Variables and Indicators have the same color scheme
Formatting
Inputs
Outputs
Formatting??
Integers are blue, double precision floating numbers are orangish, etc
Data Flow

8. Block Diagram Execution Order Can be a Problem 2 0 or 6?2
Since all programming
0 or 6?

9. Block Diagram Execution Order Can be a Problem
Solve with Sequence Structures or Data Flow
Right Click =>Structures => Flat Sequence
=> For Loop, While Loop, Timed Structure, ETC

10. Express VIs Automate Frequently used operations
Will be used to generate signals
Right click =>Express=> Input => simulate sig

11. Debugging If you’re unsure how to use a VI use ctrl-H for context help
LabVIEW contains several example VIs
Keep an eye on what data types you use
Ctrl-H is a lifesaver

12. Debugging Debugging Highlights Data Flow
You can also use the Error Data Type
Will actually trace way through program

13. Front Panel This is where your programs will output to
There is no zoom function – what you see is what you get

14. Front Panel
Objects placed on the Front Panel will create icons in the back panel for the VI to manipulate

15. Advanced Topics
Loops, case structures, comments, variables, sub-programs and just about every other Comp-Sci term can be implemented in LabVIEW
There is text programming in LabVIEW
For more info visit NI’s website

16. Hints Work on the back panel first
Don’t cross wires – Keep the diagram clean
If in doubt: right-click
Careful with the wires, you can quickly mess up there
Right click can get you back on track

17. Shortcuts Ctrl-B -Remove Broken Wires Ctrl-R -Run VI
Ctrl-E -Change Environment
Ctrl-T -Tiled View
Ctrl-H -Show Icon Help
Ctrl-(drag) -Copy to Location
Shift-(Right Click) -Call Cursor Palette

18. Other Resources LabVIEW for Dummies

19. Worksheet Time!