4.1 Opening subvi front panels when a vi runs

A single front panel sometimes is too restrictive to present numerous options or displays. To solve this problem, organizeVIs so the top-most VI presents high-level options, and subVIs present related options.

When LabVIEW calls a subVI, ordinarily the subVI runs without opening its front panel. If you want a single instance of thesubVI to open its front panel when called, use the SubVI Node Setup dialog box. If you want every instance of the subVI to open its front panel when called, use the VI Properties dialog box.

Single instance

If you want a single instance of the subVI to open its front panel when called, right-click the subVI and select SubVI Node Setup from the shortcut menu to display the SubVI Node Setup dialog box. Place checkmarks in the Show Front Panel when called and Close afterwards if originally closed checkboxes to open the subVI front panel when called. This dialog box also includes the following components:

• Open front panel when loaded

  Displays the front panel when the subVI loads or when the VI that calls it loads.

• Show front panel when called

  Displays the front panel when the subVI is called.

• Close afterwards if originally closed

  If Show Front Panel when called also contains a checkmark and if the subVI was previously closed, thefront panel closes after the subVI runs.

• Suspend when called

  Suspends a subVI when called and waits for user interaction. This option is the same as selecting Operate>>Suspend when called .

Every instance

If you want every instance of the subVI to open its front panel when called, open the subVI and select File>>VI Properties . Select Window Appearance from the Category pull-down menu, click the Customize button, and place checkmarks in the Show Front Panel When Called and Close Afterwards if Originally Closed checkboxes.