National Instruments BridgeVIEW

Chapter 9 Creating VIs

You can use buttons on the Hierarchy window toolbar or the View menu,

or pop up on an empty space in the window to access the following

options. For more information about the Hierarchy window see the

Using the Hierarchy Window section in Chapter 3, Using SubVIs, of the

G Programming Reference Manual.

Redraw—Rearranges nodes after successive operations on hierarchy nodes

if you need to minimize line crossings and maximize symmetric aesthetics.

If a focus node exists, you then scroll through the window so that the first

root that shows subVIs is visible.

Switch to vertical layout—Arranges the nodes from top-to-bottom, placing

roots at the top.

Switch to horizontal layout—Arranges the nodes from left-to-right, placing

roots on the left side.

Include/Exclude VIs—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include VI libraries,

or exclude VIs in VI libraries.

Include/Exclude global—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include or exclude

global variables. Global variables store data used by several VIs.

Include/Exclude typedefs—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include or

exclude typedefs. A typedef is a master copy of a custom control, which can

be used by several VIs.

In addition, the View menu and pop-up menus include Show all VIs and

Full VI Path in Label options that you cannot access on the toolbar.

As you move the Operating tool over objects in the Hierarchy window,

BridgeVIEW displays the name of the VI below the VI icon.

Use the <Tab> key to toggle between the Positioning and Scroll window

tools. This feature is useful for moving nodes from the Hierarchy window

to the block diagram.

You can drag a VI or subVI node to the block diagram or copy it to the

clipboard by clicking on the node. <Shift>-click on a VI or subVIs node to

select multiple objects for copying to other block diagrams or front panels.

Double-clicking on a VI or subVI node opens the front panel of that node.

Any VIs that contain subVIs have an arrow button next to the VI that you

can use to show or hide subVIs. Clicking on the red arrow button or

double-clicking on the VI itself displays the subVIs in that VI. A black

arrow button on a VI node means that all subVIs are displayed. You also