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Introduction to LabVIEW
Basic LabVIEW Programming

with Self-paced Step-by-Step Exercises Hans-Petter Halvorsen

 Contents
• Installation
• What is LabVIEW?
• The LabVIEW Environment
– Front Panel and Block Diagram
– Controls and Functions Palette
• Basic LabVIEW Programming
• Plotting
• Creating and using SubVIs
• Tips & Tricks
 LabVIEW Installation
You need the following Software
• LabVIEW (LabVIEW Professional Development System 32-Bit: English)
• NI-DAQmx (Hardware Driver for NI USB-6008, NI TC-01,
etc.)
• LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module
• LabVIEW MathScript RT Module
Note! These packages are separate downloads!

All LabVIEW Software can be downloaded here: www.ni.com/download

National Instruments is National Instruments creates
the vendor of LabVIEW both Hardware and Software
 LabVIEW = Fun!
Graphical Programming:
• Very different from traditional programming like VB, C#, Maple,
MATLAB, MathScript, etc.
• It is more like a “drawing program” than a Programming Language
• This makes it easy to use for those who are not programmers (or
dont like programming J)
• Excellent tool when using Hardware, when you need to take
Measurements (DAQ), etc.
• It is fun and makes you very creative!
 LabVIEW Example
LabVIEW has the same things as other programming languages, but in a graphical way!
Sequence Structure Comment While Loop Sub VI Local Variable
(Function/Method)

Case Structure Stop Button

Property Nodes Constants (if-else) Condition
Arrays Note! To do something with an object – Right-click on it (When shall the loop end?)
 Hardware Air Heater

Wi-Fi DAQ
Water Tank
USB-6008
Pt-100
TC-01

ZigBee Arduino

Vision System

cRIO
NOx Sensor
LabVIEW
This is the core LabVIEW installation that installs
the LabVIEW Programming Environment.

LabVIEW MathScript RT Module

This module is a text-based tool that is very similar to MATLAB. The syntax
is similar to MATLAB, you can create and run so-called m files, etc. The
module is available from the Tools menu inside LabVIEW.
LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module
This module is used for creating Control and Simulation applications
with LabVIEW. Here you will find PID controllers, etc. The module is
available as a palette on your block diagram.
NI-DAQmx
DAQmx is the Hardware Driver needed in order to use hardware devices like NI
USB-6008, NI TC-01, etc. inside LabVIEW. The module is available as a palette on
your block diagram.
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The LabVIEW Environment

(IDE)
Hans-Petter Halvorsen

IDE – Integrated Development Environment

 LabVIEW Environment
This window appears when you start LabVIEW:
Select File -> New VI (Ctrl + N) in order to start using LabVIEW

You shall not use

this one (yet)

Students: Start LabVIEW in order to get started

Front Panel LabVIEW Environment
Note! Both the Front Panel and
the Block Diagram are stored in
one single file. These files are
called VIs (because the file
Create your User Interface/HMI here extension is “.vi”). VI = Virtual
Instruments

Block Diagram
Create your Code here
Switch between them: Ctrl + E

Students: Try this

 Controls and Functions Palette
You can “pin” them!

Right-click on the Block Diagram

You create your Code with help of
Students: Open the
Controls and Functions
palettes and browse the

these Functions
contents in the different
subpalettes

Available only from the Front Panel

You create your User Interface with help of
these Controls
Right-click on the Front Panel Available only from the Block Diagram
Customizing Controls and Functions Palettes

Students: Do this for both the

Controls Palette and the Functions
Palette
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LabVIEW Programming

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
 Run the Program Front Panel
Simple Example
Controls
vs.
Find these Controls and Indicators in the Controls Indicators
Palette and place them on the Front Panel (Right-
click on the Front Panel in order to make the What is the difference?
Controls Palette visible)
Block Diagram

Controls Indicator

Students: Create this simple

example. Try “Minus”, “Divide”
and “Multiply” as well. Save them Connect these together using the “Wiring tool” (your mouse)
as 4 different VIs
Front Panel
Celcius to Fahrenheit - Example

Block Diagram

Note! The objects may look

different depending on your
configuration, but that doesent
matter

Students: Create the Front

Panel and Block Diagram in
this example.
 How-To Fix Errors/Bugs

Double-click on the Error message and

LabVIEW will show you where the Error is!

Students: What is wrong in these 2 Examples?

Try to create the same bugs as shown here.

Double-click on the Error message and

LabVIEW will show you where the Error is!
Click Ctrl+B in order to remove All “broken wires”
 Data Types

Students: Create this Example using the different Data Types in LabVIEW
 Ctrl + H I need Help!!
Where can I find it?
When you use Ctrl + H, you may click on all kind of objects (both on
In the Help
Front Panel and Block Diagram) on the screen to get help, e.g., how
menu you will
built-in functions are working, etc.
find Examples,
etc.

Ctrl + H

Students: Try this on

different objects on your
Block Diagram
 http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/376039a.pdf

Students: Try some of these Shortcuts and Tools

Front Panel Run the Program While Loop
Example: A voltage signal [0-5V] from a DAQ
device needs to be converted to the equivalent
level values in a water tank [0-20cm]
Label
Students: Create this Example
Block Diagram: Connect these together
using the “Wiring tool” (your mouse)
Block Diagram
Front Panel: Find these Controls in
the Controls Palette and place them
on the Front Panel with proper labels
Block Diagram: Find the While
Loop in the Functions Palette and
place it on the Block Diagram While Loop
Note! To do something with an object – Right-click on it!
 Plotting
This example simulates the
Temperature in an “Air Heater”
system. The Temperature in the Air
Heater should be between 20 and 50
degrees Celsius. We use the Random
Generator in LabVIEW in this Example

Students:
• Create this Example
• Try out different options on the Chart,
e.g. Autoscale, different Modes, Grid,
Layout, Colors, etc. (Right-click on the
Chart) While Loop
Note! To do something with an object – Right-click on it
 Charts vs. Graphs
- Example
Students: Create this VI in order to see the
difference between a Chart and a Graph

Right-click on the border

Note! To do something with an object – just Right-click on it!

 Charts vs. Graphs
Chart:
• Remembers history – New point added to end of the
plot
• Used inside a While Loop/For Loop
• One new point is added each time
Graph:
• You plot all the data at once – typically an array with
data
• Used outside a While Loop/For Loop
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SubVIs

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
 Select Inputs and Outputs
SubVIs
Input Output
Icon that makes it easier
to understand what the
SubVI is doing
(Control) (Indicator)
Create a nice icon as well
(Icon Editor)
A SubVI is the same as a
function or a method used
in other languages

Students: Create
this SubVI
Icon Editor Use the Icon Editor in order to create
a descriptive icon for your SubVI.
 Using SubVIs

Students: Create this VI

SubVI created in previous slide

(just drag it on the Block Diagram with your mouse)
 SubVIs Here you see some of the
advantages with using SubVIs.

Students: Create this Example

Front Panel Multiple Plotting and SubVIs
Students:
Create this program

Block Diagram

SubVI
Do you see how simple and intuitive the
code becomes when using SubVIs? SubVI
Writing Formulas

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
 LabVIEW Formula Node
Formula Node: Create and use C code
within LabVIEW

Example:

Very useful for mathematical

expressions and simulations!
 LabVIEW Formula Node
Celsius to Fahrenheit:

Students: Use the LabVIEW Formula Node in

order to implement this formula

Advanced Mathematical Formula:

Try also with other values for a, b, c

Students: Use the LabVIEW Formula Node in order to implement this formula

Try also to implement this function with ordinary

LabVIEW blocks. What is easiest to implement?
Solutions

Note!

Alternative Solution:

Which Solution do you think is best?

 LabVIEW MathScript Node

Very useful for

mathematical
expressions and
simulations!

MathScript Node: You can create and use MathScript/MATLAB code within LabVIEW
 LabVIEW MathScript Node
Celcius to Fahrenheit:

Students: Use the LabVIEW MathScript Node in

order to implement this formula

Advanced Mathematical Formula:

Try also with other values for a, b, c

Students: Use the LabVIEW MathScript Node in
order to implement this formula
Solutions
More Loops & Structures

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
 Loops & Structures

While Loop For Loop

Sequence Structure

Case Structure
(if...else...)
 Specify Number of Iterations
For Loop

Shift Register
Right-click on the
border and select “Add
Shift Register”
Right-click on
Current Iteration the border

Students: Create this Example

 Case Structure

...

The Case structure is the same as

if... else... used in other
programming languages like C#,
etc.
Write either “Car” or “Boat”
and see what happens
Students: Create these Examples
 Sequence Structure
Flat Sequence Structure

Stacked Sequence Structure

The “One Button Dialog” can be

used to give a popup message to
the user

Students: Create these Examples

For Loop
Case Structure

Sequence Structure When Combining Loops While Loop

and Structures, you can
create Advanced and
Powerful Applications

You will practice this soon...

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Tips & Tricks

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
Project Explorer Similar to “Solutions Explorer” in Visual Studio. It
Keeps all your Files for a spesific project in one place.

Students: Put all the Code you

created today into the Project
Explorer. Create Folders, etc.,
i.e. create a good Structure

It is recommended to use this when

you create larger applications that
contains lots of VIs and other files, etc.
 Customizing
Select Tools è Options…
LabVIEW IDE

Students: Change the different options according to how you want to use LabVIEW
 Spaghetti Code
Since LabVIEW is a graphical programming language with lots of wires, etc., it is
extremely important to have a good and clear structure in your program!
 Spaghetti Code – Bad Example 1
Same code – why
not use SubVI?

Structure your code! Use SubVIs, Avoid Spaghetti Code, Document your Code, etc.
 Spaghetti Code – Bad Example 2
Make sure your code fits into your screen size – scrolling to see code is not good!

Structure your code! Use SubVIs, Avoid Spaghetti Code, Document your Code, etc.
Spaghetti Code – Very Bad Example

Structure your code! Use SubVIs, Avoid Spaghetti Code, Document your Code, etc.
 Bad vs. Good Code
The Flow should go from left to right

Avoid Spaghetti Code! Make your code readable for others!

This is a comment

Use SubVIs!!!
Use Labels and Comment your Code
http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/376039a.pdf
 Short-Cuts that you must know!

Ctrl + drag objects with your mouse: Copy objects (easier than Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V)
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Do you need more Practice? - Select a Challenge

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
 Note! This is just an example to illustrate the assignment. You can create
your own User Interface with your own features.
The code should include a While Loop, Case structures, SubVIs, etc. You can
use the built-in Random Generator when playing Lottery.

Create a Lottery App in LabVIEW

Below we see a sketch:
Creating this App makes you practice
on basic LabVIEW Programming
Simon Says

Creating this App makes

you practice on basic
LabVIEW Programming
 LabVIEW Calculator
Tip: Use an “Event Structure”
inside a While Loop
 Level Tank
Assignment: Control the Level (close to the setpoint) in the Tank manually by adjusting the outflow of the tank with a
manual Valve. Plot Level and Flow.

Flow into the Tank: Pump

Level formula:

Previous Level
Implement the Equations using standard LabVIEW operators like:

u [0%, 100%] Valve

etc. Flow out of the Tank:
Using SubVIs are recommended!
LabVIEW Implementation Example

If the flow out is equal

to the flow in, you are
able keep the setpoint

OK – but can you do it better?

Manually adjust the valve on the outflow

Hans-Petter Halvorsen
University of South-Eastern Norway
www.usn.no

E-mail: [email protected]
Web: https://www.halvorsen.blog