Introduction to LabVIEW

1 Introduction
1.1 Aims
The following material is a short introduction to LabVIEW and it aims for you to:

• familiarise with the LabVIEW programming environment including front panel and block
diagram;

• familiarise with the programming structures and data types that exist in LabVIEW;

• understand the data flow in LabVIEW;

• and be able to navigate the help utilities.

It is estimated that this introduction session takes between 1.5 and 2 hours.

Have Fun,

Mohammed El-Hajjar
Rob Maunder
Michael Ng

1.2 Installing LabVIEW

All university students are covered by a LabVIEW campus licence. You can download the
latest LabVIEW and install it on your own windows machines by navigating to the iSolutions
Software Distribution Service: https://www.software.soton.ac.uk/.

1.3 Navigating LabVIEW

LabVIEW programs are called Virtual Instruments and are normally referred to as VIs. A
LabVIEW VI contains a front panel and a block diagram.
The front panel window is the user interface for the VI. Figure 1 shows an example of a
front panel window. The front panel is built from controls and indicators, which correspond to
the interactive input and output of the VI, respectively.

1
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 2

Figure 1 VI front panel.

The block diagram is formed of the graphical representation of the code for the functions
in the front panel. Figure 2 shows an example block diagram window.

Figure 2 VI block diagram.

ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 3

1.4 Dataflow in LabVIEW

LabVIEW follows a dataflow model for running VIs. A block diagram node executes when it
receives all required inputs. When a node executes, it produces output data and passes the
data to the next node in the dataflow path. A node with multiple outputs produces all the
outputs at the same time after the node finishes execution. The movement of the data through
the node determines the execution order of the VIs and functions in the block diagram.
To elaborate the idea of dataflow programming further, consider the example block diagram
shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, the block diagram executes from left to right, not because the
objects are placed in that order, but because the “subtract” function cannot execute until the
“add” function finishes execution and passes its output data as an input to the “subtract”
function.

Figure 3 Dataflow programming example.

Figure 4 shows a different example with two code segments. In Figure 4, it is not possible
to determine which of the “add”, “random number” and “divide” functions execute first. The
input to the “add” and “divide” functions are available at the same time and the “random
number” function has no input.

Figure 4 Dataflow example of multiple code segments.

2 Exercise 1
In this exercise you will create a VI that simulates an analogue signal and plots it on a waveform
graph. The VI will test the input values against a user-specified limit and light an LED if the
input value exceeds that limit.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 4

Launch LabVIEW; you will get a splash screen like the one shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5 LabVIEW Getting Started window.

Navigate to and Select File>>New>>From Template>>Tutorial (Getting Started)

>>Generate and Display and click OK as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 Opening a VI from template.

ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 5

Two windows appear: the grey window is the Front Panel and the white one is the Block
Diagram. The Front Panel contains the parts of your VI used for the User Interface and present-
ing information, whereas the Block Diagram contains the code that controls the functionality
of the VI. You can toggle between the two windows by selecting Window>>Show Block
Diagram or Window>>Show Front Panel. You can also switch between the windows by
pressing <Ctrl+E> on your keyboard.
Examine the Front Panel and Block Diagram of this Template VI. The Front Panel contains
a Waveform Chart and a STOP button as shown in the Figure 7.

Figure 7 Front Panel Window

The Block Diagram in Figure 8 contains a Simulate Signal VI, which is currently configured
to simulate a sine wave and plot it to the chart.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 6

Figure 8 Block Diagram Window.

Switch back to the Front Panel by pressing <Ctrl+E>. Since the Run button (the white
arrow at the top left corner) is solid, you can run this VI as it is. Click the Run button and
examine the operation of the VI. When you are finished, click the STOP button on the Front
Panel to stop running the VI.
Note: As you will see later in the exercise, when the Run button in the upper left corner
of both the Front Panel and the Block Diagram changes from a solid white arrow to a broken
grey arrow, this new icon indicates that the VI is currently not executable. Pressing it will
reveal the programmatic errors that are keeping it from executing.
Now we can add some functionality to this basic VI. We will modify the VI to flash an
alarm whenever the signal value is above a certain level. Open the Controls palette (if it is not
open already) by right-clicking the Front Panel window. A snapshot of the controls palette
is shown in Figure 9.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 7

Figure 9 Controls Palette Snapshot.

Navigate to the Express palette and click on the Numeric Controls sub-palette. Select
a Vertical Pointer Slide to be placed on the Front Panel. To do this, click the Vertical
Pointer Slide and drag it onto the Front Panel. A snapshot of the Numeric Controls sub-
palette is shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10 Numeric Controls Sub-Palette.

ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 8

Click the Express menu item on the Controls palette to return to the Express Controls
palette.Then click the LEDs sub-palette shown in Figure 11, and place a Round LED on the
Front Panel.

Figure 11 LEDs Sub-Palette.

Right-click the Vertical Pointer Slide and select Properties. A property page will
appear. Make the following changes on the Appearance tab and click OK to apply the
changes. A snapshot of the properties window is shown in Figure 12.
Label: Limit
Slider 1: Check Show digital display(s)

Figure 12 Vertical Pointer Slide Properties.

Right-click the Round LED labelled Boolean and select Properties. Examine the different
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 9

properties that can be modified. On the Appearance tab, change the label from Boolean to
Alarm. Click OK to apply your change. Move the objects on the Front Panel so it resembles
Figure 13.

Figure 13 Example Front Panel.

Switch to the Block Diagram by pressing <Ctrl+E>. Double-click the Simulate Signal
Express VI to bring up its properties window. Examine the different properties you can modify.
Change the Amplitude of the signal to 10. Click OK to apply this change and to close the
properties window.
Bring up the Functions palette by right-clicking on the Block Diagram. Select Ex-
press>>Signal Analysis as shown in Figure 14 and place the Amp&Level Express VI on
the Block Diagram by dragging and dropping as before.

Figure 14 Signal Analysis Palette.

ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 10

When you place an Express VI on the Block Diagram a dialog box appears so that you can
configure the function as per your needs. For this function select RMS as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15 Configure the Amp&Level Express VI.

You can connect Controls, Functions, and Indicators on the Block Diagram by pointing to
an object and clicking on its terminal when the cursor changes to a spool of wire. You can
then move the cursor to the terminal of the object you want to connect it to and click again.
Following this, connect the Limit control to the Alarm indicator as shown in Figure 16.

Figure 16

Note: The Run button in the upper left corner of both the Front Panel and the Block
Diagram has changed from a solid white arrow, to a broken grey arrow. This new icon indicates
that the VI is currently not executable. If you click the Run button when it is solid and white,
it runs the VI. Clicking it when it is broken and grey brings up a dialog box that will help you
debug the VI.
Click the Run button now. The resulting dialog box shows that, in this case, the error
results from connecting terminals of two different types. Since the Limit control is a Numeric
type and the Alarm indicator is a Boolean type, we cannot wire these two terminals together.
Highlight the error by clicking it, and then click Show Error. LabVIEW will highlight the
location of the error.
Notice that the wire between Limit and Alarm is dashed and a red ”X” is displayed on it
as shown in Figure 17.
To delete this broken wire, press <Ctrl+B>. This keyboard shortcut removes all broken
wires from the Block Diagram.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 11

Figure 17

Wire the output of the Simulate Signal VI to the Signals input on the Amplitude and
Level Measurements VI. Right-click on the RMS output and select Create>>Numeric
Indicator from the list as shown in Figure 18.

Figure 18 Example Block Diagram.

Bring up the functions palette by right-clicking the Block Diagram. Select Arithmetic &
Comparison >> Comparison and place the Comparison Express VI shown in Figure 19
on the diagram.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 12

Figure 19 Comparison Express VI.

When you place the Comparison Express VI on the Block Diagram, a dialog box appears
that lets you configure what type of comparison you will be doing. Make the following selections
as shown in Figure 20, then click OK to apply these changes and to close the dialog box.
Compare Condition: Greater
Comparison Inputs: Second signal input

Figure 20 Comparison Express VI configuration.

Make your Block Diagram resemble Figure 21 by completing these steps:

1. Wire the Limit control to the Operand 2 input of the Comparison function.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 13

2. Connect the RMS output of the Amplitude and Lever Measurements block to the Operand
1 input of the Comparison block.

3. Wire the Result output of the Comparison block to the Alarm indicator.

Figure 21 Block Diagram Snapshot.

• Switch to the Front Panel by pressing <Ctrl+E>.

• Save the VI using the File menu and name it Exercise1.vi.

• Run the VI.

While the VI is running you can change the Limit value. Also notice that when a data point
received from the Simulate Signal VI is greater than the Limit value, the Alarm indicator
lights up.
While the VI is still running, switch to the Block Diagram by pressing <Ctrl+E>. Enable
Highlight Execution by clicking on the light bulb on the tool bar shown in Figure 22. This
will allow you to see the flow of data through your program.

Figure 22

When you are finished, stop the VI by clicking the STOP button on the Front Panel.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 14

3 Exercise 2: The LabVIEW Help

The LabVIEW help system is a great place to learn about LabVIEW and to go when you have
questions. This exercise will introduce you to the rich source of information that is available
for you to take advantage of.
Go back to the VI you just created, and press <F1> on the keyboard to start the help
system
Expand Fundamentals>>LabVIEW Environment and explore the information avail-
able here, click around and get a feel for how it is organised. Figure 23 shows a snapshot of the
LabVIEW help window.

Figure 23 LabVIEW Help.

Take a few minutes to explore other topics in the help system. Click on the Search tab and
try searching for analysis functions with features you might need in your work applications.

4 Exercise 3: LabVIEW Example Finder

In addition to the help system, LabVIEW includes a set of examples that in many cases are
the building blocks for your applications. This exercise will introduce you to what examples
are available.
Go back to the VI you created in Exercise 1 and from the Help menu select Find Examples
as shown in Figure 24.
Switch to the Search tab, type in ”select” and hit Enter. From the results, select and
double-click on Select Signals.vi.
Run the VI and explore the Block Diagram. Take a few minutes to look around at the other
example programs available, search on terms that you are familiar with, switch back to the
Browse tab and navigate through the different example categories and try out few examples.
ELEC6021 Research Methods NI USRP Lab 15

Figure 24

5 Exercise 4: Context Help

The Context Help window displays basic information about LabVIEW objects when you
move the cursor over each object. To toggle display of Context Help window, select Help
>> Show Context Help or press <Control-H> keys or click the “Show Context Help” button
on the toolbar.
Go back to the VI you created in Exercise 1. Show the context help and move the cursor
over the front panel and block diagram objects and read the available help. Take few minutes
to look at the context help of the objects in the front panel and the block diagram.