LabVIEW Student Assessments
Evaluate your understanding of NI LabVIEW. Choose the assessment that best aligns with your progress through the LabVIEW 101 instructional video modules.
Cumulative Test: LabVIEW Basics
Download the Cumulative Test PDF
Test your “Basic” understanding of LabVIEW concepts by attempting the LabVIEW Basics Test. This test is recommended after you complete the seven modules found in the LabVIEW Basics section. The test includes 20 multiple choice questions.
- Numeric controls are different from numeric indicators because they have a ________ background and ________________.
- To switch between the front panel and block diagram, select Window»Show Block Diagram/Front Panel, or simply press _______.
- The __________ function, which allows you to find functions and controls to which you do not know the navigation path, is located on the __________ palette.
- To copy an item on the front panel or block diagram, press <Ctrl-C> and then <Ctrl-V>, or simply hold _________ and click and drag and drop the item.
- What is the correct order of execution of this code?
- When placing a new function, control, indicator, or constant, the __________ feature wires the terminals together if placed within close enough proximity.
- The ___________ chooses the best tool based on where the mouse pointer is placed in the LabVIEW environment.
- The _________ is typically used during run time to change the value of a control.
- __________ any object in the LabVIEW environment provides quick access to most of the properties that can be changed.
- To find a quick description of an object in the LabVIEW environment, simply turn on ___________ by pressing _______ and hovering over the object.
- A ____________ indicates that the VI is broken or not executable.
- If you are not getting the expected values from your VI, two good troubleshooting steps are ____________ and ___________, which show wire values during run time and slow down execution, respectively.
- Being able to store a list of items in both a string and integer format allows for intuitive programming and a user friendly interface. This is made possible with the __________ data type.
- The _______ data structure can be compared to a purse or wallet because a purse or wallet can hold many different things just as this data structure can hold multiple data types.
- For Loops have auto-index output tunnels, which automatically create _______ of data at the tunnel.
- Being able to execute code based on a particular condition allows for logic to be built into a program. In LabVIEW, this is accomplished using a ____________.
- A _________ allows a VI to run until a certain condition is met, such as pressing a Stop button on the front panel.
- A For Loop is different from a While Loop because it runs for a set number of iterations and does not require a ___________. The number of iterations is set by the _________.
- To open a prebuilt VI to serve as a starting point or as a point of reference, open ____________ and browse or search for the appropriate VI.
- Use ___________ within the LabVIEW environment to see a quick description of any object on the block diagram or front panel.
White, Labels
Grey, Labels
White, Increment/Decrement Buttons
Grey, Increment/Decrement Buttons
Grey, Labels
White, Increment/Decrement Buttons
Grey, Increment/Decrement Buttons
Ctrl-E
Ctrl-Z
Ctrl-Shift-Y
Ctrl-B
Ctrl-Z
Ctrl-Shift-Y
Ctrl-B
, Functions
, Controls , Functions and Controls , Functions and Controls , Functions
Shift
Altl
Ctrl-Shift
Ctrl
Altl
Ctrl-Shift
Ctrl
Square Root, Add, Square Functions in Parallel
Add, Square Root, Square Functions in Parallel
Square Functions in Parallel, Add, Square Root
Add, Square Root, Square Functions in Parallel
Square Functions in Parallel, Add, Square Root
Block Diagram Cleanup
Automatic Error Handling
Automatic Wiring
Retain Wire Values
Automatic Error Handling
Automatic Wiring
Retain Wire Values
Wiring Tool
General Tool
Automatic Tool Selector
Operate Tool
General Tool
Automatic Tool Selector
Operate Tool
Operate Tool
Automatic Tool Selector
Select Tool
Shortcut Menu Tool
Automatic Tool Selector
Select Tool
Shortcut Menu Tool
Left-Clicking
Right-Clicking
Selecting
Ctrl-Clicking
Right-Clicking
Selecting
Ctrl-Clicking
Detailed Help, Ctrl-I
Context Help, Ctrl-U
Context Help, Ctrl-H
LabVIEW Help, Ctrl-Z
Context Help, Ctrl-U
Context Help, Ctrl-H
LabVIEW Help, Ctrl-Z
Broken Run Arrow
Run Arrow
Wiring Diagram
VI Icon
Run Arrow
Wiring Diagram
VI Icon
List Errors, Highlight Execution
Probing Wires, Using Breakpoints
Probing Wires, Highlight Execution
Single stepping, Using Breakpoints
Probing Wires, Using Breakpoints
Probing Wires, Highlight Execution
Single stepping, Using Breakpoints
Enum
String
Integer
Cluster
String
Integer
Cluster
Array
Cluster
Bundle
Container
Cluster
Bundle
Container
Arrays
Containers
Graphs
Clusters
Containers
Graphs
Clusters
While Loop
For Loop
Case Structure
Event Structure
For Loop
Case Structure
Event Structure
While Loop
For Loop
Case Structure
Event Structure
For Loop
Case Structure
Event Structure
Input Tunnel, Count Terminal
Conditional Terminal, Count Terminal
Conditional Terminal, Iteration Terminal
Input Tunnel, Count Terminal
Conditional Terminal, Count Terminal
Conditional Terminal, Iteration Terminal
Input Tunnel, Count Terminal
LabVIEW Detailed Help
NI Example Finder
LabVIEW Context Help
KnowledgeBase Archive
NI Example Finder
LabVIEW Context Help
KnowledgeBase Archive
NI Example Finder
LabVIEW Manual
LabVIEW Context Help
LabVIEW Detailed Help
LabVIEW Manual
LabVIEW Context Help
LabVIEW Detailed Help
Cumulative Exercise: LabVIEW Basics
Download the Cumulative Exercise PDF
Assess your “Basic” understanding of programming in LabVIEW by completing the LabVIEW Basics Exercise. This exercise is recommended after you complete the seven modules found in the LabVIEW Basics section.
Exercise Goal
Design a calculator in LabVIEW that will add, subtract, divide, multiply, divide, take the square root, and raise to a power.
Things to Consider
- Should this program run one time or continuously? Do you want to press the Run button every time you need to calculate something?
- You should have only two inputs to the calculator.
- You should perform only one operation at a time. What could you use to contain all of the different operations but run only one at a time?
- Can you think of a control in which you can store multiple text strings that the user can select during run time?
- Only take the square root of the first input.
- Should the two inputs allow for negative numbers? What if a user inputs a negative number for the square root? Can you think of a way to check if the number is negative and how to account for this in your program?
- Should you indicate an error if the user tries to take the square root of a negative number?
- Search for power to locate a function to raise X to the power of Y.
View the Exercise Solution (Don’t cheat!)
Extra Credit
- Add functionality for trigonometric functions such as sine, cosine, and tangent.
- Add a conversion from angle in degrees to radians.
- Add a delay to the While Loop to decrease the CPU usage.
Cumulative Exam: LabVIEW and DAQ
Download the Cumulative Exam PDF
Evaluate your understanding of LabVIEW software and the basics of DAQ hardware. This exam is recommended after you complete ALL of the modules found in LabVIEW Basics and LabVIEW Tasks. There are 26 multiple choice questions on the exam.
- The National Instruments equivalent of Windows Device Manager is ________________, which you can use to identify and configure the locally installed National Instruments software and hardware.
- Most multifunction devices allow you to bring in voltages that vary continuously with time. To acquire a voltage in LabVIEW, you need to place a __________ configured for Acquire Signals»_______»Voltage on the block diagram.
- When inputting an Express Waveform into the Data terminal of the DAQ Assistant configured for Analog Output, you can automatically configure the timing settings of the output to align with the waveform by selecting the __________ in the DAQ Assistant Configuration window.
- You can implement a PID control algorithm using the PID VI from the Control Design & Simulation palette. To tune the PID VI to the appropriate values for the proportional, integral, and derivative gains, you can use trial and error or the ____________ VI.
- Before connecting a sensor to your DAQ device, it is important to know the _______________ of your device. You can find them online at ni.com by searching for the device specifications document.
- A __________, which consists of eight digital lines, can be used to input or output digital data.
- To stop the program if the DAQ Assistant encounters an error, use the _________ function to extract the error status and wire this to the conditional terminal of the While Loop.
- The ___________ automatically populates a list of all variables in the equation for possible output terminals.
- To see if a measured signal has exceeded a threshold in LabVIEW, you can use the Mask and Limit Testing Express VI. When plotting the Tested Signals output, the Threshold/Limit is also plotted. True or False?
- To remove unwanted frequencies or noise from a measured signal in LabVIEW, use a _______ Express VI.
- To perform a continuous acquisition in LabVIEW, the Acquisition Mode of the DAQ Assistant Configuration Window must be set to __________, and you must place a _________ around the code.
- If you are plotting a large array of data at one time, and you want the previous data that was displayed to be removed before plotting new data, use a ________.
- If the desired filename already exists, but you would like to add data to the end of the existing file, the best action to take in the Write to Measurement File Configuration Window is to ___________.
- When logging data with the Write to Measurement VI, ____________ specifies to create a single time column in the first column of the spreadsheet.
- To incorporate existing .m files and develop new .m files in LabVIEW, it is best to use the ___________.
- When there are many controls and indicators on the front panel that can be organized into groups, and not all have to be displayed at the same time, use a __________ to save space.
- Before you can output a signal on a DAQ device, you must first create a signal to be output. You can accomplish this using a __________ Express VI.
- Closed-loop control requires both _________ and __________ to receive data from the real world, process the data, and send data back into the real world.
- When selecting a DAQ device to indicate on a physical LED whether a threshold has been passed, or if a value is true or false, it is best to use ________.
- If you are plotting a data point at a rate of 1 sample per second (1 Hz), and you want to see the previous values that were displayed, use a _________.
- To analyze a signal in the frequency domain, you must first calculate the FFT of the time domain signal. In LabVIEW, you can accomplish this using the __________ Express VI.
- ___________ allows you to use a DAQ device to send a pulse train, or a series of square wave pulses, at a fixed frequency that can be used as a sample clock for an external device.
- __________ allow you to start an acquisition when a 5 V pulse signal is received on a PFI line.
- When logging data with the Write to Measurement VI, if the user of the VI prefers to enter a filename before running the VI, you should ____________________.
Create a Filename Control on the Front Panel
Create a Filename Constant on the Block Diagram
Instruct the User to Open the Configuration Window and Manually Change the Filepath
- To incorporate C or C++ structured code into LabVIEW, it is best to use the ____________.
- To make a control or indicator transparent on the front panel, use the Coloring tool and select _________for the foreground and background color.
Configuration Manager
Measurement & Automation Explorer
Device Loader
Database Library
Measurement & Automation Explorer
Device Loader
Database Library
Simulate Signal, Analog Input
DAQ Assistant, Analog Input
DAQ Assistant, Digital Input
Simulate Signal, Digital Input
DAQ Assistant, Analog Input
DAQ Assistant, Digital Input
Simulate Signal, Digital Input
Continuous Acquisition
N Samples
Rate = 1 kHz
Use Waveform Timing
N Samples
Rate = 1 kHz
Use Waveform Timing
PID Autotuning
PID Gain Schedule
PID Setpoint Profile
PID Lead-Lag
PID Gain Schedule
PID Setpoint Profile
PID Lead-Lag
Device Pinouts
Signal Routing
Connection Diagram
User Manual
Signal Routing
Connection Diagram
User Manual
Multifunction Port
Input Port
Output Port
Digital Port
Input Port
Output Port
Digital Port
Build Array
Unbundle by Name
Bundle by Name
Disassemble Cluster
Unbundle by Name
Bundle by Name
Disassemble Cluster
Formula Node
MathScript Node
MathScript Node
True
False
False
Spectral Measurements
Filter
Statistics
Amplitude and Level Measurements
Filter
Statistics
Amplitude and Level Measurements
1 Sample (On Demand), While Loop
N Samples, For Loop
Continuous Samples, While Loop
1 Sample (On Demand), For Loop
Continuous Samples, Case Structure
N Samples, For Loop
Continuous Samples, While Loop
1 Sample (On Demand), For Loop
Continuous Samples, Case Structure
Waveform Chart
Waveform Graph
Waveform Graph
Rename Existing File
Use Next Available Filename
Append to File
Overwrite File
Use Next Available Filename
Append to File
Overwrite File
One Column per Channel
One Column Only
Empty Time Column
One Column Only
Empty Time Column
Formula Node
MathScript Node
MathScript Node
Horizontal Splitter Bar
Vertical Splitter Bar
Tab Control
Menu Ring
Vertical Splitter Bar
Tab Control
Menu Ring
DAQ Assistant
Instrument Assistant
Simulate Signal
Write to Measurement File
Instrument Assistant
Simulate Signal
Write to Measurement File
Analog Input, Digital Input
Analog Input, Analog Output
Digital Input, Digital Output
Analog Output, Digital Output
Analog Input, Analog Output
Digital Input, Digital Output
Analog Output, Digital Output
Analog Input
Analog Output
Digital Input
Digital Output
Analog Output
Digital Input
Digital Output
Waveform Chart
Waveform Graph
Waveform Graph
Spectral Measurements
Filter
Statistics
Amplitude and Level Measurements
Filter
Statistics
Amplitude and Level Measurements
Counter Input
Digital Output
Counter Output
Analog Output
Digital Output
Counter Output
Analog Output
Start Buttons
Software Triggers
Analog Triggers
Digital Triggers
Software Triggers
Analog Triggers
Digital Triggers
Formula Node
MathScript Node
MathScript Node
Clear
Grey
(T) Transparent
White
Grey
(T) Transparent
White
Cumulative Project: LabVIEW and DAQ
Download the Cumulative Project PDF
Evaluate your understanding of LabVIEW software and the basics of DAQ hardware. This project is recommended after you complete ALL of the modules for LabVIEW Basics and LabVIEW Tasks.
Project Goal
Use NI LabVIEW software and the NI myDAQ device to create an audio equalizer. This needs to separate the incoming signal into three frequency bands for bass, midtone, and treble. It also needs to allow for attenuation of each band independently as well as overall volume control. You should then display the frequency spectrum plot on the front panel and play the audio signal out to headphones or speakers. Keep in mind how a mixing table for an equalizer looks when designing the front panel. This challenges you to combine all of the LabVIEW skills you have learned thus far to complete a project that accomplishes a task with the NI myDAQ device.
Required Hardware
NI myDAQ device
Computer speakers or headphones
3.5 mm audio cable
Things to Consider
- You can use the VI snippets solution to the exercise from the signal processing module, but it is good practice to start from scratch.
- Use the audio input and output terminal of the NI myDAQ device.
- What are the frequency bands you should use for bass, midtone, and treble?
- What should the sampling rate be? What is the audible frequency range of the human ear?
- Add all of the frequency band signals back together before taking the FFT and outputting to the speakers or headphones.
- Can you add any images to the front panel to help clarify the functionality?
Here is an example of what the front panel might look like:
View the Project Solution (Don’t cheat!)
Extra Credit
Typically, the vocals of a song are split evenly on the left and right channels of an audio signal. Can you think of a way to remove the vocals from a song? Can you use this to make a karaoke machine?
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